Oscar Zia, who will be competing in the third semi-final of Melodifestivalen, has come out as gay. He says his Melfest entry “Human” will tell his story in his own words.

Speaking to Swedish newspaper Aftonbladet, Oscar said he had previously struggled with his sexual identity, but after he realised it was ok to be himself, he felt it was important to come out publicly.

Oscar Zia, Melodifestivalen, Sweden, 2016Oscar’s Melfest entry “Human” is his personal take on the situation, and he says he wouldn’t have been able to perform it at Melfest without having come out. “This song is so personal, it is about these thoughts. […] And I just felt that I cannot stand on stage without knowing that what I do is a hundred percent true,” he told Aftonbladet.

Oscar talked about his sexual confusion as a teen idol. He first came into the public eye when he competed in Swedish X Factor in 2012 at the age of 15. He soon became a favourite of teen girls and felt under pressure to maintain his role as a straight idol, even lying about being interested in girls.

He says he was afraid to come out, worried what effect it would have on his career. But he assures fans that he’s the same Oscar, “I have not changed myself or my personality. I’m exactly the same, if not a little better.”

Fan reaction on social media has been positive, with plenty of emoji hearts being @’d his way and offers of dates.

Oscar posted this photo to Instagram this morning, showing a golden sunrise and a “good morning” greeting. It looks like the future is going to be bright!

Godmorgon!

A post shared by Oscar Zia (@oscarzia) on

Oscar also spoke about coming out to vlogger Clara Henry (in Swedish):

Oscar Zia’s coming out follows Norway’s Tooji, who came out in June by releasing a NSFW music video showing him engaging in sexual intercourse with a priest in a church.

Oscar will perform his song “Human” in the third semi-final of Melodifestivalen, taking place on 20 February in Norrköping.

READ MORE MELODIFESTIVALEN NEWS

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Lovdisa
Lovdisa
8 years ago

I agree that this isnt a PR trick or something. Russia nearly didnt send a finnish song on their tv Channel because two girls kissed in it. It can be important to Change thé meaning of thé Song and help unsure homosexuals out there who needs someone who actually gets accepted. I as a homosexual was very worried that my friends and parents wouldnt accept me, or even worse that my crush and very Close friend would make a big scene by suddenly keeping a distance. In thé End my worries were for nothing but they are still there. How… Read more »

Susanne
Susanne
8 years ago

“For those who think they’we now got a shot; Sorry…. but don’t forget he’s living together with Måns Zelmerlöw (but that probably don’t mean a thing)!” Well.. which one is it u mean then? that was totally contradicting the other…

Aren’t you forgetting the part that Måns might not actually be gay (however much people would want that, haha)? And people can just be housemates.
Besides, where did you get that from? Can’t find any thing remotely concerning that info on any swedish sites.

Jonas
Jonas
8 years ago

AM, you really don’t get it. There is nothing more moronic you could have said in reaction to this story.

David Who
David Who
8 years ago

I remember Oscar Zia from Melodiefestivalen 2014. (‘Yes We Can’?) Beyond that I know little about him. I hope he’s okay.
As a songwriter, I find the most difficult thing is to perform my own songs when they are about something deeply personal. I often have to give/sell those to others to perform. Sometimes i just can’t get through them without crying! It’s not an easy thing to do what Oscar is doing this year – i wish him strength and all the best of luck. 🙂 x

lily
lily
8 years ago

Yeah! This is all good. Hope everyone can really be the one they’re supposed to be! For thoose who think they’we now got a shoot; Sorry…. but don’t forget he’s living together with Måns Zelmerlöw (but that probably don’t mean a thing)!

AM
AM
8 years ago

And in other news, the sun is our star

Gary Dunn
Gary Dunn
8 years ago

Good on the lad. I dont see this as any kind of stunt to gain votes. I think people will just say well done now go out do a good show and try win this selection. Choosing to come out as gay only really benefits those that struggle and maybe gives them courage to do the same seeing someone else do it.

blondboybc
blondboybc
8 years ago

Congrats and good for Oscar for bing true to himself and his being. When people can do this, I have nothing but praise and total respect for their decision. But let’s face it, most of the entertainment world is bi/gay/curious anyway! Go figure. 🙂

Melissa J
8 years ago

Good for you, Oscar! I’m glad he was able to find a way to be his true self!

Bogdan Honciuc
8 years ago

@#YesWeCan Yes, it’s Melfest news, when his song is about this.

Giorgio
Giorgio
8 years ago

Coming out right before the Melfest. I see you.

oli
oli
8 years ago

I though he was already out! LOL. anyway, no big deal.
I hope that “Human” is better than his previous entry, which I didn’t get at all.
Good luck Oscar!

#YesWeCan
#YesWeCan
8 years ago

I this news? We live in 2016! It should be normal, not something to tell the news about. Who someone could not say that “I’m straight, and i’ve been hiding it and it was really tough”. People love people, just get it.

macus (Day One)
macus (Day One)
8 years ago

Yay!

