Ex on the Beach’s David Barta is ‘more free than ever’ after coming out as pansexual
The reality TV star came out as pansexual during the premiere episode of Ex on the Beach's fifth season.
Words: Alastair James; pictures: Twitter/@DavidBarta
Ex on the Beach reality star, David Barta, says he feels “more free than ever” after coming out as pansexual.
Barta, a former Baseball player, and Mr Interntaional USA 2019 made the announcement during the premiere episode of the fifth season of MTV’s dating show.
In a tweet on 1 April, he said “Coming out as Pansexual on TV was definitely the hardest thing I’ve ever done, but I feel happier and more free than ever”.
Coming out as Pansexual on TV was definitely the hardest thing I’ve ever done, but I feel happier and more free than ever 🌈 just posted my full story on my IG. Love you all and can’t wait to share more soon ❤️✌🏼
— David Barta (@DavidBarta) April 1, 2022
He added that he’d posted his full story on Instagram as well as saying, “Love you all and can’t wait to share more soon”.
On Twitter people were full of love for the star’s announcement with one person sharing: “as a newly out pansexual male as well from a faith background, thank you. the feelings and emotions are valid and it’s so refreshing to see it represented in a way that is real and honest.”
as a newly out pansexual male as well from a faith background, thank you. the feelings and emotions are valid and it’s so refreshing to see it represented in a way that is real and honest. so excited to watch your journey david!
— carlos tucker rivera (@biverabarlos) April 1, 2022
Others congratulated the star, who later tweeted his thanks saying: “The support and love I’ve felt is absolutely like nothing I’ve felt before”.
Just wanted to say that I woke up this morning with a heart so full of gratitude for every single one of you. The support and love I’ve felt is absolutely like nothing I’ve felt before 🥺❤️
— David Barta (@DavidBarta) April 1, 2022
In a screenshot of an Instagram post on his account, which is currently set to private, seen by Out, Barta defines what pansexual is according to the Merriam Webster dictionary before explaining: “this is part of what and who I am.
“My sexuality does not define me,” he continues “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. I can’t tell you how many countless nights I spent laying awake in bed unsettled and wondering ‘What am I?’, or ‘What are people going to think? Will someone ever really love me if I’m this way?’.”
He reveals that since coming out to his “conservative Baptist Christian” family last September, the three months that followed were “some of the hardest” for his family but that “we love each other more than ever.”
Sharing that his preferred terms for his identity are “Sexually Fluid,” he says people call it pansexual or bisexual but that ultimately he’s still “the same exact person, just a little more honest and open to what life has in store for me.”
Barta came to fame on Fox’s Paradise Hotel, where he presented as straight and dated costar Kendall Galan.
According to Out, Barta said during Ex on Beach S5’s first episode: “I think I’m here definitely to get to know myself better and accept myself more”. He also told the show that he’s still learning things and that “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.”
The first episode closed with Barta and Mike Mulderrig from Lindsay Lohan’s Beach Club, who identifies as bisexual, sharing a kiss.
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