Rebel Wilson, Aunjanue Ellis and comedian Jerrod Carmichael are just a few of the entertainment stars who have recently shared they are part of the LGBTQ+ community. Here’s who’s come out so far this year:
Rebel Wilson announced on June 9 that she’s in a same-sex relationship, sharing a photo to Instagram of herself with fashion designer girlfriend Ramona Agruma. In the caption, the “Pitch Perfect” star wrote, “I thought I was searching for a Disney Prince… but maybe what I really needed all this time was a Disney Princess.” The actress was forced to make the announcement after she was threatened with exposure by Australia’s Sunday Morning Herald.
In his third HBO special, “Rothaniel,” comedian Jerrod Carmichael opened his set by saying, “I carried a lot of secrets my whole life,” including that he is gay. “At many points I thought I’d rather die than confront the truth of that,” he tells the audience, who is wonderfully supportive of this pivotal moment.
Aunjanue Ellis, a Best Supporting Actress Oscar nominee for her role in “King Richard,” told Variety at the start of Pride Month that she’s a member of the LGBTQ+ community. She’s in an 11-year relationship with a man and was alarmed at the casual homophobia she encountered from friends and costars, so she texted them: “When you say things… that are queer-phobic, you are talking about me. And it hurts.’”
David Barta came out as pansexual during an episode of MTV’s “Ex on the Beach.” Barta, who’s also appeared on Fox’s “Paradise Hotel” and Crackle’s “Men of West Hollywood,” also wrote on his Instagram: “Call it Pansexual, call it Bisexual, call it Sexually Fluid (my preference), or all of the above. It’s me. Above all these titles, I’m just David. I’m still the same exact person, just a little more honest and open to what life has in store for me.”
Disney heir Charlee Corra, who’s been out to his family and friends, came out as transgender amidst the call for Disney CEO Bob Chapek to take a stronger stance against Florida’s controversial “Don’t Say Gay” bill. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed the bill into law on March 28.
“The Voice” winner Sawyer Fredericks said, “I’ll probably lose some fans over this post, but that’s fine with me,” when he came out as bisexual in an Instagram post in February. The blues singer–songwriter won the 8th season of the singing competition in 2015.
Ozzy Lusth, who’s appeared on four “Survivor” series including “Survivor: Game Changers,” shared in April that he is bisexual. He tweeted, “Yeah I’m Bisexual. Am I committing crimes?? If so come get me. Let us ALL live with dignity.”
Rapper Lil Wop told his social media followers in February, “I’m Bisexual I Like Guys & Girls.” The Chicago rapper was signed to Gucci Mane’s 1017 Eskimo Records label from 2017 to 2018.
Jessica Phillips, who played Heidi Hansen in the national tour of “Dear Evan Hansen” and on Broadway and has a recurring role on Paramount+’s “Why Women Kill,” came out as queer to People in February 2022.
Rapper Isaiah Rashad, who was signed to Top Dawg records in 2013 and released his third album “The House is Burning” in 2021, revealed he is “sexually fluid” in May 2022.
British singer/songwriter Emeli Sandé told Metro in March that she’s in a relationship with another woman, a classical pianist. “I’m not sure what I identify as but I guess so. I just feel like I should fall in love with whoever I fall in love with,” she said.
Luke Baines, the Australian star of “Shadowhunters,” came out in a June 2022 Instagram post: “I’ve been lucky enough to have been in love twice — the first time with a woman, the second with a man,” he wrote, though he rejected any specific label for himself. “Love is love. Happy Pride!”
Jena Malone, who broke out as a child actress in ’90s movies like “Contact,” “Stepmom” and the 2001 cult hit “Donnie Darko,” came out as pansexual in an August 2022 Instagram post: “I guess It felt like I was a heterosexual man in a woman’s body. I visualized his desires and placed them on to me. But this was never the whole of the story that was meant for me. … Pansexuality. Sapiosexuality. Polyamory.”
In August interview with the “People Magazine’s Every Day” podcast, ’90s-era R&B star Tevin Campbell (“Can We Talk”) confirmed that he is a gay man. “When I came out to my family and friends about 19 or 20, that was it for me,” he said. “What makes me happiest right now is how far I’ve come in life. You know, there are a lot of child stars that don’t make it.”
