Earlier this month, Ricky Martin opened up about the time Barbara Walters tried outing him in an interview.
Speaking to People, the 49-year-old singer said he felt “violated” by the iconic journalist’s line of questioning when they sat down together in 2000.
During the awkward chat, Walters told Martin he could he could “stop these rumors” about his sexuality by, oh, you know, coming out to her right then and there. He politely declined, telling her, “Barbara, for some reason, I just don’t feel like it.”
Speaking to the Toronto Star in 2010, Walters said she regretted the way she interrogated him.
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“I pushed Ricky Martin very hard to admit if he was gay or not, and the way he refused to do it made everyone decide that he was,” she said. “A lot of people say that destroyed his career, and when I think back on it now, I feel it was an inappropriate question.”
“When she dropped the question, I felt violated because I was just not ready to come out,“ he told People. “I was very afraid.”
“You can’t force someone to come out.”
But Martin isn’t the only LGBTQ celebrity to be outed by their alleged allies in the media. Scroll down for seven other times beloved public figures were forced out of the closet…
Lance Bass
The *NSYNC crooner was forced to make a public statement about his sexuality in 2006 after gay gossip blogger Perez Hilton nicknamed him “Princess Frosty Locks” and wouldn’t stop posting nasty and degrading articles about him. In 2007, Bass told Attitude, “Two years before I came out I was really bullied on the internet by bloggers. That’s when Perez Hilton just started and was just really malicious against me.” The singer finally came out in an exclusive interview with People “because of the bloggers like him hounding me.”
Neil Patrick Harris
Last June, the actor/singer/comedian opened up about when he, too, fell victim to a vicious outing campaign by Perez Hilton in 2006. “[He] started posting about me and asking people to come forward with truths or stories,” Harris recalled. “Then it became apparent that I needed to make some sort of decisive respectable move.” The actor added that his biggest concern was coming out in a way that was respectful to his husband. “It wasn’t simple for me,” he said, “but I tried to represent myself well.”
Nathan Lane
The iconic comedic actor appeared on Oprah‘s show in 1996 to promote The Birdcage. Prior to the taping, he said he didn’t want to talk about his sexuality. But when the cameras were rolling, Oprah asked him about it anyway. Lane froze. Thankfully, his co-star, Robin Williams, quickly intervened. Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter about it last year, Lane called the whole experience “terrifying.” See the uncomfortable moment at around the 15:56 in the video above.
Jonathan Knight
The New Kids On The Block band member was accidentally outed by his ex-girlfriend, ’80s pop star and frequent Pride performer Tiffany, when she told Andy Cohen during an appearance on Watch What Happens Live that he “became gay” after they dated. The next day, Knight issued a statement saying he’s never hidden the fact that he’s queer and Tiffany apologized for the slip up. Knight accepted her apology and said there were no hard feelings. The two remain on good terms today.
Denise Richards
Reports that the Wild Things actress was bisexual swirled last year when her Real Housewives of Beverly Hills co-stars, particularly Teddi Mellencamp and Lisa Rinna, wouldn’t quit badgering her about rumors that she cheated on her husband with Brandi Glanville. Rinna, who claimed to be Richards’ BFF, went so far as to share private text messages she had written in an attempt to expose her on camera. Understandably, Richards, who has never publicly stated how she identifies, didn’t appreciate this. Many viewers, too, took issue with the show perpetuating negative stereotypes about bisexuals being liars and cheaters. After the season wrapped, Richards announced she would not be returning to the show. Meanwhile, Mellencamp was fired, and Rinna expressed regret over how she handled everything, saying she “learned” from the situation. We’re glad she learned but, in the year 2020, she should’ve known better.
Lee Pace
The Broadway star was pushed out of the closet in a 2018 interview with W Magazine. When queer reporter Brian Moylan asked him about gay actors playing gay roles, Pace replied, “I’ve dated men. I’ve dated women. I don’t know why anyone would care. I’m an actor and I play roles. To be honest, I don’t know what to say. I find your question intrusive.” Days later, he issued a statement saying he “happily owns” being part of the LGBTQ community. Looking back on the experience later, he said it ended up being a blessing in disguise as it allotted him an “opportunity to participate” in the LGBTQ community in a way he hadn’t before.
