Anitta addressed ‘fake bisexual’ accusations as Cosmopolitan UK’s latest digital cover star, saying: ‘People want to dictate how you should act as a bisexual.’
The Brazilian singer-songwriter, 30, came out as bisexual dduring her 2018 Netflix docuseries Go Anitta. She opened up Cosmopolitan Britain about the criticism she receives from the public.
Anitta said: ‘People want to dictate how you should behave as a bisexual. I’ve never had a long-term relationship with a woman. I was dating someone my friends just met, but it wasn’t serious.
‘I have the same thing with men! People like to say, “Oh, she says she’s bisexual, but she’s never had a girlfriend.” Does that make me a ‘fake bisexual’? No!’
Anitta, the first Brazilian to win Best Latin Act, is often called the South American country’s biggest star.
Anitta, 30, addressed ‘fake bisexual’ accusations as Cosmopolitan UK’s latest digital cover star, saying: ‘People want to dictate how you should act as a bisexual’
The Brazilian singer-songwriter came out as bisexual during her 2018 Netflix docuseries Go Anitta. She told Cosmopolitan UK about the criticism she receives from the public
Speaking about her huge fan base, Anitta said, “I realized how dangerous it is when you get visibility and you don’t know what to do with it. I have a lot of teenagers listening to me. I felt the pressure.’
In 2023, she opened up about the abuse she suffered as a teenager. Reflecting on that time, Anitta said, “I took control of my story before anyone else could.”
She continued, “I realized how much it helped people. I listened to a lot of women talk about their experiences (of abuse) and I felt like I wasn’t alone.
Anitta, the first Brazilian to win Best Latin Act, is often called the South American country’s biggest star
Anitta told Harper’s Bazaar at the time a journalist insinuated that he would leak the story of her sexual abuse at the age of 14.
She said: ‘I felt so angry that this man felt like he knew something about me that could hurt me.
“I don’t like it when people try to threaten me or say, ‘Oh, I know this and that about you.’ Really and truly? Go there. Say it. If I don’t say it in front of you, I don’t care.’
She added, “When I created my character, Anitta, I just wanted this woman that no one could fuck with. Because right now you are still blaming yourself; you think that if you behaved differently, it wouldn’t happen to you.’
The star, born Larissa de Macedo Machado, grew up in poverty in Rio de Janeiro, surrounded by crime. Her family warned her from an early age that her goal of becoming a famous singer was not achievable.
Anitta admitted to Cosmo that she has flirted with the idea of releasing music under her real name.
She said: ‘It would be something completely different. I have a whole different world. I don’t know if people would even recognize me.
Anitta, real name Larissa de Macedo Machado, grew up in poverty in Rio de Janeiro, surrounded by crime and her family warned her that a career as a singer was unattainable
‘I have a project that I am designing together with a friend, but it takes Larissa a lot of time. I’ll make sure it happens.’
From 2016 to 2018, Anitta was married to Thiago Malgahaes. She has also been linked to Maluma and Murda Beatz.
Anitta said: ‘It takes time for my partner to understand that I am different from the person on stage… I think that is my biggest challenge: making sure my partners see me, and not that personality.’
She is currently in a relationship with Italian actor Simone Susinna, with the two confirming their relationship in July 2023.