29 celebrities, actors, and reality stars who came out in 2022
- Celebrities coming out should no longer be groundbreaking but visibility in the media is important.
- Numerous celebrities have come out this year.
- Here is every star who's opened up about their sexuality or gender identity this year.
Patrick Sproull contributed reporting to an earlier version of this article.
Rebel Wilson
"Pitch Perfect" star and comedian Rebel Wilson came out in June by revealing that she is dating fashion designer Ramona Agruma.
In her Instagram post, she wrote, "I thought I was searching for a Disney Prince… but maybe what I really needed all this time was a Disney Princess 💗🌈💗#loveislove."
Kit Connor
In November, "Heartstopper" star Kit Connor said he was forced to come out after receiving pressure from fans.
Since being cast in the hit Netflix series as Nick Nelson, a student who discovers he's bisexual, Connor had received backlash from some fans who accused the actor of being straight and taking a bisexual role away from a queer actor.
In September, Connor announced that he was deleting Twitter, saying it was a "silly silly app." At this time, it seemed fans were questioning his sexuality after a video was published showing Connor holding hands with "Pretty Little Liars: Original Sin" star Maia Reficco, prompting speculation they were dating.
After returning to Twitter briefly in November, Connor tweeted: "Back for a minute. i'm bi. congrats for forcing an 18 year old to out himself. i think some of you missed the point of the show. bye."
The author of the "Heartstopper" books and Connor's costars tweeted in support of the actor after his tweet.
Earlier this month, Olivia Colman who stars in the show as Connor's character's mother, criticized fans who "bullied him" to come out.
"I am so proud of him, but I am not proud of how people bullied him," Colman told Variety. "I think people should be allowed to have their own journey. But I'm incredibly proud of him as a young man to deal with all of that and be in the spotlight. It's unfair."
Emeli Sandé
British singer and songwriter Emeli Sandé revealed that she was in a relationship with a woman earlier this year.
Asked if she identified as bisexual, Sandé said, "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."
Jerrod Carmichael
During his HBO special, "Rothaniel," which was released in April, comedian Jerrod Carmichael revealed that he is gay.
Carmichael told a story about realizing his father had been cheating on his mother and said, "After that was out in the open, I was left alone feeling like a liar, because I had a secret. One that I kept from my father, my mother, my family, my friends, and you. Professionally, personally. And the secret is that I'm gay."
Aunjanue Ellis
Aunjanue Ellis, who received an Oscar nomination earlier this year for her role in "King Richard," disclosed that she was bisexual in an interview with Variety.
"The way that I live my life, around the people that I live my life around, I am public about it," Ellis told Variety. "I'm very clear about being bisexual. I have a sweatshirt that says 'Girl Bi' that I wear everywhere."
Ava Phillippe
In January, Ava Phillippe, daughter of Reese Witherspoon and Ryan Phillippe, stated on her Instagram that she isn't attracted to any particular gender.
"I'm attracted to… people! (Gender is whatever)," she wrote in an Instagram story.
Janelle Monaé
During an appearance on "Red Table Talk" in April, Janelle Monaé revealed that they are nonbinary.
"I'm nonbinary," Monáe told hosts Jada Pinkett Smith, Willow Smith, and Adrienne Banfield-Norris. "So, I just don't see myself as a woman or — solely. You know, I feel all of my energy."
"I feel like God is so much bigger than the 'he' or the 'she,'" they said, adding that "if I am from God, I am everything."
Jena Malone
In August, "The Hunger Games: Catching Fire" star Jena Malone came out as pansexual.
She shared an Instagram telling her journey of how she realized her sexuality.
"I guess It felt like I was a heterosexual man in a woman's body," she wrote. "I visualized his desires and placed them on to me. But this was never the whole of the story that was meant for me. So I've been learning a new way to tell it. Using words to guide me not define me. That my sexual identity has more to teach and to tell me."
Malone continued: "Finding words that feel more right to explore in my telling. Pansexuality. Sapiosexuality. Polyamory. A fuller spectrum of understanding that my story is demanding of me. And I'm honoring it today with this soft and sleepy little stretch of a dance. I love humans. So there's that."
During an interview with "The Hollywood Reporter," Malone said that her family has been "really supportive."
John Cameron Mitchell
"Joe vs. Carole" star John Cameron Mitchell revealed that they are nonbinary in an interview with PRIDE.
Discussing their seminal role as Hedwig in "Hedwig and the Angry Inch," Mitchell said, "Lately I've been getting a little bit of flack [from some people saying] only trans people can play that role because it's a trans role. I'm not trans, I'm nonbinary, but that's a slippery slope because the character is forced into an operation and is not really trans."
Rae Williams
Rae Williams, star of Netflix dating series "The Ultimatum," announced that she was bisexual during the show's reunion in April.
