David Barta came out as pansexual during the premiere episode of the fifth season of MTV's Ex on the Beach, which came as a pleasant surprise to certain viewers.
Barta became a reality TV star during his stint on Fox's Paradise Hotel, where he presented as straight and dated costar Kendall Galan. However, it didn't take long for him to open up on Ex on the Beach about the recent journey he's had with his sexuality.
"I think I'm here definitely to get to know myself better and accept myself more," a nervous Barta said during the episode. "A big thing that has been going on for me, behind closed doors, in the past year and a half or so, has been my sexuality." Barta explained that he's still figuring out where he lies in the sexuality spectrum, noting, "Talking to guys is still pretty new for me. I've been interested in men for years now, I just haven't been honest with myself."
On his Instagram - which is currently set to private - Barta also shared a full coming-out statement:
"Pansexual: relating to, or characterized by sexual or romantic attraction that is not limited to people of a particular gender identity or sexual orientation. Per Merriam-Webster Dictionary, this is part of what and who I am. My sexuality does not define me but it is definitely part of who I am. Over the last two years, I've come to the realization that I am not a straight man."
He continued:
"Call it Pansexual, call it Bisexual, call it Sexually Fluid (my preference), or all of the above. It's me. Above all these titles, I'm just David. I'm still the same exact person, just a little more honest and open to what life has in store for me."
The current season of MTV's Ex on the Beach is full of LGBTQ+ representation. Besides Barta, this cast features gay men Joelle Brian and Jonathan Troncoso (World of Dance), bisexual women Kyra Green and Emily Salch (Love Island USA), trans woman Arisce Wanzer (Strut), and bisexual man Mike Mulderrig (Lindsay Lohan's Beach Club).
At the premiere, Mulderrig talked about his back-and-forth DMs with Barta over the years on social media. Mulderrig acknowledged that there was always some light "flirting" in their conversations, but he felt like Barta was just a straight guy he had a crush on, not someone he could actually pursue. Meanwhile, Barta revealed that Mulderrig was the first guy he felt attracted to as he started to explore his sexuality. At the end of the first episode, Barta and Mulderrig were spotted doing a confessional interview together that culminated in them sharing their first kiss on the show.
This season is only getting started, so Barta's sexuality and a potential fling with Mulderrig might become a recurring storyline in subsequent episodes.
Ex on the Beach season 5 airs Thursdays at 8pm ET/PT on MTV.
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