Colton Haynes took a moment over the weekend to reflect on what it means to be an openly gay actor in Hollywood, as well as his dreams for the future.
Related: Colton Haynes files for divorce
In a series of tweets published in the very early hours Sunday, the 29-year-old looked back on his 12 years working in the entertainment industry, calling it an “odd place” and saying he prays that out LGBTQ actors land more starring roles soon:
Hollywood is a very odd place. I've been here for 12 yrs. I just pray that the LGBTQ+ community gets more chances to star in roles. We've had amazing trailblazers & ppl who've made it thru the criticism thk god. It doesn't have to be me, but this town is run by our community.
— Colton Haynes (@ColtonLHaynes) May 20, 2018
But the late night pontification doesn’t stop there.
How about we take this to the next level?
Our newsletter is like a refreshing cocktail (or mocktail) of LGBTQ+ entertainment and pop culture, served up with a side of eye-candy.
Related: Colton Haynes speaks out for the first time since splitting up with his husband
Haynes went on to say that being gay is “not easy”. As a kid, he often felt like an “outsider.” And as a gay actor, those feelings still creep up on him from time to time.
Lets just realize that we all have so much to give. It's not easy being gay. Its not easy growing up being an outsider & having to watch your back. Just because you like the same sex doesn't mean you can't carry a film. It's acting. Execs need to start giving more opportunity. ?
— Colton Haynes (@ColtonLHaynes) May 20, 2018
Haynes concludes by saying he “can’t believe” that no one else has “figured this out yet” and that he believes “every single person deserves a shot at their dreams no matter their sex, ethnicity, or background.”
I can't believe that no one has figured this out yet. It's not just the LGBT+ community but it's also ppl of color, minorities…give us all a chance. Thk god its in the works. Every single person deserves a shot at their dreams no matter their sex, ethnicity, or background. ?
— Colton Haynes (@ColtonLHaynes) May 20, 2018
We can’t argue with him there!
Related: Jeff Leatham responds to divorce filing by Colton Haynes
Mandrake
His points are well worth consideration. As an aside, he and Billy Eichner made a hot couple on AHS this last season.
Mandrake
Why are people dumping all over Colton Haynes? What’s he done or said wrong?
OrchidIslander
Because, somehow, dismissing someone else makes them feel superior?
Shadypast
People only see what they want to see. He even said “It doesn’t have to be me”. He wasn’t complaining about his lack of work.
Mandrake
Totally agree!
Kieran
Amen to that. It seems to be a sport among bitchy queens to instinctively want to hate sexy, good-looking gay men who they know would never have sex with them in a million years.
Josh447
He’ll be around for good. Get over it.
chris33133
I’d like to separate the message from the messenger.
I do think that lots of gay and lesbian actors have noted that Hollywood is a very difficult place in which to work. I’m not sure if it’s equal-opportunity brutal or if it’s more difficult for gay folk. Since there seems to be general agreement that women, especially women of color, have had a real bad time in Hollywood, I’m willing to grant the point that it is probably similar for gay men, and especially for gay men of color.
Now as far as Mr. Haynes is concerned, personally. I agree that he’s had lots of breaks and so his complaints about being “oppressed” seem like a bit much. But I’m willing to cut him some slack. I’ll take his word for it that the messages about remaining in the closet (or that his opportunities would whither away) are quite powerful if not completely factual.
Donston
I definitely understand what he’s saying in general. Being an openly gay male in Hollywood (not open-minded, or fluid, or I don’t know what the future holds) is a limiting thing. Knowing that you want to be with someone of your gender and being unabashed about it is limiting, especially if you haven’t already established yourself in the industry. There’s been progress in recent years. But ultimately, they’re not getting the leading roles, not even in most “gay movies”. And Hollywood remains scared to give people “queer” leading characters unless the story itself is about “queerness”, and the stories themselves remain limited and mostly redundant.
It does come off a tad hollow being delivered from him, considering that he’s a pretty boy with money who’s known for whining and that his career would have likely stayed going no where even if he hadn’t come out. Also, he’s not in the least bit talented. Still, he does make some points. There’s no reason to always be on attack mode people.
joseph_buscarino
I actually really like Colton, from what ive seen of him from personal appearances, interviews, even comicons. He seems like a genuinely cool person, even if he does have his share of personal drama. That being said, I do find it ironic that he is complaining about a fairly successful career he himself has had, whether he be gay or straight. Honestly, as much as I like him, I would not say hes the most dynamic of actors, he can be pretty deadpan a lot of the times. Maybe the fact he has not gotten his ideal or starring role yet, has less to do about him being gay, and more about his acting chops. Also, many really successful and happy actors, have spent their entire life as supporting cast, without complaint;) Just saying, comes off a bit ungrateful to me.
jasentylar
Except he gets opportunities. Jeff Davis, openly gay, put him on Teen Wolf. Greg Berlanti, openly gay, put him on Arrow. He was in Girls Trip..I think. He gets opportunities. Privileged is what he is. There are many struggling actors that can’t land a commercial.
jason_melvil
Shaking my head so much…
It’s not that there isn’t a problem with out actors. Type casting is a thing and a lot of out actors get stuck playing nothing but gay characters.
But… Colton is just full of it. He got to star in not one but 2 extremely popular YA franchises (Teen Wolf and Arrow) and he LEFT both of them.
Is it possible that might have something to do with him not getting any parts? When I interview someone for a job and see that he jumps a lot of places, that worries me.
Also, for the record, both of those shows are shows who let’s face it rarely get you any actual awards for acting – you’re pretty much just a walking beefcake for them.