Clay Aiken
Now for what is perhaps the saddest outing of them all… The American Idol alum filled in for Regis Philbin on Live With Regis and Kelly back in 2006 and let’s just say he and Kelly Ripa did not get along. Their chemistry was horrible. At one point, Aiken, who was not officially out but was widely believed to be gay, put his hand over Ripa’s mouth. She responded by saying, “I don’t know where that hand’s been, honey!” The comment seemed to be alluding to internet rumors circulating at the time about Aiken being into fisting. Things were only made worse a few days later when Rosie O’Donnell accused Ripa of being homophobic on The View, saying Ripa never would’ve made the remark “if that was a straight man.” In 2019, Aiken told author Ramin Setoodeh: “The truth is [Rosie] outed me in a way, because I had not been out yet. When she said the words, ‘If that was a straight man,’ she was confirming that she knew that I wasn’t. That was the worst day of my life.”
Fahd
I don’t really judge or resent any of these “celebrities,” except maybe Neil Patrick Harris, who I remember acting especially weird around the time he and his partner were trying to remain closeted- (still does not excuse Perez Hilton who was/is an evil bastard) – and I always blamed Doogie’s hubby whatever his name is. Now when I read the doubletalk Harris is quoted as offering above, I’m not that proud of him.
CatholicXXX
PLEASE EDIT AND ADD AARON SCHOOK !!! Sp.
Cam
Aiken blames Rosie, except Aiken was outted by a hookup who went to the Enquirer.
Perez Hilton was a douche, but also, let’s not pretend that the glass closet didn’t exist. There were pictures of NPH and his now husband walking holding hands in NYC that paparazzi had taken. No outlets like People ever bought the pics. Perez ran those pictures. I always thought it was weird that they would walk out in public holding hands like that and not think the pictures would get out.
Essie
I despise Perez Hilton and he needs to rot in hell. However, if anyone in the public eye is gay or bi they should be up front and honest and let it be known because someone will out them at some point. You may think it’s nobody’s business who you sleep with but people think it’s their business and lying is unhealthy for both your mental health and your career. Honesty is the best policy, as they used to say.
Mr. Stadnick
Ripa, Renna and Perez all come off as jerks in this article and in real life too.
My2Cents
I have no opinion good or bad about Ripa but she did nothing wrong here. Aiken placed his hand over her mouth and she had every right to tell him “hell no”. She didn’t out him and it certainly wasn’t homophobic.
jaimedance3
To mytwocents!! Ripa done nothing wrong?? Check out the video on YouTube titled inside edition ripa aiken because they pretty much show that the woman should not throw stones from her glass house when she herself done it MANY times to Regis that same year that clay was on. So if you don’t like it done to you then don’t do it to others!!!
Donston
Things have gotten better (and worse). It’s good that the media has mostly stopped stirring the pot, outing folks and randomly asking public figures are they “gay”. Turning same-sex/“gay”/“queer” passions, affections, romantic bonds, love, relationships, commitments into something scandalous and to sell magazines and to get ratings for interviews, and using “gay” as an accusatory word- these things still have a residual effect today. No one should have to be “out” or adhere to any identity if they don’t want to. It’s also good that a bitter, insecure scumbag like Perez Hilton has lost his status and power. On the other hand, nowadays we have to deal with folks using the media and social media to “queer bait”, to mold a specific personas/images for ego and attention, using whatever forms or extent of “queerness” they have to garner some buzz. We also see that the media now has no problem presenting and asking about hetero relationships and even girl-girl stuff. But male-male stuff is mostly off limits. Those types of double standards and hypocrisies just helps lead to guys being even more likely to contend with internalized phobias, hetero pressures, queer insecurities, “gay” shame.
Rock Star
I laugh and chuckle at the thought that ANYONE had to out Nathan Lane.
barryaksarben
I think it terrible to judge people who arent out yet UNLESS what they do HARMS the gay community. I having NEVER been in the closet understand it is different for everyone. My parents recognised me for who I was and were mainly very supportive and I grew up in Rural IOWA. I am 64 so when I did live there it was the 70s and I got beat up, bullied and harassed so try not to do it to others for any reason other than BIGOTRY. NOW if we can out all the republican closet cases Id be right there helping to destroy them for their hypocrisy
RyanMBecker
Since when was Perez Hilton an ally? Ally to whom?
humble charlie
Perez Hilton’s problem was he was so high on his own media power and so full of himself that he thought he could be the moral arbiter of others. He eventually (rightly) fell from a great height.
D_Bro
Perez Hilton is a scumbag. He takes joy in hurting people but then wonders why people don’t like him and men won’t date him.
