Garrett Clayton, the star of Disney Channel’s Teen Beach Movie and NBC’s Hairspray Live, has come out as gay.
The actor, who portrayed real-life gay adult film star Brent Corrigan in the 2016 James Franco-produced King Cobra, also introduced the world to his longtime boyfriend, Blake Knight.
Related: PHOTOS: Disney Star Garrett Clayton As Brent Corrigan In James Franco’s Gay Biopic
In an emotional Instagram post, Clayton, 27, opened up about how his latest film project, Reach, informed his decision.
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“REACH deals with some very serious and timely topics that have affected me personally, and have likely influenced many of your lives as well,” wrote Clayton. “(I also prefer to share things that are particularly important for me here on my IG) instead of in some random magazine or online article – because you are the ones that have been rooting for me and following me on my professional and personal journey in life.”
Related: King Cobra’s Garrett Clayton on Pride, gay roles, & sexual ambiguity
“When I read the script for REACH, I immediately knew it was a film I had to be a part of. I have personally dealt with suicide within my own family, intense bullying in high school, and – on top of it all – myself and the man I’ve been in a relationship with for a long time (@hrhblakeknight) have both experienced shootings within our hometown school systems, and have witnessed the heartache that takes place in affected communities after such tragic events,” he continued. “These topics – not always easy to discuss- are all close to my heart, and, knowing how serious they are, I wanted to share this with you all. This film has come from the perspectives of people who care deeply about these issues, and if watching it helps even one person… then it was all worth it.”
Congrats, Garrett!
Greg
I could tell he was when I saw that Teen Beach Movie. He’s got a great ass. Yeah baby.
Josh447
Lol so true.
topsyturvy
Preach!
Luicia
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Jim
He is a doll. But if you’ve followed him as long as I have, without saying a word he’s been coming out for almost a year now. Good for him to being an out, proud actor in Hollywood.
Josh447
Man this guy has been through alot. I’ve had a brush with suicide, it’s a horror like nothing else.
Very proud to have him on board as an out gay actor. I liked him alot in King Cobra. Will definitely see Reach and keep an eye on this guy’s career. I think he could be a great success.
Donston
You like to accuse me of a lot of stuff. And I understand that I can be overbearing. But at least two-thirds of the dudes this site has highlighted as far as coming out, no matter what they’re coming out as, have talked about struggles with depression, suicidal thoughts, addiction, self-destructive patterns, self-resentment, etc. So, these things are clearly issues, issues that perhaps don’t afect all or maybe even most, but still issues. I always appreciate people being straightforward with their struggles. Not only their struggles with understanding/accepting themselves but the stuff that often comes with that.
JK 1984
It does sound like he has been through a lot.
Suicide is horrible, both knowing other people who have attempted/succeeded to do it and going into that dark place myself (many moons ago when I was still struggling with my sexuality).
Donston, you and I don’t see eye to eye either all the time, but it is true that there is a higher risk of LGBTQ people having mental issues happen, because w e are subversive you the societal “normal” setting, anything different causes friction and that can lead to people struggling between what they are told they “should be” (straight, cis) and their identity.
I assume this may be the same for other minority groups as well but can’t say as inn not part of them.
Sorry if that ramble makes no sense, it is 6am currently, I’m tired and sick currently and have to get up for work soon.
Donston
I’ve been avoiding watching King Cobra for a few reasons. But I’ll have to look at it just to get a peek at his assets.
And yes, depression and thoughts of suicide are a bytch.
Bob LaBlah
When you watch it I suggest you get a small butter popcorn and small soda to match. I doubt if you will finish either before you change the channel or pop out the dvd in disgust. It just as disappointing as last winter’s FX movie about the Versace murder. Neither movie was good from the beginning and it was the sex scene parts that turned me off the most. A lot was missing from the scenes in Cobra. That movie was about a gay porn producer and the way those sex scenes were just half-assed filmed turned off the audience and ruined the movie.
astrogay 2020
good he is so talented and hot sexy beautiful
jcoberkrom
I’m soooo tired of celebrities coming out.
It’s not about their owning their truth or anything like that. It’s about getting some ink!
Celebrities live on attention and I’m tired of them using their sexuality to get it.
Get over yourselves.
jjose712
What a bitchy queen you are. If they come out, bad, if they don’t worse. With some of you is impossible to be right
DCguy
Translation: One of the anti-LGBT accounts hates people not being closeted.
