Cody Simpson responds to Miley Cyrus LGBTQ backlash: 'People took that the wrong way'

Anika Reed, USA TODAY

Cody Simpson is coming to Miley Cyrus' defense.

The 22-year-old Australian – and Cyrus' new boyfriend – responded after the singer received backlash for controversial comments she made over the weekend.

"There are good men out there guys, don’t give up," Cyrus said in an Instagram Live Sunday. "You don’t have to be gay, there are good people with (penises) out there, you just got to find them."

She continued: "I always thought I had to be gay 'cause I just thought, like, all guys were evil, but it’s not true. There are good people out there that just happen to have (penises). I’ve only ever met one... and he’s on this Live."

The "Slide Away" singer took to Twitter Monday to clarify her comments in a NSFW tweet after receiving some backlash from fans. "I was talking (expletive) about (guys), but let me be clear, YOU don't CHOOSE your sexuality. You are born as you are. It has always been my priority to protect the LGBTQ community I am a part of," she wrote, adding a rainbow emoji.

Miley Cyrus clarifies controversial comments on being 'gay,' 'evil' men: 'Let me be clear'

Simpson, who also appeared in the Instagram Live video, was asked about the uproar on Australia's "The Project" show following his "Masked Singer Australia" win.

"People took that the wrong way I think," Simpson said.

"You don't choose who you fall for, you don't choose who you love, whatever gender, whoever you are," Simpson said. "No, she's wonderful."

Simpson also opened up about his relationship with Cyrus, saying that his mom "loves her" and revealing that he told the songstress he was behind the robot mask in the singing competition show.

"I taped before we were like actually really together and the week I sang one of her songs, I did a medley of 'Jolene' and 'Nothing Breaks like a Heart' … we taped, we were talking but we weren't actually together. When it all kind of came out that we were together was the week I sang that song (on air)."

Simpson admitted that he had a crush on Cyrus for years: "I just always sort of had an affinity for her … when she first came out on her first TV show, I just always had a crush on her. I told her that and it worked."

Contributing: Erin Jensen

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Miley Cyrus drama: Cody Simpson says comments were taken the wrong way