Solange’s Son Julez Shuts Down ‘Misconceptions’ About His Personal Life: ‘Adults Were Calling Me Gay at 13’
Solange’s Son Julez Shuts Down ‘Misconceptions’ About His Personal Life: ‘Adults Were Calling Me Gay at 13’
Madison E. GoldbergThu, March 19, 2026 at 2:53 AM UTC
0
Daniel Julez J. Smith Jr. attends H&M Celebrates Beverly Hills Concept Store Opening with Amelia Gray, Delilah Belle, Julez Smith, and Tina Knowles on November 20, 2025 in Beverly Hills, California.Credit: Amy Sussman/Getty -
Solange's son Daniel "Julez" Smith Jr. is clearing the air about "misconceptions" surrounding his sexuality after he alleged the "media" once called him "gay"
Julez, 21, was asked "What's the hardest part about being you?" on a recent livestream on social media
Julez was born in 2004
Solange's son Daniel "Julez" Smith Jr. is clearing up the air about "misconceptions" surrounding his sexuality.
Julez, 21, was asked "What's the hardest part about being you?" on a recent livestream on social media.
"Misconceptions," he answered.
When asked to clarify, Julez shared that he has experienced being critiqued by strangers since "the start of [my] life," then discussed an incident in which he was the target of rumors about his sexuality after his mother shared a photo of him online when he was just 13 years old.
Julez Smith attends the 2025 GQ Men Of The Year at Chateau Marmont on November 13, 2025 in Los Angeles, California.Credit: JC Olivera/FilmMagic
"Look, you know, like, the first time I ever heard of myself in the media was I was in seventh grade, and my mom posted this picture of me," Julez said. "I was dressed as LL Cool J. I had like this red jumpsuit, I was 13 at the time. Mind you, I had a girlfriend at the time. I went to school and my girlfriend showed me a picture that my mom posted."
"This is grown ass adults who was calling me gay at what 13?" he continued, adding that he was characterized as a "pretty boy" by commenters.
Advertisement
Over the past few years, Julez has become a regular on the runway. The model has walked in shows at Paris Fashion Week, Milan Fashion Week, and New York Fashion Week — with mom Solange, aunt Beyoncé, and grandma Tina sitting front row to cheer him on. The trio was on hand at his runway model debut at Luar's fall 2024 show.
Solange, 39, welcomed her son Julez with her ex-husband Daniel Smith in October 2004, when she was 17. They were married for three years before divorcing in 2007. During an interview with Honey magazine in October 2009, the “Dreams” singer opened up about their co-parenting relationship and occasionally contrasting parenting philosophies.
“It definitely has its challenges because there are some things that I’m a lot more strict about,” Knowles explained. “I won’t let him own a video game. No TV in the bedroom — he can only watch a few hours a day. He comes back and tells me these stories about the Wii, and I have to be like, ‘It’s just a Wii, calm down.' ”
— sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
The singer also shared that the different home environments have provided their son with a “good balance” in life. “I feel really good that [Smith and I are] able to do it together because there are some things that I don’t understand, and as much as I try to get out there and throw the football, I always get hit in the head with it,” Knowles added.
on People
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
