Imagine Dragons frontman Dan Reynolds talked with Ellen about his documentary, "Believer," in which he struggles with his strict Mormon faith and his own beliefs on equality for the LGBT community.
I have always loved Imagine Dragons but this interview made me realize that not only is Dan Reynolds an incredibly talented musician, but he's also an amazing human being! That is so rare among celebrities. Loved this!
Hello Michael! I think we have all faced some kind of prejudice or discrimination. I am a Latin girl who lives in Australia, I speak English as best I can and I try to find my place. But I am ME and I am trying to show this society how special I am because I am different. People who do not conform to the mould are original people, more fun and more interesting. I bet you're a very special person. A big hug my friend!
Someone on Quora wrote this interpretation of their song "Demons" a while back: "I think it is about someone with depression with the associated guilt and self loathing. They feel everything is hopeless and push others away because they don’t want to burden them. The know they desperately need help but are unwilling and unable to ask for it. At the same time they secretly hope that someone will see through their facade and reach out to them." This is so accurate.
EST You’re right about the depression part. When I went to their concert, Dan was explaining how Demons was about his depression during his darkest times.
“Whatever It Takes” is extremely ambiguous and can be applied to _any_ situation where someone has to overcome something. It applies to every human on Earth.
If you’ve never been to an Imagine Dragons Concert. You’re missing one of life’s best experiences. This band is outstanding, and underrated for their talent level
A wise "Mormon" authority said "Don't judge me because I sin differently than you do." A true member would never shame someone who isn't perfect because we all aren't.
Dan Reynolds is one of a kind. He really is special. So talented, so beautiful in and out. Bless him and Ellen too, for spreading a bit of love, and sharing and a lot of common sense.
I have been an admiring fan of Imagine Dragons, but from this interview I have gained a deep respect and appreciation. As a Jew I can still relate to this and feel gratitude toward Dan Reynolds. Thank you for your wisdom.
I was raised Mormon and I’m bisexual, and the inner conflict was rough as hell. I’m so glad he’s talking about this openly. It NEEDS to be talked about. 💗💜💙
I couldn't agree more with with Ellen And Dan reynolds. Religion is for peace,You shouldn't use it to threaten people for who they like and who they want to be. At last we are all people,Why spread hate when we have the ability to love
mormons dont threaten lgbt, we just dont agree with their ways, that is literally it and its the same with muslims, other christians, jews, hindus, etc. so why is ellen ONLY shaming mormons?
I can totally relate to this as a Muslim, my family do put alot of pressure on me to follow my religion. So i have to keep my thoughts to myself. Love dan so much 💜
I'll be sure to turn to your imaginary friend who will torture me for touching myself or eating shrimp but allow me to sell my daughter into slavery or trade her for a cow.
LOL well you only have to do it that way if you want to try to earn your way into heaven but since the theocratic nation of Israel has been replaced, the easier way is to believe the gospel. You can eat all the shrimp and bacon you want!
This is probably the best Ellen interview I've ever seen. I teared up watching it. Dan is such a kind, intelligent, powerful person and seeing him talk about these difficult things with such love and grace is really inspiring.
This is such a coincidence. I'm a mormon myself. The other day I was having a conversation with one of my family members about how Imagine Dragons can still keep all the commandments while thriving in the music industry. And his comment was they're probably not devoted as much as before. I know I'm not active anymore but once you're a mormon, you are a mormon for life. The sense of guilt is kind of cemented in your head all the times.
Unfortunately, I can relate to that to some extent. Where I live, a lot of members of my church are accepting and would be fine with LGTBQ members, but some of them are very strict and upturned against them against what we're being taught, and it makes me sad. The one kid in my seminary class intentionally walks away or ignores people he knows to be LGTBQ. (He's also the kind of kid to go around telling non members not to drink coffee).
My daughter got me listening to Imagine Dragons. I Love them and even braved 17 degrees cold on New Year's Eve to take her to see them. Changed me so much.
As an LGBT youth raised in the mormon church, this interview is one of the reasons my mom accepted me. She even left the church because she couldn't be apart of a religion that treated LGBT people the way that they do. I have nothing against the mormon church and am only speaking through my own experiences. But thank you Dan Reynolds for what you've done for me and my family just through speaking your truth
Dans the type of person that you should never let go of in a friendship or do him wrong. He's so real and opinionated in a good way. I wish I were friends with him.
Wow! As someone who was raised Mormon like Dan, I applaud your bravery and strength. Because when you are raised believing one thing your whole life, then as an adult have that question of why am I not good enough, there is so much shame. I’ve learned to look past that and to not feel that way. How amazing to be a public figure and to be able to make such a wonderful, positive impact on the youth! Keep it up!!!
