21 times male celebrities had to come out as straight
| 11/19/24
These male celebs set the record straight when it came to their sexualities.
L to R: NLE Choppa, Shawn Mendes, Noah Beck
Mario Skraban/Getty Images; Frank Hoensch/Redferns; Tiffany Rose/Getty Images for Newport Beach Film Festival
While it isdefinitely notthe same as a formerly-closeted LGBTQ+ celeb publicly coming out and living/sharing their truth to the world, sometimes it's the straights who have to do the talking when it comes to explaining the sexualities and identities.
Here are a few instances where famous men had to clarify that they are, in fact, not gay.
Daniel Radcliffe
The Harry Potter and The Lost City alum addressed rumors about his sexuality in 2010 to MTV News while filming a public service announcement for The Trevor Project, one of Radcliffe's favorite nonprofit organizations helping prevent LGBTQ+ youth suicide.
"If people want to say that, they can," he said. "But I'm not. I'm straight."
He continued:
"My favorite thing I saw was a guy on the Internet that said, 'Of course he's gay. He's got a gay face,' which I thought was kind of an odd thing to say anyway. A 'gay face'? That's a very worrying thing, like they have sat at home and have got pictures of me next to other famous, gay [people] -- Elton John, I don't know -- just comparing across the years. I'm not sure. It's very, very odd."
Darren Criss
The Emmy winner who played gay serial killer Andrew Cunanan in The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Storyspoke about his sexuality in a 2011 interview with Out. (Questions about Criss' sexuality surfaced soon after he got the breakout role of Blaine [Kurt's love interest] in Fox's popular musical series Glee.)
"I think it's more empowering to everybody, including myself, if I'm articulate about identifying myself as a straight male playing a gay character," he said when asked about being comfortable playing gay characters. "Ultimately, that's more powerful for both communities."
After winning an Emmy in 2018, Criss then vowed that he wouldn't be taking on any more queer roles in an effort to help LGBTQ+ actors get more working opportunities, saying he understands the importance of LGBTQ+ actors getting to play parts for which they can draw from lived experience.
Zac Efron
In his first gay press interview with The Advocate in 2012, the High School Musical and Hairspray heartthrob opened up about how although he doesn't identify as gay, he finds the love and support he gets from his big, gay fanbase to be "flattering."
"It's very flattering. After High School Musical and Hairspray, I've always felt embraced by the gay community, and I feel incredibly grateful and honored," he said. "This is actually a very special interview for me. I'm extremely aware of the support I've gotten from you guys over the years, and it's amazing that it's taken this long to sit down and actually discuss it, but please know that it hasn't gone unappreciated. I'm so excited to be talking to you."
Jake Gyllenhaal
The Oscar nominee addressed the rumors of him being gay that followed him after his iconic role in Ang Lee's 2005 Oscar-winning, queer-themed film Brokeback Mountain during a 2013 appearance on Inside the Actors Studio.
"It's a huge compliment," he said on the show about fans thinking he was part of the LGBTQ+ community.
Ansel Elgort
The Tokyo Vice and West Side Story actor set the record straight on Twitter back in 2014 after rumors of his sexuality started circulating.
"Just in case it isn't clear...I like girls. A lot," he wrote in a now-deleted tweet. "Also let me say if I was gay I wouldn't hide it. Being gay or straight isn't bad or good it just IS. U are who you are. Be true to yourself."
Andrew Garfield
In response to a controversy that was sparked when The Amazing Spider-Man actor said he was "gay, just without the physical act," Andrew Garfield confirmed his heterosexuality in July of 2017 during an interview with BBC's Newsbeat.
Garfield has made headlines before for kissing other celebrity men, the likes of which include Stephen Colbert and Ryan Reynolds.
