“Abbott Elementary” star Tyler James Williams put a stop to speculation about his sexuality once and for all.
In a lengthy Instagram Story shared on Sunday, the 30-year-old revealed that while he is not a part of the LGBTQ community, he is an ally to its members.
The 30-year-old actor, who won a Golden Globe award earlier this year for his role as first-grade teacher Gregory Eddie in the school-based sitcom, shut down rumours about his sexuality.
“Usually I wouldn’t address stuff like this but I feel like it as a conversation is bigger than me,” Williams began his lengthy message, before eloquently explaining why theorising about someone’s sexuality is harmful.
“I’m not gay; but I think the culture of trying to ‘find’ some kind of hidden trait or behaviour that a closeted person ‘let slip’ is very dangerous,”
he wrote.
“Over analysing someone’s behaviour in an attempt to ‘catch’ them directly contributes to the anxiety a lot of queer and queer questioning people feel when they fear living in their truth.”
“Being straight doesn’t look one way. Being gay doesn’t look one way. And what may seem like harmless fun and conversation may actually be sending a dangerous message.”
“Happy Pride to all of my queer and questioning brothers, sisters, and individuals. I pray that you feel seen in ways that make you feel safe in the celebration that is this month.”
Other actors have also faced baseless rumours about their sexuality fueled by the way they look or act.
Harry Potter star Daniel Radcliffe, for example, has previously revealed that he had to bat away speculation that he is gay because trolls thought he has “a gay face”.
The Golden Globe winner also recently divulged that his body “crashed” following an eruption of his Crohn’s disease.
While the incident occurred over five years ago, he opened up to Men’s Health earlier this year about the condition, saying that he had been trying to build more muscle in order to aid him in auditioning for more adult roles.
