Bruno Mars - Bruno Mars' Rep: 'Bruno Is Not Gay'

Gossip about the Grenade hitmaker's sexual orientation emerged on Sunday (01Apr12), suggesting Mars had come "out of the closet" during an interview on a Chicago, Illinois radio station.

The apparent confession was soon picked up by CNN's iReport blog, which quoted the singer as saying: "The timing is bad. I hadn't realised it was April Fool's Day, but it's been pointed out to me, and I don't want to go too public with this."

But Mars' spokesperson has now dismissed the "false" claims, telling GossipCop.com the quotes were made up.

Cnn's article has since been removed from its website.

Mars is known for his persona as a ladies' man and even features on the cover of the new Playboy magazine for the publication's Sex and Music issue. He is photographed playing the guitar as Playboy Playmate Raquel Pomplun straddles his leg, under the coverline, "Bruno Mars: Makin' the Ladies Sweat".