Halsey has recalled how her team feared her song Bad at Love wouldn’t be played on radio over concern about the lyrics referencing her bisexuality.
The hitmaker, whose pronouns are she/they, has been open about her sexuality since rising to fame in 2015 and notably explored her relationships with both sexes on her 2017 album, Hopeless Fountain Kingdom.
And while the New Jersey native has never shied away from the topic, the 28-year-old explained that her team were “concerned” with how the hit track would be perceived, especially in “middle America” after her success with Closer, her 2016 collaboration with The Chainsmokers.
During a private performance at the Hard Rock Cafe London at Old Park Lane, in which The Standard was in attendance, the star shared: “I had just started picking up a bit of steam in the States, so I had records that would go into the radio, and I was adamant about wanting [Bad at Love] to be a single.
“… I knew that whatever I put out after Closer was going to be very important in terms of the way I was defined or perceived or received as an artist. Bad at Love just felt like one of those songs [to follow it up] because it’s fun and it’s really honest.”
Despite excitement over the track, Halsey explained that her team weren’t as enthused about the choice, fearing the lyrics in the second half of the song that referenced her same-sex romances would alienate certain listeners.
She continued: “There was concern about the lyrics, and mostly everyone was incredibly supportive, but the conversation did come up quite a bit, which was like, ‘I don’t know if they’re going to play this in middle America.’
Confused as to why, Halsey asked: “‘Why is it the part about coke? Is it the riding part? Is it because I said b***h?’
“And everyone said, ‘No, it’s the second part’. I was like, ‘Oh, so it’s the queer stuff. Got it.’ So, I was a little nervous too [about releasing it]”.
But her concerns were misplaced as the song turned out to be a hit on radio and peaked at number five on the Billboard Charts.
Halsey reflected that “nobody gave a s***” about her sexuality after the track’s release and instead attention turned to the number of people she’d dated, having mentioned four failed relationships in the single.
“Nobody cared though, they said, ‘She’s Bi? That’s cool. We don’t give a f**k,’” the American star reflected. “However, they were like, ‘She’s dated more than four people? What a w***e!’
Halsey concluded that Bad at Love paved the way for her honest artistry, revealing that it allowed her “to say whatever I wanted to” and gave her the confidence to put out records like 2019’s Nightmare.
The So Good hitmaker was in the capital earlier this month to launch her partnership with the Hard Rock Cafe this Pride month.
The star has teamed up with the hospitality brand to create limited edition T-shirts inspired by her own personal collection of band and Hard Rock vintage tees.
Proceeds from the collaboration will benefit LGBTQIA+ organisations, the Human Rights Campaign and Outright International through the Hard Rock Heals Foundation. Hard Rock International has already pledged to donate a minimum of $250,000 (£197,000) towards the organisations.