Taron Egerton
When the Rocketman star shared a photo of his male friend with the caption "Cutie. My boy <3" to Instagram in October of 2018, many fans thought that the Robin Hood and Kingsman actor had come out as queer. Unfortunately, that wasn't the case, and in an interview the following month with the Radio Times, he cleared up rumors about his sexuality, telling people he isn't gay.
"One of the lads was at my London flat and I Instagrammed a picture of him and said, 'Look at this cutie,' and a million outlets reported I was coming out as gay," he said. "I'm not gay but two of my mates came out when I was 15 and it was a joy to support them because, as a group, we are all secure in who we are."
"I'm certainly not going to stop calling my mates cuties and gorgeous because they are cuties and they are gorgeous."
Cory Booker
Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images
Cory Booker has been one of the biggest names in Democratic polics for the last two decades, and has been a strong supporter of gay rights and trans rights. He was elected mayor of Newark, New Jersey in 2006, and in 2013, was elected to the U.S. Senate in a special election and serves to this day.
In 2018, he talked to The Philadelphia Inquirer about rumors about his sexuality.
"I'm heterosexual," he said. "Every candidate should run on their authentic self, tell their truth, and more importantly, or mostly importantly, talk about their vision for the country."
Shawn Mendes
Frank Hoensch/Redferns
Due to pervasive rumors throughout his career so far, the "If I Can't Have You" singer has had to publicly open up about his straightness multiple times. After already addressing the rumors of him being gay back in 2016, he reiterated his heterosexuality in a November 2018 interview with Rolling Stone and an April 2019 interview with The Guardian.
"I thought, 'You f*cking guys are so lucky I'm not actually gay and terrified of coming out," Mendes told Rolling Stone. "That's something that kills people. That's how sensitive it is. Do you like the songs? Do you like me? Who cares if I'm gay?"
He continued: "Maybe I am a little more feminine--but that's the way it is. That's why I am me."
And in October of 2024, before the release of his self-titled album Shawn, Mendes played a song called "The Mountain" to a crowd in Woodstock, New York, with lyrics that directly addressed the years of gay rumors that have surrounded him.
"Some days/I have a change of heart/You can say what you need to say/You can say I'm too young/You can say I'm too old/You can say I like girls or boys, whatever fits your mold," he sings on the track.
He addressed his sexuality yet again to another concert crowd later that month, saying he was he has "yet to discover" parts about his identity he still hasn't discovered yet."
"The real truth about my life and my sexuality is that I'm just figuring it out like everyone," he said.
Michele Morrone
The 365 Days franchise's leading man had to set the record straight in June of 2021 after a poolside pic of he and his male co-star Simone Susinna getting really close to each other went viral, resulting in people questioning Morrone's sexuality and thinking he publicly came out.
"I woke up with my team calling me saying, 'There's a lot of articles saying that you came out,' because of the picture I took with Simone," Morrone wrote in an Instagram Story post at the time, clearing the air. "He became a very good friend of mine, we're like brothers. We're shooting a movie together. It was just a picture. Nothing more."
Speaking on why he captioned the viral poolside pic with the phrase "I'm a liar," he continued: "An actor is a kind of liar. That's why I wrote that. Acting...as someone who is not. I didn't come out. So, I'm so sorry for the confusion. As I said, I'm a big supporter of the LGBT community."
Misha Collins
The actor, who is best known for playing the role of queer angel Castiel in The CW's long-running television series Supernatural, took to Twitter in April of 2022 to clarify things about his identity after a video went viral where he was seen speaking at a fan event in New Jersey and seemingly came out as bisexual.
"I want to deeply apologize for misspeaking this weekend. At a fan convention in New Jersey, when I was talking with the audience I said that I was 'all three' things: an introvert, an extrovert, and a bisexual," he wrote. "My clumsy intention was to wave off actually discussing my sexuality, but I badly fumbled that and understand that was seen as me coming out as bisexual."