How exactly did everyone else from these shows do ? Not that great either, huh? Even the straight men and women on those show. Sexuality had nothing to do with it.
Maybe because roles on shows where you are nothing but eye candy aren’t a great career starters. Just ask the entire cast of Baywatch. Heck, ask mr Aquaman how good that did for his career.
P.S
What I find even more puzzling is that he puts this rant out… After it was already announced that he’s going to be a regular next season on Arrow.
So… he whines about not having a job after he already got one?
DCguy
People in Hollywood HAVE figured it out. It’s just pure bigotry.
Example….”Brokeback Mountain” made more money in total than “Scream”
However, for over a DECADE no other major studio made a gay fiction movie.
Scream on the other hand, not only got THREE sequels, it also had an entire knock off franchise (Scary Movie) and multiple copycats produced.
So Colton, it isn’t money, closeted studio heads know lgbt movies can make money, they’re just self hating closet cases, or in the case of straight ones, old school bigots.
Coreydnyc
Why does it seems like he’s leaning a bit to hard on gay discrimination? I mean I’m sure the points are valid but just because you didn’t get the role doesn’t mean its because your gay. Maybe Jim Parsons got the role or Mat Bomer, Zachary Quinto got the role (not that he’s anywhere close to that level). CARRY A FILM? dude u have a looong way to go for that. and even if its the case that he’s being discriminated against, people are discrimitated agains everyday in their everyday lives….its best to suck it up and just keep on trucking
Kevan1
I do not think he is crying a river. He also said ” It doesn’t have to be me.” as the gay male lead. He also never said he disliked his life. He is just expressing thoughts.
I have to say many people criticizing this guy sound just a bit bitter and jealous. Most obviously some people responding hate their own lives and might take a page from their own books and work on themselves. Seems so easy to attack others instead of looking at our own lives and fixing them.
breal
He should go back to Kansas a few times a year and encourage Kansas to embrace the LGBTQ community. Instead he acts like LA is a tough place to be gay.
lambchopp59
Albeit such a thing would frame some wildly antagonistic perspective for the likes of Colton, I wouldn’t wish such a fate for any LGBT person: My own youth having been seriously disrupted by the Westboro circle jerks, the likes have blood on their hands they’ll have to answer to their Jeebus sky spook for. That group should be class-actioned right out of business by their victims over the decades they’ve been ruining lives.
I won’t fault Colton for speaking out about discrimination even in realtively progressive communities, We can’t evolve into real equality without raised voices, and Colton’s got the bully pulpit to do just that from. I get upset from the occasional idiot that drives through the Castro shouting anti-gay epithets. It needs exposure.
tommiej
He’s speaking broadly and saying that ALL LGBT ACTORS/ACTRESSES should get a fair shot. Why is that bad… and why do we always viciously attack our own? Give him a thumbs up for being out and not being shy in calling attention to things. Jeesh.
batesmotel
It is true, but this has been a long running argument for years. In the end, it’s up go the public and movie goers. The film industry is a business and they cast people they know will fill the seats and buy tickets. If a gay actor can sell those tickets, then he/she will be cast to lead films. Ellen Degeneres was able to do that as a talk show host, so it can be done. But the industry is not going to cast someone because they are gay or of a different race, they are going to cast them if they have market value with the masses. It’s a business that is about making money.
BrujoSireno
Its mot that hollywood doesnt like LGBT+ folks, it’s that he’s simply not a good actor. He was cast in a show for teenagers simply as eye candy and nothing else. He wants serious parts without having the talent needed as an actor to pull the weight of those roles.
mhoffman935
^ This
rand503
“Every single person deserves a shot at their dreams no matter their sex, ethnicity, or background”
I agree. every person deserves a “shot.” That means they can attend casting calls, take acting classes, get an agent, and sleep with whomever they want. But not everyone deserves a career in acting or in any thing else. If you aren’t what the casting director wants, for any reason, they have not obligation to hire you just because your life has been tough, or your haven’t had any parts.
There are thousands and thousands of people with dreams of stardom in Hollywood, and only a few earn enough to have a career. Only a tiny fraction get the opportunity to turn down parts given to them. That’s the reality, and you should figure it out before you make this your career.
QueerTruth
He should focus on the craft of ACTING. Not the craft of BRANDING.
This is why he doesn’t get work. He’s sold himself as a queer beefcake. (Yawn)
elebeaujd
As someone who works in entertainment, he’s going to have a problem being cast because he’s a) gained a reputation for being difficult to work with for various reasons, b) he’s a fairly generic and easily replaceable white guy and c) he chooses to focus more on being gay and his “brand” rather than making himself available to enhancing his acting abilities. You cannot be essentially a character actor and be high maintenance because, inherently, you are replaceable.
He should read up on how true professional actors act on the set. It’s show up on time, prepared, do your job, and go home. No meltdowns, no anxiety preventing you from working. Hollywood is about money and an actors inability to perform costs producers money and that gets around quick.
Donston
Clearly Hollywood has an issues with openly gay actors. Hell, there’s been plenty of dudes who have admitted to same-sex attractions or engaging in same gender sexual activity but continued having the careers that they had and being precieved by the public as they were. Letting the world know that you’re fo’ real into your same gender and not interested much or at all interested in women romantically and sexually is a different kind of thing. However, no legit male A-lister or movie star has come out while being relevant. So, who knows how that would shake.
Colton doesn’t seem to be getting any type of legit work, and that can’t be entirely tied to him being openly gay. His hissy fits, anxiety problems and simple lack of talent is not something the industry will put up with if you’re not already established.