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Frank Ocean Defends Himself From Allegedly Antigay Father

Ocean

The out singer wrote a Tumblr post about his dad's homophobia and transphobia. His father responded by suing him.

Nbroverman

Shortly after last year's Pulse massacre in Florida, singer Frank Ocean took to Tumblr to share a scarring childhood experience.

"I was six years old when I heard my dad call our transgender waitress a faggot as he dragged me out of a neighborhood diner saying we wouldn't be served because she was dirty," Ocean wrote. "That was the last afternoon I saw my father and the first time I heard that word, I think, although it wouldn't shock me if it wasn't."

Ocean's estranged father, Calvin Cooksey, responded by slapping his son with a $14.5 million libel suit, saying the anti-LGBT accusations were untrue and cost him business deals. Cooksey also claimed his son hatched a "diabolical plot" to destroy him.

The Grammy-winning singer responded to the lawsuit recently, according to Rolling Stone. Ocean stood by the veracity of his post, denied he's trying to destroy his father, and worked to get the suit dismissed on procedural grounds.

"Defendant admits he wrote the published essay," Ocean's attorneys wrote. "Defendant admits the essay speaks for itself."

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Neal Broverman

Neal Broverman is the Editorial Director, Print of Pride Media, publishers of The Advocate, Out, Out Traveler, and Plus, spending more than 20 years in journalism. He indulges his interest in transportation and urban planning with regular contributions to Los Angeles magazine, and his work has also appeared in the Los Angeles Times and USA Today. He lives in the City of Angels with his husband, children, and their chiweenie.
Neal Broverman is the Editorial Director, Print of Pride Media, publishers of The Advocate, Out, Out Traveler, and Plus, spending more than 20 years in journalism. He indulges his interest in transportation and urban planning with regular contributions to Los Angeles magazine, and his work has also appeared in the Los Angeles Times and USA Today. He lives in the City of Angels with his husband, children, and their chiweenie.