The former Disney star casually addresses his sexuality when talking about how personal his upcoming film 'Reach' is to him.
- Aug 22, 2018
AceShowbiz - Former Disney star Garrett Clayton has 'come out' as a gay man.
The 27-year-old Hairspray Live! actor, who also starred in the Disney Channel's Teen Beach Movie, casually went public with his sexuality in a lengthy post on Instagram on Monday, August 20, as he explained how personal his forthcoming film Reach is to him.
Garrett plays a bullied teen battling suicidal thoughts in the emotionally-charged project, and he revealed so many topics tackled in the film really resonated with him.
"When I read the script for REACH, I immediately knew it was a film I had to be a part of," he shared. "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."
"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."
The actor's brief mention of his boyfriend didn't get overlooked by fans, who flooded his comments section with supportive messages, and he took to Twitter to express his gratitude.
"Totally love and appreciate the support!" Garrett wrote.