"I have been with one person, she's amazing, and I had a really good connection with her, but we kept it casual, and I'm kind of figuring myself out and my sexuality because I was very uncomfortable with being bi for a very long time," she said.
Chrishell Stause
"Selling Sunset" cast member and reality star Chrishell Stause revealed that she was in a relationship with the queer and nonbinary Australian rapper G Flip during the show's reunion in May.
"I'm still very attracted to masculine energy and a good human. I hear people talk about these things and they're like, 'I knew from a young age.' That's not me. I'm very open to good energy and I don't know what my future holds," she said.
Maria Thattil
Maria Thattil was crowned Miss Universe Australia in 2020 and appeared on "I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here" in January 2022 where she said that she is bisexual.
"Growing up I always thought maybe a little bit bicurious. And I've only ever dated straight people, but growing up I did have crushes on girls that I went to school with," she told fellow contestant David Subritzky. "I just felt like, it's just easier to be like, 'You know, I date men.' But before I came here, I was out at a party and I met a girl and we ended up hooking up, and it just felt natural."
Bosco
"RuPaul's Drag Race" season 14 runner-up Bosco came out as a trans woman after she returned home from shooting the reality series.
"After filming wrapped this summer, I began focusing on figuring out what medical transitioning would look like for me. I started HRT after getting back from 'Drag Race,'" she tweeted.
Jasmine Kennedie
Bosco's fellow queen Jasmine Kennedie also revealed that she is trans during an emotional episode of the show's spin-off, "RuPaul's Drag Race: Untucked."
"Before coming here, I was about to start hormones, and coming here, I was scared and I didn't want to have to go through that process while going through this," she said.
"Seeing Kerri [Colby], seeing how confident she is in who she is, it just further affirmed what I've been feeling my whole life. I as well definitely do feel like I'm trans."
Willow Pill
The winner of "RuPaul's Drag Race" season 14 came out as trans while the show aired.
"It's taken me a long time to come to terms with my transness because so much space has been taken up by my illness," she said in a Twitter post.
Becca Tilley
"The Bachelor" alum Becca Tilley revealed in May that she has been in a four-year relationship with singer Hayley Kiyoko. Tilley had appeared in Kiyoko's "For The Girls" music video which parodied "The Bachelor" and later posted on Instagram that she is in a relationship with the singer.
On the May 23 episode of the "Scrubbing In with Becca Tilley & Tanya Rad" podcast, Tilley said that she doesn't identify with the lesbian label.
"When I met Hayley that was the first time I had that specifically for a woman," she said.
Tilley added that she has been keeping their relationship a secret, just private from social media.
Amybeth McNulty
In 2020, "Anne with an E" star Amybeth McNulty "accidentally" came out on Twitter by liking and reposting a fan edit of herself attending a Pride parade.
However, in June, McNulty officially came out to her fans in an Instagram post.
She captioned a video montage of herself at different ages: "I suppose this is my official coming out.. so when I have said in the past that I understand you, it is because I am one of you. I know how difficult the journey is but please know you will be okay. It took me 8+ years to fully understand the truth to that, but I believe it now."
Willow Shields
Actor Willow Shields came out during Pride month.
Shields, best known for her role as Primrose Everdeen in the "Hunger Games" franchise, said that she's bisexual in the caption of an Instagram post of herself holding up a Pride flag.
"Happy Pride," she wrote.
Kat Dubrow
Kat Dubrow, the daughter of "The Real Housewives of Orange County" star Heather Dubrow and "Botched" surgeon Terry Dubrow, came out publicly as a lesbian earlier this year.
While Kat had already come out to her family last year, the family announced her sexuality in interviews ahead of the 16th season of "The Real Housewives of Orange County" in February.
The Dubrows' eldest daughter Max previously came out as bisexual two years ago.
"I was really stressed about it," Kat told People in February. "But I'm really grateful that I have Max as an older sister, that she has already gone through all of this. Seeing my sister be so proud, and to see her be so comfortable with herself, it just makes me feel like I have nothing to worry about."
Jake Daniels
In May, professional soccer player Jake Daniels came out as gay in an article for sports media company Sky Sports.
Daniels, who plays for Blackpool in England, is the second professional soccer player to come out publicly after Justin Fashanu, who had his career cut short due to homophobia when he came out in 1990.
"Now is the right time to do it. I feel like I am ready to tell people my story. I want people to know the real me," Daniels said in the Sky Sports article.
Peach PRC
Peach PRC, whose real name is Shaylee Curnow, came out as a lesbian in January. The Australian pop singer, who is very active on TikTok, revealed her sexuality on the social media app after teasing her song "God Is A Freak."
"I guess now is a good time to tell you all, I'm a lesbian," she captioned a video of her singing along to the new single.
In a statement to Pedestrian.TV, Peach PRC said: "The response has been really beautiful and supportive. I feel so welcomed by the lesbian community and finally at peace with something I've been shying away from for the longest time."
