Nick Amato is speaking out after going viral for his controversial thoughts regarding having LGBTQ+ children.
The 28-year-old Love Is Blind contestant came under fire following the airing of Episode 4, which he has since addressed in an Instagram video.
In the episode, Nick seemingly told Annie Lancaster that kids identifying as LGBTQ+ were just doing so as part of a “fad,” but he’s now saying in a video that the “fad” he was referring to was “introducing sexual content and material to kids’ shows at a young age, or the idea of gay identity.”
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“The studio reached out and said ‘Look, tell people that it was cut up and it’s meant to agitate, right?’ Yes, it was, and that conversation was very heavily sliced and diced. But call me shallow, and call me horny and that I have no depth of character. I can take that. It’s reality TV. It’s fair game. But don’t put something together that’s going to agitate an already marginalized group of people, he said in the Instagram video.
“But I’m taking accountability for that too, because there’s a lot that I didn’t understand.”
“The way I grew up and the culture I was raised in was that you have experiences, and you make decisions based on those experiences, and we all love you regardless for that. But if I had a kid that only grew up seeing a prince and a princess get married — never was introduced to the idea of two moms or two dads — then yes, I bet they would have to defend themselves and feel really awkward for having gay thoughts if they were gay,” he said.
“There’s so much hate in this world that if I can’t use this platform to help introduce other people that used to think like I did to some of these new ideas, and I’m so grateful for some of my gay friends for reaching out and being like, ‘Nick, we know that’s not you but this is what you have to understand.’ If I can’t use that platform for good, then it’s a platform wasted. So I really appreciate you guys for giving me all the hell that you did and letting me know that that’s not right. Because yes it was cut up and edited but I need to take accountability too.”
Nick made it clear in the caption as well: “I will LOVE and support my future children unconditionally, no matter how they identify. I take full accountability for how my words came across but I am glad it provoked this discussion and my learning.”
I was born in a traditional Midwestern environment, and I now recognize how that shaped certain blind spots (I’m thankful for the support of my friends recently for helping me learn this). That’s not an excuse, just part of the work I’m doing to grow and be better. I love and respect my LGBTQ+ friends deeply, and I’m committed my growth and to be a better ally. Thank you to those who have approached me with patience and honesty. I’m listening.”
Two other contestants are reacting to online hate after the premiere.