Will & Grace’s Sean Hayes regrets ‘not coming out’ during the show’s run
Sean Hayes played one of the most popular gay character in history on television.
From 1998 to 2006, Hayes played Jack McFarland in NBC’s Will & Grace and during the show’s run, refused to discuss his sexuality.
In an interview with Playbill he explains that it was something he now wishes he handled differently.
He said, “I had personal issues inside of myself that I regret.”
“I regret not coming out sooner and helping more people, and I regret not coming out during the show.”
Hayes reveals he had been ‘out’ since his teenage years but when he became famous, it all changed.
“I got Will & Grace and I thought, ‘Oh, this is different. I don’t know how to handle this. I’m not bright enough, I’m not quick enough, I don’t have the DNA to be a spokesperson for any kind of group of people.'”
He continues, “Everybody in the gay community knew I was gay, but it was this fight I had with the press because they want you to come out on their terms, and other gay people what you to come out on their terms, and if you don’t come out on their terms you’re just an asshole, and you’re wrong.”
“Well, each individual human being has a lot of stuff that nobody knows about. Nobody knows what anybody else is going through at any point in their lives.”
Sean married his partner of 8 years, Scott Icenogle, in 2014.
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