As much as I think life would be better for so many young and questioning people if celebrities were open about being part of the LGBTQ+ community, it is no one’s place to out them. We all make this decision at our own pace. Celebrities are no different and don’t owe us their truth.
Davey_W
I’ve always admired Lee Pace. He’s such a beautiful man.
I got to see him on Broadway as Joe Pitt in the revival of Angels In America.
I had always wished he was gay.
bsg1967
Between studios/corporations, producer’s, directors, agents let alone hungry for building up tearing down media and finally bigoted consumers who threaten to boycott it not easy for somone in the limight to live there truth without risking continued work and a paycheck even in these supposed “enlightened” days.
radiooutmike
These are also outings of wealthy and powerful people.
While, I am not lessening their rightful distress; none of these people were vulnerable. They weren’t minors and they did not have homophobic parents who kicked them out of their households.
takeoffmedia
Ripa, Renna and Perez all come off as jerks in this article and in real life too.
bachy
Has anyone else noticed how expectations around public labeling have become more and more draconian? On social media, it’s no longer a question of being labeled “straight” or “gay” – your public label is further atomized to “top,” “bottom,” “leather,” “otter,” “bear,” “transfeminine,” “transmasculine,” “transgender,” “pansexual”… the list goes on and on.
Sexual privacy is increasingly viewed as antiquated. Everything you do in bed is no longer between you and your lover(s) but unquestioningly presented for review by “the gray ether of faceless strangers.”
Donston
It is what it is. If you’re a public figure (especially an entertainer) folks are gonna stay in your business. And queerness, especially closeted queerness, is still sensationalistic and draws attention. In some ways, celebs today have it a bit easier than just a decade ago. These magazines are no longer outing people on the covers. Most publications refuse to publish gay rumors. The paps don’t stalk people like they used to. At least two-thirds of pap pics nowadays are staged. Interviewers don’t ask about queer rumors. And when it occasionally does happen, the publication/interviewer gets shamed. There are many folks in glass closets or in years long same-sex commitments that the media refuses to cover.
Social media is a different form of mess though. A lot of people feel like: “it’s 20-whatever. So, you should have no problems exposing every aspect of your private life”. That is partly because so many people get attention and clout and money by exposing all aspects of their private life nowadays. So, there’s a feeling that everyone should be fine with doing so. There’s very little respect for people’s privacy or their internal and external struggles and circumstances, because so many people are exploiting their identities and sexuality and their life. On the other hand, people still use the “nosy queers” trope as a way to justify their own exploiting, lying, abusing, internalized phobias, queer insecurities, gay resentments, etc.
As far as the pressures to take on a multitude of specific identities and be really specific with people about your dimensions, that is mostly on the “lgbtq community” hype and on how much folks have coveted identity and how much we still filter ourselves through gender/hetero normalcy. There’s a refusal to accept that everyone simply has their own sexuality and sexual journeys, preferences, fetishes/paraphiliacs, psychology, motivation, places in the gender, sexual, affection, romantic, emotion, commitment spectrum. That lack of just accepting people as individuals in turn assists in guys presenting more masculine than they are, pretending to be heterosexual, presenting to be homosexual, hyping up their bi-ness because they desperately don’t want to be perceived as “gay” or a basic homo, pretending like they strictly top, etc. If there still wasn’t so much ignorance a lot of this hyper focus on identities or sociological nudging would dissipate.
inbama
Sad to see men who’ve finally come out as gay now relegated to the queer closet.
cuteguy
It seems that Barbara Walters got a pass for doing the same thing Perez Hilton did. Does she get special treatment bc she’s an old woman? Nathan Lane was never seen as straight, they even made him into a joke on the original SATC so she needs to stop whining. Babs was outed for being a c*nt onthe View. And Kelly Ripa is now only an ally bc her oldest son is gay. Andy Cohen may be gay but he does more harm than good for the lgbtq community
1898
The difference is that Barbara Walters later expressed regret and admitted it was inappropriate. Perez Hilton never did.
JJinAus
How was Nathan Lane ever “in”?
Man About Town
Neil Patrick Harris’ “biggest concern was coming out in a way that was respectful to his husband.” So he was already married to a man when he was worried about being outed??
Similarly, Lee Pace says “I don’t see why anyone would care” and then turns around and says “I find your question intrusive.”
These people just look foolish when they contradict themselves so blatantly.
inbama
NPH’s may “look foolish” but his first responsibility is to the health and safety of his family and then to his highly successful career which supports them.
According to Wiki, he’s worth 50 million.