Dwight Howard is speaking out about the controversy that surrounded him last year.

The NBA star went forward in a 2-part sit-down interview on FS1’s Fair Game that aired on July 17 to 18. Speaking in the interview the Howard addressed allegations that he was gay in a 2018 lawsuit that shook his world.

“I went through a situation last year that really just set me free,” Howard admits referring to the allegations. “It ended up being a situation that was — it went viral. People were talking about it, and it upset me because I didn’t even know who the person was. Why would somebody who I never met, never had any contact with, make up a whole story about me? I saw all the hate, the pure hate, from people that I’ve never met before, just pile up everywhere I went,” the basketball player explained.

Howard went on to describe how his experience “liberated” him. “Because I saw how a lot of people would feel, whether they’re gay or they’re straight. Whether they have issues. People are afraid to be who they are,” he says. “They’re afraid to just step out and be. Because they’re afraid of what other people might say or think about them. That situation made me realize you’re not like this, but just be you, be free.”

The NBA player also confirmed that he doesn’t identify as gay. “I’m not gay,” he confirms, explaining, “It’s a lot of people who are and they have to hide and it’s people who have mental issues and they have to hide. It’s people who have different problems in life and they have to hide. They have to put on the mask every day. It’s like, I don’t want to wear no mask. I just want to be.”