Dan speaks to me. In every single song I hear a story of him struggling. He has come so far and with every song I listen to keeps me alive. I am a struggling girl and since “it’s time” I understand him. Radioactive has a huge meaning to me. Hopeless Opus has a even bigger meaning to me. I think that society is taking huge steps back. I am happy he is talking about this. This is an issue. He has been depressed I am depressed but he keeps me alive and I bet if he knew this, I bet knowing he keeps millions of people alive keep him alive so he can save more, not all heroes wear capes, not all have powers. Imagine Dragons as a whole is the reason I am still here. Have a nice day or night!
I love this man so much. His music, the whole band helped me through depression and today I am blessed with life. Blessed to see a new day. Thank you Dan. Thank you Imagine Dragons.
He does ALL of this while also suffering from an auto immune disease called ankylosing spondylitis which I also have. He speaks out on the disease to bring awareness and does a live show called This AS Life live. These videos have helped me SO much to not feel alone with this disease. What an amazing human being!! 😁❤
Wow, thank you Dan. You speak for so many. "Sometimes you have to offend people." really resinated. Guilt is incredibly powerful and can be soooo devastating. To do the work, overcome your guilt, embrace who you are and own your truth is pure joy and beautiful freedom.
I always relate to their songs, I felt an attachment. Their songs felt like a friend for me. Thank you Imagine Dragons for your masterpieces 💕 Dan reynolds will always be my inspiration 💕
Listening to this was difficult to because it hits too close to home. Thank you for your strength, and giving a voice to those who feel or have felt hopeless. Thank you Dan!
Yeah I remember at the evolve tour in Dublin he said "it's ok to have a therapist" and I don't know why but those words stuck with me even though I don't have depression or any mental illness.
It's so amazing to learn that the people you looked up to because of their talents are also so good at heart and sensible. These are the kinda people we need to make more famous.
I have always been fascinated by his songs and felt such a pain and then a release. It was like I felt peace after hearing him. The first song I remember was "Demon" and then I never stopped. All of his songs, almost all of them are in my every day playlist. I owe him lots of night when a single piece of music saved me from doing harm to myself. I promised to live for another day. And today, I can't stop living enough! I partially owe that to you Dan and I love you for that.
I hope anyone who watches this that wants less judgement in the world will extend that same idea to religions as well. I am a member of the LDS Church (A Mormon) and I care so deeply for those in our religion that feel like outsiders or feel lost and alone. Anyone truly living our religion would only show love and kindness to anyone who is struggling. I know our church leaders are very aware of the suicide crisis and are working so hard at being part of the solution. You can be religious and be kind.
The reason of why Imagine Dragons is one of my favorite band is because of the deep meaning of their songs. They have helped me so much so please remember you didn't born to live up people expectations♡
I went to their show in Mansfield this month. It was that day I had a PTSD break down as I had CPR for work and I watched my husband 5 years ago die and have CPR for 45 mins. I felt like a failure.. and at the show he talked about mental health. How we are one and it's ok to feel this way... I left feeling ok about how I felt and felt so much better.
I just have to add that the majority of Mormons (myself included) are EXTREMELY loving and accepting of everyone regardless of their sexual orientation or whoever they are. I’m happy that Dan can express his views and feeling and I do hope it helps as many people as possible. It’s hard to see the Mormon church singled out however because it’s one of the most loving religions out there
I relate to him so much. For once in my life I can say that there is someone that I can relate to. This is amazing!!! To hear him say this just made me feel so at ease. Finally. Oh and hes just Beautiful!!!!
As a devout Christian I know Jesus Christ commands us to LOVE whether or not we agree with someone. He also does not want us to judge others. I am proud to be a born again Christian and I am also proud to love.
I love the Imagine Dragons I've been a huge fan of them for years now. After watching this the song Demons makes a whole lot of sense to me now. Love from Fiji🇫🇯🇫🇯🇫🇯✌✌✌
I wish that I had someone like you Dan in my life, it would helped me to speak out against the ones that abuse me during my childhood. It wasn't easy! And still comes back in my head. Today I'm 44yrs and I so shar my stories with my friends and people around. I hope that i can help then to protect they kids, telling then what happened and how it was it may ill make a better future to us ❤️
I think this is such a cool segment. Im not mormon but its cool that you still have your own beliefs but still believe in what they consider is wrong! So right you need to be in it for change ! Hopefully these stats change 💜
I come back to this video when I’m struggling with how the church makes me feel. I’m heading down the same path as him and know that you can make it out happy
I've been listening to Imagine Dragons for about 5-6 years, I've always known his songs were about sadness or some sort of angry feelings. That's why some of his songs are completely weird and very not straight forward, a lot of metaphors. Like, I'm So Sorry, Friction, The Fall, Bet My Life, TipToe, Amsterdam, and almost EVERY song are unordinary but amazing. I love both his mainstream songs but if yoy love Believer, Thunder, Radioactive I suggest his old songs too their simply incredible and so damn catchy!
