On Sunday, Australian actor Harry Cook, perhaps best known as Geena Davis’s son in the Aussie coming of age dramedy Accidents Happen, came out as a gay on YouTube. Cook, 22, says he was worried about the ramifications coming out would have on his career, but having played straight all through high school he realized there was no logic to his fear. He adds that making the video was a great relief to him. Cook also reveals that he’s “madly in love” and didn’t want to go through life hiding anything. You can see Cook next in the indie drama Drown, described as a “big night out” when “jealousy, homophobic fears and unrequited lust culminate in a tragic booze-fueled episode of near-fatal bullying.”
OUT DOWN UNDER
fagburn
“Perhaps best known for…” err, nothing.
Looks like that Tom Daley may have started a trend for people hijacking his cool move and who’ll turn coming out into a shameless self-publicity stunt.
Wow!
watching1
Good for him! I don’t care if he thinks it might be good for his career–he’s an actor, not an athlete, and it might very well NOT be good for his career. Still takes guts, and given the number of closet cases at Trevor Live last night, I’m all for young actors coming out. No matter what their personal reasons might be.
Cam
@fagburn:
A TREND? LOL! People have been coming out of the closet a LOT longer than Tom Daley, but you know, far be it from me to take away your typical response to anything, so please, by all means, continue.
AuntieChrist
He’s adorable… I just can’t wait to see the out pouring of love and support he will receive by his gay critics…We all know how warm and accepting gay folk are to one another…I think the accent is sexy too.
Rockery
Q at least you could have buttered us up with some posts about him beforehand like TD so when he comes out we could care a bit more.
That aside, this might be a big deal in Australia and it shows courage because he is at the forefront of younger actors coming out.It very well could hurt his career (or force him into certain roles). Either way, at least he knows he was part of a movement and paved the way for future actors. There will be a time (hopefully) when actors will say “there WAS a time when coming out killed you’re acting career as a leading man…..”
robirob
Lucas Cruikshank (Fred) was one of the first who came out this year via YouTube long.
Others in the past used print magazines like People (Lance Bass, Ricky Martin, Neil Patrick Harris) or OUT maybe to control the general message preventing a pontentially scandalous article from getting published.
Congrats to Harry Cook.
orcanyc
Congratulations on your bravery.
Tackle
@fagburn: I hear what you are saying.. Many people do tend to copy and follow trends. But I think what Tom Delay did, was encourage ( not intentionally) GLBT to use social media to come out. I think the days of celebrities, A list to Z appearing on magazine covers with the announcement, (yep I’m gay) is over. And before Tom Delay, Ricky Martin came out on his website. It’s great that people can use twitter, facebook, Youtube, Myspace or any other social media to come out.
Rockery
@Tackle:
LOL!! It’s been a week! Tom didn’t do anything. Fred, Matt Dallas, Raven Symone etc all used social media before him and countless other teens including that boy that ended up killing himself Jeremy R?
Trying to attribute the use of social media to come out to Tom Daley, is ridiculous!!! Like I said, it’s been a week, there isn’t even enough time or pattern of subsequent people coming out, to even make a claim like that
Rockery
PS: Jonathan Bennett…. we are waiting (not outing.. it’s already out there)
fagburn
@Rockery: But it’s the same “heartfelt” video selfie, with the same “I’m in love with a dude and I’m so happy” narrative.
Tom could sue for plagiarism.
And whatshisname doesn’t seem to to be a very good actor – the whole thing oozes insincerity…
sportyguy1983
Who cares. I will never understand the need of public figures (even those on the fringe of public life like this actor) who have this overwhelming need to tell the world and their fans (as if we need to know). It is even more ridiculous when they post Youtube videos. (Narcissist much?) The only people you should be telling is your friends and family. Beyond that, who cares. Live your life like everyone else and people will eventually figure it out.
DonW
@sportyguy1983: But you know who cares? Scared, closeted kids in conservative communities who have no one to confide in and whose friends and family would never understand or support them. Knowing that there are more and more people — celebrities or otherwise — who are out and proud will give them the strength to carry on, and reduce the still horrible rates of depression and suicide among gay youth.
This quote from Harvey Milk is still as true as it was in 1978:
“Gay brothers and sisters… You must come out… break down the myths, destroy the lies and distortions. For your sake. For their sake. For the sake of the youngsters who are becoming scared by the votes from Dade to Eugene.”
mike_goodboy
Congrats to Harry Cook 🙂
balehead
Another gay mistaking coming out as a talent…..cute though…
Niall
Don’t know who he is and googling him doesn’t bring up much either, which means he’s not that famous, but congrats to him, wish him loads of happiness.
Cam
@sportyguy1983: said…
“The only people you should be telling is your friends and family
____________________________
Ok, so just so I understand you, it’s ok for Jennifer Anniston to tell Jay Leno who she is engaged to, but it is “Icky” if Neil Patrick Harris does it.
Ok, got it.
Fitz
As far as being in love, Just please don’t let it be to someone twice his age who has a reputation for BB’ing young kids and throwing them out once they can grow a beard..
sportyguy1983
I could care less who Jennifer Anniston (or ANY public figure, whether gay or straight) is engaged to, but nice try to say I have a double standard.
