I’m not going to pretend I’m bisexual, says Mariah Carey

Illustrated rainbow pride flag on a pink background.

Mariah Carey says she’s not bisexual but isn’t offended when people think she is.

The star, speaking to Advocate magazine, implied she wouldn’t lie about her sexuality to seem “exciting”.

Carey has been the subject of sexuality rumours for years but said: “If it makes somebody happy to say that, then whatever, but that’s not the reality.”

“I don’t have a discriminatory policy of who I’m friends with,” she added.

“So yes, I’m friends with women who are gay – gay, straight, it doesn’t matter to me. So I don’t get upset when I hear that, because it is what it is.

“I guess I could lie about it to seem more exciting.”

The 40-year-old singer, who is expecting her first child with husband Nick Cannon, said she was a supporter of gay marriage.

She said: “If two people want to get married, it’s their prerogative – we hope. Everybody should be able to do what they want to do and be in the pursuit of happiness.

Carey added: “Ever since I was a little girl, my mother was very open-minded and had many different types of friends, so being gay never seemed wrong or strange to me.”

The star also offered advice to gay teenagers being bullied.

“You have to stay strong, rely on your true friends, and try to get through it, as opposed to drowning in it,” she said.

“Look at how many people suffered during high school and came out of it a better, stronger adult. That’s the thing to focus on.”