(LOS ANGELES) — Colton Haynes, best known for his roles on the TV shows Teen Wolf and Arrow, has come out as gay in an interview appearing in the latest edition of Entertainment Weekly.
The news doesn’t come as a complete surprise to fans. A Tumblr post in January regarding old racy modeling photos sparked speculation after a fan commented on Haynes’ “secret gay past.” Haynes responded to the ensuing media frenzy with, “Was it a secret?”
People took the response as a confirmation of Haynes’ sexuality, but the 27-year-old actor tells the magazine that wasn’t his intention, insisting, “It was a complete shock. I wasn’t ready to be back in the headlines.”
Adds Colton, “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.”
Colton, who checked into rehab for anxiety following the reports and returned to the hospital over the next three months, says he wasn’t ready to talk publicly out his sexuality, though his family and friends, cast members and Hollywood bosses, already knew.
“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,” he explains.
Now, the actor is ready to start a new chapter in his life, telling Entertainment Weekly, “I’m happier than I’ve ever been, and healthier than I’ve ever been, and that’s what I care about.”
Colton even tweeted the article to his fans Thursday, along with the message, “I believe in livin life to the fullest & takin control of your life story. More to come.”
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