Biofrost
The popular "League of Legends" esports player Biofrost, whose real name is Vincent Wang, came out as gay in a lengthy statement on Twitter in May.
In the post, he wrote that he had struggled with his identity from a young age when he was living in China.
"At the age of 8, I was bombarded with homophobic and sexist remarks at home," he wrote. "I was hyper-conscious of how I should act and tried not to act or sound 'gay,' but I was still constantly bullied for it."
Biofrost said that he also wanted to raise awareness about homophobia in the esports gaming community.
"On almost every team I've been on, I've heard homophobic comments from either my teammates or the staff and felt uncomfortable, even borderline afraid of possibly losing my job if I told the truth," he added.
Biofrost received a ton of support from fans, other popular esports players, and his own team.
In response, he later tweeted: "I didn't expect this amount of support and it makes me feel hopeful for the change that we can make in this community. I'm incredibly thankful for all of you."
Luke Baines
"Shadowhunters" star Luke Baines came out at the end of Pride month in a touching post on Instagram.
"I've been lucky enough to have been in love twice - the first with a woman, the second with a man," Baines captioned a gallery of black-and-white pictures with romantic messages. "Label that however you like, but all I know is that… love is love. Happy pride!"
Baines's "Shadowhunter" costars commented with messages of support, including Sydney Meyer, Alberto Rosende, and Tessa Mossey.
Dominic Sherwood, who played Jace Wayland in the popular series, wrote: "So proud of you brother!! Happy pride. Love you."
Sawyer Fredericks
In February, Sawyer Fredericks, the winner of season eight of "The Voice," came out as bisexual.
He wrote in a "#Truthfultuesday" Instagram post: "Since I have not publicly said this in a post, I wanted say that I am Bisexual."
He continued: "When I was younger I thought I was straight, because I was more attracted to women, and I didn't know there were more options besides Gay and Straight. So I just assumed I was Straight."
Trinity the Tuck
Trinity the Tuck is another popular drag queen who came out as trans this year.
On International Transgender Day of Visibility in March, the "RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars" contestant came out as trans nonbinary in a now-deleted Instagram post.
"I've spoke with many of my friends who are trans to get their thoughts and insight over the years," they said. "I still don't know where my journey will take me, but I am trans-NB."
However, in June they clarified in a tweet that their "actual gender isn't labeled" because they feel "very conflicted by a lot of things"
In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, they added: "I consider myself trans but not a trans woman. I think it's dangerous for people to throw around verbiage to do with trans people who identify on the binary spectrum. I don't live as female and so I don't want to label myself as a trans woman. This is how I personally view myself."
Isaiah Rashad
Rapper Isaiah Rashad came out as "sexually fluid" after a sex tape of him was leaked which showed him having intimate encounters with men.
Rashad addressed the leak and his sexuality during an interview with media personality Joe Budden, published on YouTube.
"I'd say, like, I'm sexually fluid," Rashad said during the video. "I'm still learning about it myself. I'm putting my head in the books to find out the basics of it, but, basically, like, I'm not in full control of, when I walk into a room, of who I'm attracted to."
Rashad said that he "wrecked" his car after the tape was leaked because he was "super in his head" worried about his family. However, later in the video, he said that the incident brought his family closer.
"Out of everything, it's been a blessing that with that happening, and my grandad dying a couple of days afterward, and my grandma going through what she's going through, it's been a concentration of family together, more than they had been before," Rashad told Budden. "So if anything, I can't be mad at everything about it. Always got to look at the brighter side of stuff."
Maybelle Blair
Baseball icon Maybelle Blair, who was one of the women that inspired "A League Of Their Own" film and TV series, publicly came out as gay at the age of 95.
In June, Blair praised the LGBTQ+ representation in the new Amazon prime series during the show's panel at the Tribeca Film Festival.
"It's a great opportunity for these young girl ball players to come realize that they're not alone, and you don't have to hide," she said. "I hid for 75, 85 years, and this is actually basically the first time I've ever come out."
Ozzy Lusth
In April, former "Survivor" contestant Ozzy Lusth came out as bisexual.
He tweeted at the time: "And for my Republican Colleagues, and anyone else who matters, Yeah I'm Bisexual. Am I committing crimes?? If so come get me. Let us ALL live with dignity. Ask yourself if you support people, or the fucked dogma you've been fed."
Tevin Campbell
Earlier this year, R&B star Tevin Campbell came out as gay in a now-deleted tweet. In August, he came out officially during an interview on People's "Every Day" podcast.
"I didn't hide anything about me. I didn't try to act a certain way or anything," Campbell said about waiting till he was 45 to publicly come out. "You just couldn't be [gay] back then."
Campbell said that he came out to his family and friends when he was "19 or 20" but then had to go on a journey of "discovering myself."
"Being around people who were like me, LGBTQ+ people that were living normal lives and had partners. I had never seen that," he said. "That was a great time in my life."
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