Donston
Yes, many of these celebs will do anything for attention and that includes coming out. However, some people truly wish to share their struggles and share the dimensions of themselves in order to live freely, gain self-comfort and/or help other people. It’s a naive perspective, but that is the case sometimes. And promoting people staying closted (even if they come out as a sorta bi-ish person who doesn’t really have any interests in ever legit being with someone that’s not the opposite cis gender) is not something we need to be doing.
john.k
I believe strongly that well know actors and sportsmen?women coming out is a good thing. Despite all the progress that has been made in recent years old stereotypes of gays persist and teenagers struggling with their sexual identity can be inhibited from facing up to it because they don’t identify with what they think is a typical gay. For a long time we suffered from invisibility. The more well known people come out the more such teenagers will see that gays/lesbians come in all sorts of types.
Greg
I’d give Garrett whatever attention he wants.
Bob LaBlah
I wonder if all of this “coming out” from former Disney child stars has anything to do with Disney casting their first transgender actress?
QueerTruth
Not likely…. he’s been pretty open. I actually thought he was out since King Cobra in 2016.
tdh1980
This is no surprise to any of us with experience enough intuit such things, but that is beside the point. I applaud him for coming to a place in his life where he can living his truth openly and proudly, and I bet that boyfriend is tearing that booty up.
JK 1984
Congrats to Garrett on coming out. I know there are people (including other comments on this article) who say you shouldn’t come out, you are just trying to get publicity, etc.
To them, I say stfu. Everyone has to own their own truth, which they live in their own way at their own pace.
People who say it is just for publicity, maybe it is for that a little (or a lot maybe), but since Garrett and others who have used social media to come out, etc work in an industry where publicity is important I don’t see the issue with that, even though I don’t think publicity is the reason why it was done.
People who live public lives, whether that be on social media or celebrities are in the view of lots of people and the reason they have followers on social media is people are interested in what they do, how hot they are shirtless and/or who they are. For some people the followers on social media become like a family. So coming out to them is like coming out to your friend/family.
And famous people coming out can provide role models for those who are still in the closet/struggling with their sexuality. I know for me I struggled immensely before coming out as I had no role models, the only people I thought were gay was people like Elton John or the people on movies who got AIDS and died, which as a teenager I didn’t relate to. There were other gay people out there, but I felt all alone. Nowadays there are many out people so those terms (or adults) still struggling at least have people who they might be able to relate to.
And if an actor/singer/social media/whatever they are famous person comes out and it helps ONE PERSON with accepting themselves, not killing themselves because they are “different/a freak” them it is all worth it.
reesielover
I just wish it was me that he introduced as his boyfriend. What a doll baby.
Daniel Lachowski
Bitch please… he’s super gaaaaaaaaay
Duh!
He’s boyfriend is cute and HOT with strong guns!
Papi
Josh447
For a community that wants recognition for strength courage and transparency by having its high profile people come out, throwing shade by calling helping or sharing through coming out “naive” (have you given up using “lame”?) or chasing “ink” isn’t a help. When a high profile comrad reads your wayward bile, you may just as well have shut them down and sealed their closet door.
The gay community in general chides you for such underhanded destructive rhetoric. They also prefer you not speak publicly as you do us no favors, at all. Making it just that much harder for everyone else has to work to overcome your destruction.
Please. Just keep it to yourself. We have enough Tony Perkins’ in the world without you trying to steal their glory.
Donston
You sure do love to go at me, even indirectly. I said nothing offensive and was completely supportive. And yet, you still couldn’t help yourself. Just because I admit that sometimes for celebs coming out can indeed be more about a career move or a reach for attention than anything else doesn’t mean I want people to stay closeted and don’t wish for people to share their truths and struggles. I apologize that I don’t see everything as black and white as you.
There’s only been two people here to say something negative or dismissiveness. How about you follow your own advice and focus on the positive?
missuniverse
Obviously, Garrett is a HOT BOTTOM !
nitejonboy
He has got one helluva an ass, I would love to eat it and top it!!
Jack Meoff
Is anyone the least surprised
Scout
Garrett and Zac Efron would make a gorgeous couple!
Josh447
Not to mention a prefect porn flip vid.
mz.sam
Yay, Garrett…Congrats!! No amount of HAIRSPRAY can stop my COBRA from thirsting for your bootylicious sweet cheeks.
Tombear
With out a doubt this guy is adorable but not a great actor. I hope he studies acting more.