Since coming out in 2016, Colton Haynes has spoken many times about being pushed back into the closet at the start of his career. But in his new memoir, Miss Memory Lane, he writes specifically about the infamous gay photoshoot that it almost got him passed over for his breakout Teen Wolf role.
Colton’s manager at the time reportedly said to him, “Look what almost happened, Colton. The head of MTV almost didn’t hire you because of that XY photo shoot we’ve been working our asses off to extinguish.”
Thankfully Teen Wolf show-runner Jeff Davis, who is openly gay himself, reportedly fought to secure Colton’s spot on the show.
Related: EXCLUSIVE: Colton Haynes opens up about homophobia in Hollywood and surviving sexual abuse
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The manager was referring to a 2006 shoot for XY Magazine that shows an underwear-clad Colton pushed up against a fence, making out with a man in a pool, and other generally homoerotic images.
It should be noted that the shoot strayed at most into PG-13, showing nothing that would likely get a straight model/actor blacklisted if the shoot partner were a woman.
After years of he and his team attempting to get the shoot scrubbed from the internet, Colton actually shared the magazine cover publicly on Instagram last year in an act of reclamation.
View this post on Instagram
Colton captioned the photo with“I’ve never posted this picture before. In fact, I spent a big part of my career trying to erase it from the internet while I was still in the closet.”
“I was jealous of him. The boy in these pictures was so open, so free. He had to be taught that it wasn’t okay to be who he was.”
The Pride month posting was met with plenty of love, with people including Keke Palmer, Michelle Visage, and Jonathan Bennett sounding off their support in the comments.
Watch Colton read an excerpt from his new memoir.
View this post on Instagram
Jim
Wait wait Colton has a career!!!!
Really
What is it?
Bengali
Quite a career and likely far more than you’ve ever done. Guessing you’re on here to be a troll rather than lift someone up who’s struggled. BTW – how many times were you foster care? Guessing lots and lots.
Steven
Ooo, snappy reply. NOT!
IanHunter
Low quality bait.
KyleMichelSullivan
You are exactly the type person he’s referring to when he says, “What really breaks my heart is the longing for people to come out, but it’s the attacks that come after. Attacks that happened to me leading up to it, people saying the worst things about me on social media. And then after [I came out], it kind of continues from within the community.”
He has a rather extensive film and TV career, if you’d bothered to check before sniping at him.
stevieboy3362
God, you suck. Typical jaded bitter queen that has nothing better to do than to look down on everybody. Look in a mirror, jackass.
mailliw110
No Jim, being a AH is not a career. Your not even good at your trolling.
IanHunter
I thought the photos in XY were innocent. I remember getting it when it first came out. Luckily, I saved it.
LMG
To Jim – this is the second time I’ve responded to a like statement made by another Troll. See “The Gates”, “Teen Wolf”, “Arrow”, and a listing of films that CH was in. That should take care of your silly question.
Jaquelope
Well said. Kudos.
CBHaynes
Is this queen STILL using this shoot for media interviews? Wasn’t it like 20 years ago? OMG enough already! OY
Garath99
Yay…another useless troll comment. You remind me of the bitchy queens I used to hang out with when I was younger who never had a good thing to say about anyone. Thankfully I grew up. Get a life.
Doug
I’ve also read about this photo in Queerty before. I don’t understand how it could have ruined his career when you clearly can’t even see his face in it?
mailliw110
Miss Terry, are you still looking for love? OMG enough already! OY
SDR94103
what career?
mailliw110
The one that’s made him millions. Your turn….
azzolina
The last thing this man needs is more abuse from his gay brothers. He is a decent, humane person who has really been through quite a lot and deserves compassion. I also think he is a good actor and it doesn’t hurt that is physically beautiful.
johncp56
Grow up missy
Paulie P
another nothing story about no one. using it to push the sales of a book no one will buy,
stevieboy3362
You are a knuckle-dragging troglodyte.
mailliw110
And here you are!
Toofie
Yikes, the bitter negative squad is in full force!
Troyfight
@Toofie ….yep…. tragic.
lotionman
Having long fought for gay rights and becoming an immunologist to fight the AIDS epidemic in its early years, I saw the photo spread when it came out in XY magazine. But when this unknown twink a few years later appeared everywhere in the media as a “straight” TV performer, it disgusted me. The XY Magazine photo shoot had obviously been scrubbed from the internet. Then came his interviews, which were blatant lies. We all knew it. He wanted to get rich and famous in Hollywood — which he did. Worse, he professed his “Christianity” which implied that being gay is wrong. All to go back into the closet for greed at a cost to our community. OK, so he was young and not very bright — and not very talented, except when that thick coat of makeup is on when a camera is nearby. So many celebrities have done this until they are outed and finally have to do a tell-all book (more $, more publicity) when their career slows. It’s boring and tedious. I remember traveling around Europe in the 1980’s when Matt LeBlanc’s pretty face was on the cover of a gay travel guide for all to see at every news stand in every country. And then “Friends” happened… same with Matt Lanter(sp?) with early online porn (that was delightful!), then fame, then deep bearding, claims of Christianity, etc.. I’m happy for all of their success — Colton seems to have had a particularly egregious struggle with family and career — but it needs to be said that this does come as a cost to our community when public figures engage in such denial for so long.
Chrisk
I don’t consider your post to be negative at all. More like a reality check.
A bit off topic but the owner of XY later became a born again loony I mean Christian and did 180 and married a beard and renounced his past life as a gay man. Documentary’s were made and I believe a movie as well about it.
jackscott
Enough on this guy… who is he related to, paying or sleeping with from this site??!! It is getting crazy that there is always an article about him here. Yeah he’s cute, so what, so are many other guys. He’s a “C or D” list actor. NEXT, PLEASE!!!
mailliw110
Remember…Google is your friend. You may be still in school, so I guess you’ll learn about this wonderful reference tool soon.
Georgeiv2
Who is this chap is he an actor ? a singer ? a brain surgeon ? a winner of some minor TV thing ? I honestly dont know ( I live in France ) there are lots of young men prettier than him so lets forget him until he has actually achieved something
mailliw110
They don’t play American made films in France? Also, did you not know about Google?
Troyfight
@Georgeiv2 debile …..and sorry that computers are hard for you to use and learn easily learn things.
Cam
Colton’s manager at the time reportedly said to him, “Look what almost happened, Colton. The head of MTV almost didn’t hire you because of that XY photo shoot we’ve been working our asses off to extinguish.”
So Judy McGrath? Stephen Freidman? Who is the anti-LGBT bigot who didn’t want a person who might be gay on an MTV Tv show?
Diplomat
This guy’s a total winner for the gay community. He bared his gay soul and he never had to. We should all thank him profusely for representing us so well. Thank you Colton for all you’ve done. You’re a great actor. My best to your future.
Odd
I wish you where around when I was growing up there was no visible gay guy at that time to look up too. I thought I was only one in the world. You are helping so many.
Troyfight
Colton, jot down a few notes before you do live stuff. The nervous “i don’t know what to say” over and over happens with a lot of people. It gets boring. Even if you are beautiful. Also ignore the jealous bitches here. …ok, utilize a few notes next time, handsome.