Def Jam: Frank Ocean Didn’t Talk Sexuality For Sales

There are people out there who firmly believe that Frank Ocean’s admission that his first love was a man was solely for the means of promoting his debut studio album, channel ORANGE. Apparently, because being a man who loves a man is all the rage in the worlds of hip-hop and R&B. Never mind the fact that his album was already widely anticipated and was rounding up praise in write-ups about the listening sessions.

For the simpletons who still believer otherwise, a Def Jam exec released a statement that should be convincing but likely won’t to the cynics out there.

Yet, I’m going to share it anyway ‘cause folks need to get it (via Entertainment Weekly):

When asked Sunday night whether Ocean’s semi-coming out affected the album’s marketing plan, Def Jam president Joie Manda told EW in an e-mail, ”Absolutely not.

You have to understand that Frank’s letter last week was in NO WAY intended to impact the marketing of this record. Like all things with Frank, it was a carefully measured, very personal decision.”

Manda said then that the label’s “plans remain the same: to support Frank Ocean’s creativity and artistry and allow him the freedom to continue building the very special relationship he’s cultivated with his fans.”