In a week of cryptic coming outs (see: Harry Styles and Glee actor Kevin McHale), a star of the upcoming gay teen dramedy Love, Simon has come out publicly as gay.
23-year-old Joey Pollari, who plays Lyle in the film, got candid about his coming out experience in an interview with the Advocate.
Related: Coming out gets extra awkward with Dad’s Grindr offer in new “Love, Simon” clip
That started with the very first person he had to come out to: himself.
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“The only part that was difficult was me coming out to myself. And I think that is the most difficult coming out,” he said.
His timing couldn’t be more perfect. Love, Simon, which is being touted as the first mainstream teen coming out film, hits theaters across America on March 16. It’s a pivotal moment, as the success of the film could tangibly highlight acceptance at its most widespread in history.
Pollari says he identifies with the movie’s central character, Simon Spier (Nick Robinson), a closeted 17-year-old.
“His experience was similar to mine.”
Related: There’s even more to love about “Love, Simon” in the new extended trailer
“I think all my friends and family knew on some level,” he added. “I think maybe two people were shocked.”
Among those who knew was his mother.
“My mom knew. She laid hints for me everywhere. A lot of the trouble was self shame. I do believe a system of power, of patriarchy, of masculinity did impact me.
“The greatest difficulty I found was that it didn’t match my idea of myself. It seemed incongruent with the future I imagined for myself, the identity I had struck up with others. The interplay between me and women, me and men, now suddenly seemed entirely different. That just didn’t seem fair or right.”
He also highlighted that while the film’s story is a novel approach in mass-marketed cinema, love stories at their core are strikingly similar.
“Every love story, gay or straight, has to come from a place of coming out of some closet of some previous fear into a new territory. This one just makes it a little bit more explicit and ties it to the gay experience.”
Prior to Love, Simon, Pollari played Tyler in the Disney XD movie, Skyrunners.
Related: “Love, Simon” star Nick Robison’s brother came out while the film was in production:
chris_clb614
He also played the very conflicted high school basketball player in season 2 of the anthology series American Crime.
It’s on Netflix
MaxH
And during filming he shared a house with likely fellow homosexual Connor Jessup. I can only imagine the filth they got up to.
Ksb1978
Holy cow, that is him. Didn’t recognize him at first. Makes me wanna go back and watch that season.
Blackceo
@MaxH Interesting. Can’t disagree either. There was probably all kinds of bodily fluids transferred.
mujerado
@MaxH. Calling it “filth” says more about you than about either of them.
Keebler ILF
I didn’t recognize him as the guy from American Crime. The role he played was so sad, feeling he had to hide who he was. But I was definitely lusting over him.
I wasn’t really interested in seeing Love, Simon before. Now that I know it’s the same guy from American Crime, I have to check it out.
Larry McD
Mujerado is right on the money. Who boasts about imagining filth?
troyfight
^ Larry, trolls do.
BOB K
Larry McD mujerado troyfight — SO QUICK TO BE NEGATIVE!!!!!!
“getting up to all sorts of filth” means they are having exciting sex that the Church Lady would fall over dead to hear about. Have you never heard sex referred to in a fun way as dirty? Maybe it is because many, particularly younger, Gays are much more straightlike/prudish about sex post AIDS.
Nosso Crankee
Is “MaxH” short for Maximum Homosexual?
Herman75
Yes. S2 overall was awesome. Unique television.
martin_erickson
I read the way Bob K read it. But… I am 70, so what do I know? ?
DCguy
Good for him and Congratulations!
There have been some other teen semi-mainstream films, but nothing that got the P.R. push this one is getting. Maybe movie studios have finally told those burned out 80 year old studio executives to be quiet and let them release some good movies with lgbt characters finally!
GayEGO
Good news! Nice looking guy as well!
blackhook
Saw Love, Simon last night at a preview …really well done, I recommend it!
Polaro
The movie looks like it is worth seeing!
nm4047
filth, interesting way to put it.
Bryguyf69
The title misleadingly implies that Pollari just came out. As the Advocate article makes clear, he actually came out at 18, meaning he’s been out for 5 years. It’s just that no one cared until Love, Simon.
https://www.advocate.com/film/2018/3/13/love-simons-joey-pollari-every-love-story-coming-out-story
JamJewel
Oh my gawd! I can’t believe none of you saw him on tv’s “Melissa & Joey” with that other gay-boy’s dreammachine, Joey Lawrence. Then he disappeared from the show and the next thing I know, there he is in Cris Pratt’s Jurassic Park. The kid’s been around. Will go back and watch 2nd season of American Crime; I had started each season but didn’t stay with either….
Tim
You’re mixing up two different people. The star of Love, Simon, and the kid from Melissa and Joey / Jurassic World is Nick Robinson. This article is about Joey Pollari. But apparently Nick’s brother came out during the filming of Love, Simon, so that’s a plus.
batesmotel
Ironic that they’re starring in a gay film and coming out at the same time. Almost seems like a publicity stunt. In any case, the film looks like it’ll be a good one. Those that have seen pre-screenings have said they loved it.