The 'Star Wars' actor clarifies his previous statement which many assumed as his admission about his sexuality, saying that his usage of the pronouns 'himself' and 'herself' was misunderstood.

• Dec 5, 2019

AceShowbiz - Billy Dee Williams isn't gender-fluid, contrary to what he recently suggested. The actor, best known for his portrayal of Lando Calrissian in the "Star Wars" film franchise, has retracted his previous statement after many praised him for seemingly coming out of the closet and getting honest about his sexuality.

In an interview with Esquire which was published in late November, the 82-year-old said he uses both male and female pronouns when referring to himself. Now, he has set things straight, claiming that his usage of the pronouns "himself" and "herself" to identify himself was misunderstood.

Billy says in a new interview with The Undefeated that he didn't even understand what the term "gender-fluid" means. "Well, first of all, I asked last night. I said, 'What the hell is gender-fluid?' That's a whole new term," he tells the news outlet. "But what I was talking about was about men getting in touch with their softer side of themselves."

He continues explaining, "There's a phrase that was coined by Carl G. Jung, who was a psychiatrist...But he coined a phrase that's, 'Anima animus.' And anima means that is the female counterpart of the male self, and the animus is the male counterpart of the female."

"So, that's what I was referring to. I was talking about men getting in touch with the female side of themselves," he reiterates. "I wasn't talking about sex, I wasn't talking about being gay or straight." Admitting that he was shocked to see the headlines which made conclusion about his sexuality, he adds, "No, no, no, I'm not gay - by any stretch of the imagination. Not that I have anything against gay people. But personally? Not gay."

Billy previously told Esquire magazine, "I never tried to be anything except myself. I think of myself as a relatively colorful character who doesn't take himself or herself too seriously... And you see I say 'himself' and 'herself,' because I also see myself as feminine as well as masculine." The movie vet added, "I'm a very soft person. I'm not afraid to show that side of myself."

Many later applauded the actor for his seemingly coming out statement, including "Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker" director J.J. Abrams who said, "I think, honestly, that comment and whatever he meant by it, it speaks to his openness." Further gushing about Billy, the filmmaker added, "He has such an amazing life experience and he is such a wonderful guy to talk to in-between takes because he will just start referencing relationships he's had with these legends in music and film and dance and theater. No one has a smile like Billy Dee and to have him, to get to work with him at all, has been such a joy. He is just the sweetest."