Patti LaBelle Explains Why Luther Vandross Struggled With Coming Out “It Was Hard For Him”

Photo Credit: Steve Grayson/Getty

In a recent interview, Patti LaBelle opened up about Luther Vandross’ sexuality. Many have always speculated the singer was gay, but he was very private about his sex life. Up until his death in 2005, he never denied or confirmed his private truth.  The Godmother of Soul addressed the speculations with Andy Cohen on ‘Watch What Happens Live.’

Cohen asked,

“Did he struggle with the idea of coming out publicly? Was that something that you talked about at all?”

“Basically, he did not want his mother to be,” LaBelle said, “Although she might have known, but he wasn’t going to come out and say this to the world. “

Photo Credit: Steve Grayson/Getty

She also felt that the news might have affected his female fans.

“And he had a lot of lady fans and he told me the he just didn’t want to upset the world."

"It was hard for him. What a wonderful man,” she added.