He continued:
"This was not my intention so I need to correct the record: I am not bisexual. I happen to be straight, but I am also a fierce ally and the last thing I want to do is falsely co-opt the struggles of the LGBTQIA+ community. I believe and fully support that we need to sanctify the human right to express our identities honestly and to be free to love whomever we choose openly."
Matt Agnew
Reality TV star and The Bachelor Australia alum Matt Agnew (left) had to set the record straight about his sexuality when internet rumors started circulating that he was gay after he posted pictures of he and his gay friend/fellow Aussie TV personality Khanh Ong (right) getting close while on vacation in Vietnam.
"It's the lack of affection straight men show other men that people assume there must be something sexual there," Agnew said while appearing on Ong's podcast Feastin Februry of 2023. "Being affectionate and tactile with your friends, and blokes especially need to do more of this. Everyone should be comfortable enough in their sexuality that they don’t feel uncomfortable showing affection, men or women."
Will Young
The Love Island UK season 9 contestant had to reassure fans about his sexuality and confirm that he isn't gay in a March 2023 interview with the Daily Mirrorafter speculation started swirling online about him during his time on the popular reality dating competition show.
"I was 100% myself in the villa. I’m happy with myself and I’m happy with Jessie," Young said about his romantic partnership with Jessie Wynter.
"My brother is gay, and so I’m all for it," he continued. "I don’t think anyone can say that to me in a negative way. As a person, I’m very outgoing and charismatic, and I’m not going to change."
Tyler James Williams
The Abbott Elementary star took to his Instagram stories and publicly addressed rumors about his sexuality in June 2023, sharing that although he isn't gay, he is an ally and that the culture of trying to "overanalyze" someone's behavior to try and out them is dangerous and homophobic.
"Usually I wouldn’t address stuff like this, but I feel like it as a conversation is bigger than me," he wrote. "I’m not gay, but I think the culture of trying to ‘find’ some kind of hidden trait or behavior that a closed person ‘let slip’ is very dangerous."
He continued:
"Overanalyzing someone's behavior in an attempt to "catch" them directly contributes to the anxiety a lot of queer and queer questioning people feel when they fear living in their truth. It makes the most pedestrian of conversations and interactions in spaces feel less safe for our gay brothers and sisters and those who may be questioning. It also reinforces an archetype many straight men have to live under that is often times unrealistic, less free, and limits individual expressing. Being straight doesn’t look one way. Being gay doesn’t look one way."
Josue Vargas
The Bronx-based professional boxer and OnlyFans creator released a statement about his sexuality, clarifying that he is straight, in June 2023 after filming content with a fellow male OnlyFans creator named EJ.
"First of all, I want to start by apologizing to all my fans, friends, family, and supporters for the unexpected mess about my 'sexuality,'" Josue Vargas wrote in the statement, which was posted to his Instagram. "I want to make It clear that I have nothing against someone's personal sexual preference. HOWEVER, I am not 'bi' nor 'gay.' I AM STRAIGHT. I understand people will have their own opinions and thoughts about the situation and they are entitled to that but I guess it is what it is. It's part of our new 'NORM.'"
Noah Beck
In July of 2023, the popular TikTok and social media star did a YouTube interview with Zach Sang where he opened up and clarified his sexuality.
When the influencer shared a video of himself on-stage during a burlesque performance where one of the performers called him gay, many of his fans took that to mean he was publicly coming out. Beck continued to say that he thought the video was funny and he knows that his sexuality is a topic that fans often bring up, so “I thought it was funny to just kind of throw it out there.”
“People were like, ‘Is this a coming-out video?’ And I was like, ‘no, it’s just a funny video,” he said.
“So you're not coming out?” the host then asked Beck.
“No. People have a hard time… I grew up with two sisters, I grew up playing soccer, and I grew up in a very female-dominated household and I’m just not afraid to be in touch with my feminine side,” he continued, also addressing fans who he called “aggressive” in their beliefs on his sexuality. “They’re like ‘Oh no there’s no way he’s not,’ and I’m like, ‘what’s even the point of saying anything?’” he said.
