D. Smith is detransitioning after 12 years living as a woman.
The “Love & Hip Hop Atlanta” star, 51, took to Instagram to make the announcement on Friday, noting, “For most of my life, I’ve followed my heart, even when the path wasn’t easy to understand.”
“Over the last twelve years, I lived my life publicly as a transgender woman,” Smith continued, emphasizing, “Those years weren’t a mistake. They were real. They introduced me to extraordinary people, profound experiences, and lessons that I will always carry with me forever.”
However, the reality star wrote, “over the past several months,” he’s “begun a new chapter in life” and will now “be living and presenting as a man and using he/him pronouns.”
Smith stressed, “This isn’t about erasing my past. Living my life as a woman for 12 years showed me the man that I wanted to become.”
“My respect and love for the transgender community remain unchanged, and I continue to believe that every person deserves to live with dignity, safety, and compassion and have the freedom to become themselves,” he added.
The singer/songwriter reflected on his life “constantly pushing [him] to grow,” and said he’d chosen “purpose over fear” even in the face of adversity.
“There is much more to this journey than can’t fit into this statement,” he said, promising, “When the time is right, I’ll share that story in full.”
“Until then, thank you for allowing me space to continue growing,” he concluded.
The VH1 star — a Grammy-nominated musician who has worked with Lil Wayne, Kendrick Lamar, Katy Perry and Ciara — faced backlash after coming out as trans back in 2014.
Nonetheless, the TV personality was outspokenly proud of the distinction of being the first transgender person to appear on “Love & Hip Hop Atlanta” back in Season 5, which aired in 2016.
“I realized that the more trans people who are in the light will create awareness for trans people,” Smith said at the time, according to The Post.
“We are all just trying to live, and it’s great to have this platform, so I’m very happy to be on the show.”
Smith’s post about detransitioning garnered an outpouring of support in the comments section, including a heartfelt “love letter” from “Pose” actress Indya Moore, a trans woman.
“Our experience in transness is so much more complex than just being trans — though our experience is siloed that way — but being trans is just one of the various facets of being a Human being — and being by a human being is glorious reflection of so many ways life exists,” Moore wrote.
God bless you, may you be protected, and free of any harm people whose hearts are swollen with hatred and resentment may target you with,” she continued. “May peace, grace and mercy be showered upon you through all your days, in this life and the next.”
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