Arrow’s Colton Haynes Confirms That Yes, He Is Indeed Gay

Back in January the internet was abuzz with news that Arrow and Teen Wolf star Colton Haynes had come out as gay – except that he hadn’t, he’d just made a very strong hint. He’d replied to a Tumblr post from someone who’d said, ‘When I found out Colton Haynes had a secret gay past, I got so excited even though i know it makes absolutely no difference in my life,’ by saying, ‘Was it a secret? Let’s all just enjoy life & have no regrets :)’

While it was taken as him saying he was gay, it wasn’t really, especially as it’s well known he took part in at least one racy gay photoshoot when he was younger (with the pics popping up online every so often). It also seems Colton himself didn’t think he was making a big coming out statement.

Now he’s been talking about is sexuality and health in unambiguous terms, telling EW that after the web decided he’d come out in January, “It was a complete shock. I wasn’t ready to be back in the headlines. 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.”

At the time he had only recently revealed the major issues he’s had with anxiety, and he has has sought treatment for issues related to that over the past few months, so it’s little surprise that he didn’t want to deal with a big coming out statement.

Haynes adds that, “People want you to be that GQ image that you put out, but people don’t realize what it’s like to act 24 hours a day. I’d go home and I was still acting… 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.”

There has been speculation about Haynes’ sexuality for a long time, partly due to the aforementioned gay mag photoshoot, and partly as he has been out in his private life since High School and so there were plenty of people who knew.  However, it’s suggested that with Hollywood telling young actors they must hide their sexuality if they want to find mainstream success (indeed, in the past Colton’s representatives have tried to have the gay mag photos removed from websites that have published them), he decided to separate his public and private faces. Coupled with his anxiety issues, it’s made it a more difficult journey to being fully open about his sexuality than he may have liked.

Thankfully though he adds, “It took me so long to get to this point, but I’m doing so good. I’m happier than I’ve ever been, and healthier than I’ve ever been, and that’s what I care about.”