Colton Haynes officially comes out as gay

Colton Haynes has officially come out as a gay man.

Th 27-year-old heartthrob, who shot to fame on MTV’s Teen Wolf and as hooded vigilante Arsenal on superhero drama Arrow, has confirmed the news five months after he seemingly acknowledged his sexuality in a coy comment to a fan on Tumblr – one which was quickly picked up by media outlets around the world.

“It was a complete shock. I wasn’t ready to be back in the headlines,” Haynes told Entertainment Weekly, in an interview published yesterday (May 5). “I should have made a comment or a statement, but I just wasn’t ready.

“I didn’t feel like I owed anyone anything. I think in due time, everyone has to make those decisions when they’re ready, and I wasn’t yet. But I felt like I was letting people down by not coming forward with the rest of what I should have said.”

After following early advice to shield his sexuality from the public, back in January Haynes replied to a Tumblr comment about his “secret gay past” with the words: “Was it a secret? Let’s all just enjoy life & have no regrets”.

194863.original

The actor, who has been open about his mental health issues in the past, revealed that after the incident he checked himself into rehab for “terminal anxiety,” as he decided how to move forward.

“People want you to be that GQ image that you put out, but people don’t realize what it’s like to act 24 hours a day,” he said. “I’d go home and I was still acting. People who are so judgmental about those who are gay or different don’t realize that acting 24 hours a day is the most exhausting thing in the world.”

While the incident forced him to come to terms with his own identity, both personal and public, Colton admits he’s now in a better pace than ever.

“It took me so long to get to this point, but I’m doing so good” he said. “I’m happier than I’ve ever been, and healthier than I’ve ever been, and that’s what I care about.”

In This Article: