Kim Petras opens up about dating struggles and secret relationships
The singer revealed her dating experiences helped shape themes on her new album, Detour
Kim Petras has opened up about the challenges she has faced in her dating life, revealing that many of her past relationships were kept out of the public eye by the men she dated.
In a recent interview with Stereogum, the pop star reflected on her personal experiences and how they inspired themes explored on her latest album, Detour.
Petras said she has rarely encountered men who were willing to openly pursue a relationship with her, explaining that many preferred to keep their connections private.
“In my dating experiences, I've rarely met guys who openly wanted to date me,” she said. “It was always kind of like DL, and I really wanted to address that.”
The singer noted that those experiences influenced her music, particularly her song 101, which she described as a reflection of both her past and present self.
Elsewhere on Detour, Petras explores themes surrounding secretive relationships and the complexities of dating athletes.
She said the subject emerged naturally while developing the album's narrative and emotional arc.
Discussing tracks such as B**** Ball Out and Basketball, Petras explained that she was interested in examining the tension that can exist when relationships remain hidden from public view.
“It fit narratively really well into this project,” she said, adding that the concept reflected different experiences and versions of herself encountered through various relationships.
Beyond dating, Petras also reflected on her ongoing artistic evolution and her fascination with reinvention, a hallmark of many successful pop careers.
The singer described herself as naturally shy, explaining that music allows her to express aspects of her personality that she may not feel comfortable sharing in everyday life.
“I’m a pretty shy person, and the music allows me to live out the parts of myself that I am maybe too afraid to live out in real life,” she said.
Petras added that her frequent artistic transformations stem from a belief that people should feel free to evolve and redefine themselves throughout their lives.
“I like reinvention and the use of persona,” she explained. “It shows that you can always change your life and your perspective, and it's never too late or too early to do that.”