Mean Girls & Bully Actor Daniel Franzese Comes Out As Gay

Daniel Franzese became a familiar face in the early 2000s in the likes of Bully, Party Monster, War Of The Worlds and most notably as the wonderful Damian in Mean Girls.

However while Damian was proud of who he was (even if he hadn’t fully figured out his sexuality yet), Daniel himself stayed in the closet. Now the 35-year-old has decided it’s time to come out, writing an open letter on Indiewire to his Mean Girls character.

He says to Damian, “You were proud of who you were; I was an insecure actor.  You became an iconic character that people looked up to; I wished I’d had you as a role model when I was younger. I might’ve been easier to be gay growing up.

However he adds that, “When I was cast in the role of “Damian” in ‘Mean Girls,’ I was TERRIFIED to play this part.  But this was a natural and true representation of a gay teenager – a character we laughed with instead of at.”

However after the film came out he wasn’t so keen on the character, as he felt he’d been typecast and wasn’t even allowed to read for ‘butch’ roles. “Damian, you had ruined my life,” Daniel says, “And I was really pissed at you. I became celibate for a year and a half.  I didn’t go to any gay bars, have any flings and I lied to anyone who asked if I was gay.  I even brought a girl to the ‘Mean Girls’ premiere and kissed her on the red carpet, making her my unwitting beard.”

Now though, “Ten years later – looking back, it took YOU to teach me how to be proud of myself again. It’s okay if no one wants to sit at the table with the “art freaks.”  Being a queer artist is one of my favorite things about myself. I have always been different and that’s rad. People have always asked if I was really gay? While my reps usually lied to protect me. My friends and family all knew the truth but now it’s time everyone does. Perhaps this will help someone else.”

Franseze adds in a follow-up interview with TooFab, “I’m happy to be free and honest with myself and my fans. It feels like a backpack full of bricks has been lifted off of me. The outpouring of support has been overwhelming and I urge anyone else in the industry who is contemplating doing this, to do it. It feels great.”