Well done, sir. Take inspiration whenever and wherever you can. Follow your own heart and path. And beware of any organization or person claiming to know all the answers.
I love her, I love him I love all his words and I wish society starts to grow up a bit more FASTER. So we all could be accepted, respected and loved. All my love from Iceland guys
that's right. i totally with ellen de genneres. "a lot of kids are going to stay alive because of you, dan reynolds. you are going to save many lives."
Really well spoken; however I'm hoping that the RU-vid community and everyone who sees this realizes this is not the viewpoint of all Christians.We're called to love one another and anyone who goes against that, especially for something that isn't even a sin, isn't doing it right. I also wish too that people would be a little more respectful of others beliefs regardless. Just because I'm a Christian doesn't mean I'n homophobic...quite the opposite. Just my two cents.
Honestly the particularly cruel and vocal are really a minority but they're louder and also the media have a field day showing the worst/most vocal cus that's what gets them views, it's honestly very disheartening and leaves a really bad representation of most communities, not just religions but they do get the brunt of it
Message Comment I definitely can't talk for others here but I never meant you had to agree homosexuality. It's how you treat them that matters though. We're called to treat everyone with love regardless and not to take judgement it our own hands. It is possible to not agree with something but still be loving and respectful to those who do
I totally agree! I also find that as a Jewish person, when he said that judaism was in a similar vein to strict Mormons, it felt important to add that the ultra religious community only forms a small part of the global jewish population. For the majoirty of people I know from many religious background, acceptance is a pillar in which the tradition stands on and hopefully the voices of reason and good will one day be heard louder than those of hate.
Wow it's scary how much I relate to his story, growing up mormon and the guilt of being intimate with the person I love was exactly what drove me out of the church. Thank you for this interview and showing me that I'm not alone.
Dear Ellen, I want you know there are a lot of Mormons that are loving others and thinking for themselves. We all want these stats to change. We are trying to live by Jesus' example of loving each other and even your motto of being kind to one another. Please be kind to us, and religion in general. We don't believe in all the same things, but I love you, your goodness, and generosity. I watch all your videos! Love, Kat
Kathryn Mitchell you know what, I believe in you, I'm not a mormon and I only know one and she was a good friend to me and has a beautiful soul, so you are. ❤️
Kathryn Mitchell Kathryn Mitchell you know what, I believe in you, I'm not a mormon and I only know one and she was a good friend to me and has a beautiful soul, so you are. ❤️
Perfectly said. We are all striving for perfection, but no one is perfect. We are all trying to live and love as the Savior did. You can still love a person, and not love all the choices they have made in life.
The Tolley Crew Though, falling in love with someone and not falling in love with another is not a choice that people (gay or straight alike) make in their lives. You cannot control whom you fall in love with, and I'm not taking about just attractions. I'm talking about being happy spending the rest of your life with a certain person, the match, the comparability, the feeling you have for that person, the love you feel. You cannot choose whom that person you feel all this will be.
I don't think The Tolley Crew was talking about falling in love as much as just loving everyone around us. It's just like Dan Reynolds said in the video, that when you stand for what you believe there are going to be people that disagree with that, and that goes for both sides. But disagreeing on certain issues doesn't mean we can't love people that are different from us.
I'm so happy that this discussion took place and that Dan has opened up in so many ways. I live in Utah, grew up staunch Mormon, and came out at 17. That was in 1997. Now 21 years later it's surprising how much is changed going by the people I grew up with, family that accepts, and family that vehemently disagrees and is disgusted with. There has been a lot of change, but so much is still rooted in religion right up to the elected "leaders", that depression and other mental illnesses are all too common, teens are disowned, and suicide is high. It breaks my heart that so much tragedy and despair happens on a daily basis, but warms my heart that there are people like Dan from Utah that have opened their minds and hearts to truly live unconditional love.
I can relate so much about the guilt, depression, judgement of being Mormon and being part of that community. Thanks for doing what you are Mr. Reynolds. I left the church (single straight parents don't have a place either) but my family is very active. I understand so well.
