The actor says that he was bullied after coming out as a gay to his friend and family when he was only 14, and was later told that his sexuality was why his father killed himself.
- Aug 11, 2016
AceShowbiz - Colton Haynes has been living a happier life now since he publicly came out as a gay. However, the actor said in a heartbreaking interview with Out magazine that things were really hard for him when he first revealed his sexuality to his family back when he was still a teenager.
The former "Arrow" star told the magazine that he found out he was gay when he was a first grader, but came out to his family and friend when he was 14. People around him, unfortunately, weren't really supportive. He ended up being bullied by his classmates and his mom's reaction prompted him to run away from home for three weeks.
His coming out was also said to be the reason behind his dad's suicide. For those who don't know, Haynes and his father had been estranged prior to the latter's death. Haynes was staying with a friend when a relative called him and told him his dad had killed himself.
"I'm the last person in the world who would say, 'Oh, my dad - pity me.' But I was told that my dad killed himself because he found out I was gay. So, of course, I lost it and was like, 'How could you say something like that?' And no one will ever really know the truth," he recalled. "But my brother and my mom went to pick up my dad's stuff, and the only picture on his fridge was my eighth-grade graduation picture. So I was just like, F**k."
Haynes, who moved to Los Angeles when he was 17 to pursue acting, also said in the interview that he was forced to hide his sexuality for years because he didn't want it to ruin his career. "I feel really bad that I had to lie for so long, But I was told that was the only way I was going to be successful," he said.
"When you're young in this industry, people take advantage of you, and they literally tell you that your dreams are going to come true," he continued. "If you believe that, you'll do anything. And you do believe it, especially if you're from Kansas."