This means I’m now in with a chance of being Mr Zia 😉

Maybe not because it hasn’t helped me trying to become Mr Dolan

Mmmmmmm……..

Ben Rafter
Ben Rafter
8 years ago

We are one but honestly, sexuality has nothing to do with a song contest and he didn’t have to come out now. People are going to give him sympathy votes .

Hanner McSinny/Calvin
8 years ago

In a way, I hate myself for thinking this, but it actually does change my perception of him (for the positive, obviously). “I’m MelFest Prettyboy #438 but not interested at all in the sexual attention I get” is actually a pretty interesting story that could make for some just as interesting music.

Charles
Charles
8 years ago

On one hand I do believe in his story … with or without MF, Zia would have to face his own music and be accepting of who he is, as we all have struggled with too.
On the other hand … the words “I’m gay” and “I’m on Melodifestivalen” in the correlation that Eurovision and LGBT goes hand and hand … sounds very strategic.
As far as Oscar Zia is concerned, whatever his intentions and his own coming out, the kid needs to be a better singer if he really has the talent … Never been impressed with …

Susej
Susej
8 years ago

I called it Last Year!!!! 🙂 Lol

adrianauk
adrianauk
8 years ago

Good for him,just

dutchie
dutchie
8 years ago

The Eurovision world is completely obsessed with sexual orientation, as if that’s all there is to a person. So yeah, I don’t blame the kid for trying to gain a few votes by coming out at this very moment.

Criticca
Criticca
8 years ago

Aww he’s like Swedish Tom Daley. Maybe he can go out with George Shelley of Union J ;D

Jamie
Jamie
8 years ago

I’d hate to be as cynical as some of you. If he hadn’t announced this now, because his entry is about his own journey of accepting himself, then he’ll have outed himself in two weeks anyway.

Denis
Denis
8 years ago

I’m sorry, but people are cynical. Saying he choose to come out now to get votes is really stupid? So cause he’s gay people must vote and support for him? And other gay people must also vote for him cause he’s gay? That’s not how it goes. Gay people, like others, vote for the best song, they in fact vote more for that than the majority. No one really cares about your preferences or anything. Coming out and being gay isn’t all that easy, not even in Sweden. Like with everything else it’s polarized, and mainstream audience might still struggle… Read more »

Zack
Zack
8 years ago

Jacques, very nicely stated! You said it better than I ever could have! 😀

Jacques
Jacques
8 years ago

I can’t understand why people are reacting his coming-out by a storm. For me, it seems pretty genuine. He has a change to make his coming-out very special with a very personal song – and as he’s participating in Melodifestivalen, of course with the purpose of winning. For the people who believes it’s an obligation to support the LGBT people participating in Eurovision-related competitions, my personal opinion is, it depends. And of course it’s not an obligation. But I really like these young people (like Troye Sivan), unmarginalizing the homosexual identity by reaching greater audiences with their pop music. I… Read more »

Fliponline
Fliponline
8 years ago

I can’t believe the nastiness and outright homophobia of you lot!

Yes there’s a PR story here in the week before the first Melfest that is being utilized – but have some consideration for a young man you has struggled with his own sexual identity and had the balls to actually risk the wrath of homophobes like you lot!

Would you say the same if it was someone who sang a song about the stillborn child they had? Would you then class that as a cloying and cynical publicity stunt??

VILE NASTY HUMAN BEINGS!

Zack
Zack
8 years ago

Good for him, but at the end of the day, i agree with the others: the skeptic in me says why wait until now, when he could have disclosed this when he was first announced. On the other hand, he’s just playing the game. So at the end of the day, I support him, but the song, I’ll wait until Saturday…

Antranig Shokayan
Editor
8 years ago

If Sweden are confident that they can win it again, I can see why. Go Oscar! <3

Daan
Daan
8 years ago

I am happy for him, a new world comes open for him now! It kinda reminds me of our Dutch artist Jamai, he participated in the first Dutch Idols and actually won, had a lot of female fans but he was gay and did come out of the closet after winning.

Jacques: Pretty sure LGB people make out 10-20% of the entire population. 😉 Its like 1 of every 5 people. 🙂

Anyway Oscar, it might give him some gay votes, but most importantly he can be himself and thats amaze.

Alex
Alex
8 years ago

<3

Jacques
Jacques
8 years ago

Don’t think it’s a trick or something. Being outly gay is always not positively accepted by the mainstream public – even in Eurovision and even in Sweden. And how many gays out there at all? We’re hardly the five percent of the whole world population?

I’m glad that Oscar came out – pretty sure life will be much more easier and joyful by now. 🙂

fikri
fikri
8 years ago

good for him. 🙂 welcome to the family, oscar!

WhyYouCameOutOnMelfestWeek?ForGayVotes
WhyYouCameOutOnMelfestWeek?ForGayVotes
8 years ago

A cheap PR trick to gather more votes. Nothing interesting.