Odell Beckham Jr. is opening up more than he has ever before about things that have bothered him and continue to bother him right now in his life.
During a wide-ranging interview with GQ Magazine — the Cleveland Browns wide receiver was flat out asked about the ongoing rumors surrounding his sexuality with social media started with videos of him in a hot tub with teammates or him seemingly looking at a man’s behind after a football game.
There was a period of time when alot of gossip sites—specifically black gossip sites—would constantly say that you were closeted. They’d call you “excited” in a hot-tub photo with your teammates or simply just say you’re gay. How’d that make you feel?
“I’ve never had an opportunity to talk about this. Honestly wasn’t offended. I’ve never once had no problem with anybody who has their own personal life that they live. I have friends who are gay. It was almost more funny to me. I almost messed with them even more. It’s like when someone gives me an ultimatum, I’m usually always going to go to the opposite way of what you want me to go. So when they would say that, I would almost mess with them even more. I have no problem with anyone’s sexual orientation.
Even like little videos where they see me leaned back or something, they’ll say that I’m looking at a guy’s ass. And I’m like, “Bro! You don’t even know where my mind is at.” It was just a lose-lose. They’d see me with a white woman and be like, “Why don’t you be with any sisters?” I have no problem with any race. Love is love. If you’re attracted to somebody, you’re attracted to somebody. There was such a stigma built up, [as though] I don’t like my own women. It’s like, no, I don’t like anybody who annoys me. [laughs]”
Beckham also spoke on how he felt about being traded by the Giants after they gave him a massive contract:
“Like, after everything I’ve done for them,” “This is me being honest: This team has not been good for the last six years. Period. Even the year we went to the playoffs and everyone was talking about this and that. And we went there, and I didn’t have a great playoff game. Don’t get me wrong, I had a terrible game. But I left the game with seven targets, and I’m supposed to be your number one receiver. I left the game with seven targets. We lost. They scored 40 points. It’s just all bad. I felt disrespected, because I felt like I was a main reason at keeping that brand alive.”
On the talk about him being a “bad teammate”.
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“You can literally ask any one of my teammates. My on-the-field football never gets talked about unless people are talking about antics. They don’t talk about numbers. Where’s the reel at? People only want to focus on one thing. I feel like I’m one of the only people in the NFL where my personal life and my brand are the only things that get talked about. They’ll do a whole segment about the car that I have on ESPN. Why? I’ve never been arrested. Never have and never will be putting my hands on a woman. I’ve never done any crimes. I’ve never done anything but some little petty, dumb stuff that we keep harping on.”
Beckham did admit that the pressures of being a superstar were becoming a heavy burden.
“All the time, bro. Literally every day. Especially on those days I’m down,” Beckham said when asked if he thought about playing another professional sport. “Not many people know, but I used to talk to my momma and I’d be like, ‘Ma, if I was done doing this now, would you still be proud of me?’ And this was a couple of years ago, about two or three years ago.”
After years of being the laughing stock of the NFL, the Cleveland Browns head into the 2019 season as heavy favorites to win the AFC North and actually make some noise in the postseason.
