Teen Wolf actor Colton Haynes was told father killed himself after he came out as gay

'I lost it and was like, how could you say something like that?’

Colton Haynes came out at 14 to his classmates and friends

Teen Wolf actor Colton Haynes has recalled how he was blamed for his father's suicide by a relative who claimed he killed himself after finding out his son was gay.

Haynes grew up in a small town in Kansas and came out publicly as gay in an interview with Maxim magazine in May. His sexuality had been the subject of much speculation after photos of a shoot where he was kissing another man resurfaced years after publication. “I'm happier than I've ever been, and healthier than I've ever been, and that's what I care about," he said at the time.

In an interview with Out Magazine, he described how coming out to friends at the age of 14 led to bullying so severe his brother had to meet him from classes to protect him.

He eventually ran away from home and was later contacted by an estranged relative, who said his father had taken an overdose.

“I was told that my dad killed himself because he found out I was gay. So, of course, I lost it and was like, ‘How could you say something like that?’ And no one will ever really know the truth. But my brother and my mom went to pick up my dad’s stuff, and the only picture on his fridge was my eighth-grade graduation picture. So I was just like, f**k.”

The 28-year-old has suffered from anxiety throughout his life which he says was exacerbated by hiding his sexuality. Like many actors before him, Haynes said he felt obliged to stay closeted in order to succeed in Hollywood, particularly after landing his breakthrough role on Teen Wolf in 2011.

He added: “I think just having enough nerve and guts to come out in any way is a lot."

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