He had to set the record straight for the second time in April of 2024, when online trolls started assuming he was gay after he posted a video hugging his male friend while the two were hanging out at weekend one of Coachella 2024.
"Y'all don't be hugging ur friends???" he captioned a picture, addressing the rumors about his sexuality.
Meek Mill
Prince Williams/Wireimage via Getty Images
In February of 2024, following online speculation about his sexuality, Mill took to social media to clarify that he is not gay and that “juicy p#%sy do it for meeeeeee.”
“When I got a girl around me I’m f#%king her twice a day lol ask some of ya favorites… pussy don’t control me but it’s like a high,” Mill wrote in a post on X (formerly Twitter). “One love to gay people, but that juicy p#%sy do it for meeeeeee. I done ran red lights to get that feeling y’all weird on here like devils lol.”
The chatter about Mill being gay stemmed from a bombshell lawsuit filed against megaproduer and artist Sean “Diddy” Combs by Rodney “Lil Rod” Jones, who alleges that Diddy repeatedly sexually assaulted him by groping his genitals and anus while working on the musician’s latest album from 2022 to 2023.
The lawsuit also alleges that Combs allegedly told Jones that he had sex with an unnamed rapper and an R&B singer, as well as Bad Boy producer Stevie J. Some people on X were speculating that Mill might be the unnamed rapper.
Austin Victoria
Instagram (@sean.palmieri)
In May of 2024, drama exploded in the reality TV world during season three of Netflix's Selling the OC premiered when bisexual castmate Sean Palmieri (pictured right) accused his friend and co-star Austin Victoria (pictured left, who is married to a woman) of being flirty with him and leading him on romantically.
Following the allegation, Victoria took to his Instagram account to release a lengthy statement denying Palmieri's claims of flirtatious behavior and saying that although he has LGBTQ+ friends who he loves and supports, he is a straight man.
"Love is Love! I agree with this 100%. I love my LGBTQ+ friends and I have and always will support them. Period," he wrote.
"Lastly, I'm a straight man." he continued in his statement. "I love my wife and we have never and will never 'experiment.' I can care less what you do in your personal life. Zero judgement here, do what makes YOU happy!"
Nicholas Galitzine
Lexie Moreland/WWD via Getty Images
Although Galitzine has starred as gay royalty in both Red, White & Royal Blue and Mary & George, as well as played queer in a bunch of other projects like Bottoms and Handsome Devil, he actually is straight.
"I identify as a straight man, but I have been a part of some incredible queer stories," he told GQ in 2024. "I felt a sense of uncertainty sometimes about whether I’m taking up someone’s space, and perhaps guilt. At the same time, I see those characters as not solely their sexuality."
Tyde Levi
Troye Sivan's younger brother, Tyde Levi, first went viral after sharing a video celebrating that he had access to Sivan's wardrobe while the singer was away touring. Following that video, many fans wondered if Levi also identified himself as being queer, which prompted him to respond with a parody of a Charli XCX video.
"I'm not bi. Sorry if I let you down," Levi said.
NLE Choppa
Mario Skraban/Getty Images
Though he is a proud and vocal LGBTQ+ ally, hip-hop star NLE Choppa went on-the-record during a November 2024 appearance on Yung Miami's Caresha Please interview series and addressed ongoing rumors about his own sexuality. He clarified that he is not bisexual and that when it comes to intimacy, he is attracted to women.
"It’s plenty of respect for those who [are bisexual] but I love women when it comes to intimacy," Choppa told Miami. "Me personally, I love them extremely."
He then expressed his love for everyone, especially his appreciation for his LGBTQ+ fans.
"I’m appreciative of it. I’m appreciative of it," he said of the support and love from queer listeners. "I love all people, though. I love bisexual males, I love gay males. I don’t mind them. They don’t do anything to discomfort my space [but] when it comes to my preference when I’m laying it low down, women.”
