Ne-Yo not seduced by fame game

Extrovert star Ne-Yo stands by his friend Bobby Brown and defends talent shows, writes Ed Power

SHAFFER Chimere Smith — aka Ne-Yo — can’t stop laughing. “No disrespect to anyone who is gay,” says the chart topping R’n’B star. “I don’t fault you for it. If that’s who you are, great. But anyone who knows me understands that, with me, nothing could be further from the truth.”

Rumours about Ne-Yo’s sexuality started to circulating on the internet several years ago. They were prompted, it seems, by his extrovert dress sense. He is certainly rather a swish, today wearing a jaunty fedora and dramatic scarf.