Janelle Monáe Describes Battle With Mercury Poisoning: ‘I Started Feeling My Mortality’

Janelle Monáe is characteristically circumspect when asked about her relationship status in a new interview in The Cut. The singer who has made a career of trying on personas and pushing and pulling at the boundaries of what tradiationally passes as popular music and imagery in her art told the reporter, "I don't talk about the folks I'm dating." 

But she did open up about one subject: motherhood. The singer revealed that she is interested in the idea of motherhood, but is just trying to find the right time, professionally and personally, to take a step back and have a child.

First, though, she has to get healthy again as she recovers from mercury poisoning, which she said she got after becoming a pescatarian. "I started feeling my mortality," she told the magazine about switching to a vegetarian diet that includes fish and other aquatic animals. 

Experts suggest that expectant mothers or those trying to get pregnant avoid raw fish such as sushi and take care to monitor mercury levels in the fish (swordfish, shark, mackerel, tuna) you are eating.

At press time, a spokesperson for Monáe could not be reached for additional information about her mercury poisoning recovery.