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Frankie Grande speaks out on facing online hate

Frankie Grande has spoken out about the online hate he has received.

The singer and actor, who came out as gay during his teenage years, has reflected on his experience of being targeted by online homophobic abuse - and how it fuelled his past addiction.

In a candid conversation with his sister, pop superstar Ariana Grande, for Interview Magazine, Frankie revealed that the hate he faced after appearing on Big Brother in 2014 pushed him deeper into drug and alcohol use.

"After Big Brother, people would call me gay, f**got, tell me to die of AIDS on Twitter, and it broke me," the 42-year-old shared. "It pushed me further into my addiction than I ever, ever wanted to go."

Now seven years sober, Frankie says he no longer lets such comments affect him.

"But now, I don't take those things personally," he explained. "I know that there needs to be a figure that people can aim their hatred at, and I'm at a place in my life where I can take it. I can be a shield."

During the interview, Frankie also opened up about his debut album, Hotel Rock Bottom, which is set for release on 27 June.

"This music is for the community," he said. "I was thinking about how, when I was a little kid, Madonna helped me have my queer discovery."

The singer continued, "Right now, people are scared to be themselves because of the current administration, so unapologetically embracing my homosexuality is important."

Frankie went on to explain that creating the album was only possible at this point in his recovery.

"Also, I'm seven and a half years sober, and this album would never have been made at two years sober, at four years sober, or, god forbid, while I was drinking and using," he told Ariana. "It would've been a disaster. So now is exactly the right moment in so many ways."

Photo: Cover Media
Source: Cover Media
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