It’s been a week of major revelations for WWE Superstar Darren Young (real name: Fred Rosser). After coming out in the most nonchalant way possible to a TMZ photographer at LAX’s baggage claim yesterday morning, the pro athlete appeared on Today this morning and revealed something more: He’s in love!
That’s right, Darren Young is in love. And in case you haven’t heard, he’s “very happy.”
He told Matt Lauer that he “felt like it was the right place and the right time” to come out, but was partly motivated by fear. He said he’s been “suppressing these feelings for so long” and feared that someone else may have outed him if he didn’t take control of the announcement. “I’ll be honest with you, I was terrified, and I think anybody in my shoes would feel the same way,’’ he said. “It took some guts.”
The announcement made Young the first openly gay WWE Superstar, which he said he hopes will make him a “role model to people that are afraid to come out.” He plans to take speaking opportunities in the future to help motivate and educate others.
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When asked how he thinks he’ll be received when he enters the ring again, Young said “I will probably get a mixed reaction, maybe some good, some bad, but at the end of the day I want to be able to be a role model.” He’s also surprised by the overwhelmingly positive response he’s received.
“I have the best of both worlds,’’ he said. “I’m in love, and I wrestle for one of the greatest organizations in the world, the WWE, and I’m a lucky man.”
Right. But back to that boyfriend. How cute are they?!
Daniel-Reader
Nice… the world needs more love.
KEVINVENTION
Cute guy with an obviously good head on his shoulders. CONGRATS on taking the bull by the horns and doing things on HIS terms. While I’m sure fan reaction will be, um, awkward, I hope he doesn’t let that make him re-think his admirable decision. And, Hey, Fred/Darren, if that current love thang doesn’t work out (which I hope it does), I’m available… 😉
Ryan Nix
Glad to see that he has come out. Best of luck. (Hugs)
Kieran
Darren Young is the kind of gay man that really messes with a lot of heterosexual psyches and makes them uncomfortable. Opposite-sex people would much prefer to put all gay men in a stereotypical box. The Media needs to step up and start doing a much better job breaking the old gay stereotypes rather than doing what they’ve long done—reinforcing them.
hotshot70
I am proud for him coming out, but fear his WWE career may be shortened now. WWE seems to have homophobes in power. Orlando Jordan was released after we found out he was bisexual (his words). Vito posed in Playgirl and was released almost immediately after (yet the Divas could pose and show ALL. That “Chuck & Billy” gay wedding fiasco ended with them sying it was all a plot (then they each got their papers). Even TNA has issues, but they seem a bit more tolerant. If we find out that Darren Young is to be cut from the roster, I suggest a full scale boycott of WWE for discrimination. I know of at least one other whose personal life could cause problems in his wrestling career, but I won’t say who.
balehead
Boycott this boycott that….so flakey elitist and “controlling”
MMDD
Damn, he is HOT, HOT, HOT! His boyfriend’s cute too. I wish them both the best. 🙂
offbeatoh86
@MMDD: Really? Young’s boyfriend looks like he’s had quite a bit of cosmetic surgery.
rhino79
Quite an interesting mix of genders and ethnicities with these two. He has the skin tone of a Jersey Shore guido, a Jackson Five afro, and is named “Fred Rosser”… and apparently he likes quasi-Asian/Latino butch femme types.
MMDD
@offbeatoh86: You can tell all that from one pic? He doesn’t really do much for me either, but I can still say he’s cute. The important thing is that Darren is attracted to him.
@rhino79: Isn’t that just awesome? Only thing is I wouldn’t say there’s a gender mix. Regardless of the butch/femme thing, they’re both men and (I assume) both have penises.
mattsy
it looks like hes wearing a wig afro
wendell
Two attractive men who happen to be of African descent and gay have found love. For the first time, a gay famous black pro sports figure has chosen to come out the closet with a partner who isn’t the usual “white guy.” With so many African descent famous men coming out and cuddled up with white men, I am cheering for Darren Young for not throwing other African descent men under the bus and turning his back to them!!! This is a major first. And, no amount of negative comments about “Nick” being femme, his alleged plastic surgery, his eyebrows or being some “quasi-Asian/Latino butch” is going to take away from the image of finally seeing two men of African descent in love!!!