Singer Rayvon Owen and activist Shane
Bitney Crone are dating.
Owen, who finished fourth in season 14
of American Idol, came
out gay on Valentine's Day, telling Billboard that he had
only “omitted” the truth about his sexuality.
He also released a video for his single
Can't Fight It, in which the 24-year-old kisses another man,
played by activist Shane Bitney Crone.
Crone is the subject of the 2013 film
Bridegroom, which documents the rejection he faced from his
boyfriend's family after his accidental death.
In a Facebook post, Crone said that he
met Owen during a 2013 World AIDS Day event in Detroit where Owen was
performing and Crone was volunteering. He said it was love at first
sight.
“This was how love was supposed to
happen. No lies. No games. Just two people who could be themselves
with each other,” Crone wrote.
Crone also said that he was “proud of
and inspired by” Owen for “using this significant moment in his
career to do something that could empower young people.”