Stefan
I can’t wait until the time when coming out is no longer news. It’s already tired news–so there is progress.
mawbinatl
@sportyguy1983: I think you misunderstood Cam, and he correct me if I am wrong, but he didn’t say that you personally have a double standard, but society as a whole does.
It’s ok for Brad to tell the world that he’s in love with Angelina or Brittany to gush over her new beau, but heaven forbid that (and I’m just using this person as an example) Cheyenne were to announce on television who he’s dating/marrying without people twisting up their faces and saying infantile utterances such as “they can be gay, but do they have to force it down our throats?”
I applaud this young man for coming out, by any means he chooses. It just let’s young people struggling with their sexuality know that 1) you can be happy with yourself and 2) there is a chance for you to be happy with someone you chose to love not who society chooses for you.
I hope his career prospers because Matt Bomer plays straight (White Collar and Magic Mike), so hopefully he can as well.
Tackle
@Rockery: I’m LOL at your post. As you obviously did not read or understand what I posted.I never said that we can attribute the use of social media to come out to Tom Delay. And never implied that. However it would be ridiculous to believe that somehow, somewhere his comming out on social media is not having an impact and encouraging some GLBT people to use it as a platform to come out. And as all one has to do is go to his site and read how others thank Tom, and his comming out encouraged them to come out as well. On social media. No comming out on social media did not start with Tom Delay. Yes his comming out on it. has encouraged others ( regardless how small) to do so as web.
Derek Williams
@fagburn: Coming out as gay has never been a great career move, more usually a career death sentence, and is often only to wrest control from media who were about to out you.
Considering the difficulty that Daley and Cook have had deciding to risk their livelihoods, and the renewed hope that it gives LGBT youngsters with one hand on daddy’s gun waiting for the bullet to enter their own brain, I find your comment cynical and disappointing.
jimpatrick
Congratulations! I wish you nothing but the best in the future.
fagburn
@Derek Williams: If Harry Cook had anything approaching a successful acting career, you’d think he might have a Wikipedia page…
chkar
Good luck for the future.
Derek Williams
@fagburn: Pretty snide comments coming from you, Mr anonymous “fagburn”. Not sure why you see it necessary to rain on Mr Cook’s parade.
He is well known and very much loved in Australia http://www.imdb.com/name/nm3101039.
I don’t have a Wikipedia page either, but I am very interested to see yours. Please feel entirely free to post a link to your credits in response.
fagburn
@Derek Williams: I am not a successful actor, sorry to disappoint.
PS I’m not raining on his parade – good luck to him, my main quibble is with gay media passing this off as big news.
Tackle
Ha. Just read my last post. Last word should be well, not web.
Derek Williams
@fagburn: I don’t know where you live, but if it’s anywhere other than Australia may you haven’t heard of him.
As I said, Harry Cook is well known in Australia, so it’s big news to us (I used to live in Australia). The above video is well on its way to 40,000 hits within a couple of days.
As for your claim to be “not raining in his parade”, I took a look at your highly offensive portrayal of him as “Harry Co*k” on your website at http://www.fagburn.com
Pretty nasty stuff.
When I see such mean spiritedness as yours in our own community and a complete lack of empathy of engagement with the difficulties of another human being, I really start to understand why there is homophobia in the world.
fagburn
@Derek Williams: Do people often compliment you on your wonderful sense of humour, Derek?
Derek Williams
@fagburn: You’re the first.
fagburn
@Derek Williams: Haha! x
tricky ricky
@fagburn: then tom daley stole it from that kid that does the fred show & marvin marvin
samwise343
@fagburn: Awww, fagburn, you sound jealous. When coming out, Harry had youtube and you had the telegraph.
ChiChi Man
Reading the many tiresome posts on this thread is further proof that many of you are miserable nutcases who have to bitch and moan about something to justify your pointless existences.
Thank god the future belongs to people like Mr. Cook who will inspire other young people to come out and to make change.
Ask yourselves: who have you inspired lately?
jimbryant
Harry Cook is no longer himself in my opinion. Once an actor comes out, he becomes the property of the gay community. The gay community owns him now.
If you want to know what happens to those who become the property of the gay community, look no further than George Michael or Ricki Martin. The only way is down in my view.
viveurmale
Congrats Harry, cause it is not an easy decision just to come out. Wish you all the best of luck!! And by the way, you are so cute!! hugs from beautiful Greece.
PeterCee
@jimbryant: Horseshit!
DarkZephyr
@fagburn: LGBT people have enough to worry about with coming out without people like you adding to the negative bullcrap associated with it. Why do you do things like this? Because gay media annoys you? Are you passionate about nothing else?
bmwblonde
@Fagburn: you are a cynical troll. I bet you’re 23 (or mentally, 12) — whatever — YOU are simply WAY too terminally immature to see the difference between sincerity and a “publicity stunt.” If you’re THIS jaded now, you’ll be a bitter old fag before you know it. Blink. Just what you deserve too.
@Harry Cook: My husband (74) and I (67) have lived through ALL of it — from total, horrendous “Normal” homophobia, to NOW. We’re SO glad you’re alive and young NOW, so you can do what you’ve done, be a role model for other (more scared) youngsters — and enjoy the New World. Don’t listen to morons and trolls here. They don’t have a life. You do. Hip hip hooray.