'The Borgias' François Arnaud Comes Out as Bisexual to Fight Stigma

The Canadian actor who played Cesare Borgia on Showtimes' The Borgias has come out as bisexual. Francois Arnaud made the announcement on his Instagram story just in time for Bi Visibility Day this Wednesday.

"Last week, I was chatting with work friends, and as I brought up a trip I'd taken with an ex-girlfriend, I asked myself --for the ten-thousandth time-- how to tell such a story without making it seem like that was the whole story of me."

Arnaud explained how "many bisexual guys feel the same way" and end up "letting other people's assumptions of straightness stand uncorrected."

The 35-year-old actor then made clear he wasn't shaming or pointing fingers, but instead explaining the difficulties that come with coming out such as the "fear of oversharing" or "because 'masculinity' is a most fragile currency, ready to nose-dive at the first sign of vulnerability or difference." Arnaud admitted part of the reason many bisexuals remain closeted is "because it's really fucking scary to give up your privilege. Without a doubt because stigmas of indecisiveness, infidelity, deception and trendiness are still clinging to bisexuality."

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"But here's the thing," Arnaud went on. "Silence has the perverse effect of perpetuating those stereotypes, making bi guys invisible, and leading people to doubt that we even exist. No wonder it's still a chore to acknowledge bisexuality without getting into lengthy explanations. So yes, labels are frustrating and words, imperfect. But I've always considered myself bisexual. Not confused or trying to look edgy. Not disloyal. Not ashamed. Not invisible. Happy #bivisibilityday this Wednesday."

In addition to his work on The Borgias, Arnaud also played Antonin Rimbaud in Xavier Dolan's I Killed My Mother, Tonny Castelli on UnReal, and Manfred Bernardo on NBC's Midnight, Texas. He also had a one episode stint on the emmy winning Schitt's Creek in 2017.

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