Chris 'Leave Britney Alone' Crocker Responds to Reports About His Looks

It's been about nine years since Chris Crocker became an e-celebrity after posting his now-infamous "LEAVE BRITNEY ALONE" video to YouTube.

Crocker is back in the headlines this week, however, after a number of media outlets published stories about the social media star's current looks. Several headlines call the YouTube star "hot" and while Crocker said he "likes the compliments," he is also speaking out about what's considered attractive.

"We all like compliments so I'm not going to complain about the fact 'Chris Crocker has gotten hot' has become an international headline... but at the same time, I just hope people realize being hot is a state of mind," he said in an Instagram post Tuesday. "Inner confidence means way more than a million people affirming your 'hotness.' Thanks for the recent love. Truly. But just know: You should always let yourself feel attractive. Not just when society says you are."

He also spoke with the Independent about the recent attention, echoing his comments he posted on Instagram.

"We should always feel attractive, not just when society tells us that we're attractive," Crocker told the website. "For many years of my life I have identified as transgender and I have not had the finances to transition. Living in a town where it's not safe for me to be my full self, I have adapted to my surroundings. So when I hear I've got 'hot' I immediately think, 'was I not hot before because I was androgynous?'"

Since becoming an Internet sensation in 2007, Crocker has earned an impressive social media following (345,000 Instagram followers, 200,000 on Twitter, and nearly 2.6 million on Facebook), dabbled in music and TV and even had a short-lived porn career.

Check out Crocker's full interview with the Independent by clicking here. Also, re-watch Crocker's epic video below.