Side Note

Kendall Jenner comes out as straight

In a recent Vogue feature, Kendall Jenner, the second-youngest Kardashian-Jenner sister, finally announced longstanding rumors and internet jokes that she is gay. “I don’t think I have a bisexual or gay bone in my body, but I don’t know! Who knows?! I’m all down for experience—not against it whatsoever—but I’ve never been there before,” she told the magazine, explaining that the rumor probably began because she is so private with her relationships. (Sad news for Jenner’s female crushers: She is almost certainly dating Detroit Pistons player Blake Griffin, though she won’t confirm it, and in the past has been linked to Harry Styles, Justin Bieber, and A$AP Rocky.)

Straight icon Kendall Jenner

Straight icon Kendall Jenner

Tabloids and Twitter users have long speculated about Jenner’s sexuality, effectively turning her into a joke gay icon. In 2015 UK tabloid OK Magazine reported that Jenner was gay and would soon be coming out publicly. Those rumors particularly took off after a 2016 tweet by Tyler, the Creator addressing rumors of their dating that said “NOT POSSIBLE, WE'RE BOTH GAY.” Tabloids have linked her to model Cara Delevigne, an unidentified Italian woman, and her assistant Lauren Perez. In December, babe.net posted a long, conspiratorial dive into the rumors; in February, queer media outlet Into published “Why Queer Women Want Kendall Jenner To Come Out.” “When will Kendall Jenner finally tell us she’s gay,” reads one February tweet that got over 1,700 likes.

Well, now we have our answer. The implications are… small. Jokes about Jenner’s undercover queerness will likely continue. But if you ever thought the Kardashian clan is full of boring squares, this is only further confirmation of that opinion.