Colton Haynes talked about coming out, his struggle with anxiety and his father's death in a recent interview with Out magazine. (Photo : Getty Images/ Astrid Stawiarz / Stringer)
Colton Haynes talked about coming out, his struggle with anxiety and his father's death in a recent interview with Out magazine.
Haynes came out publicly in an interview with Entertainment Weekly in May. "People want you to be that GQ image that you put out, but people don't realize what it's like to act 24 hours a day. I'd go home and I was still acting," Haynes shared. "People who are so judgmental about those who are gay or different don't realize that acting 24 hours a day is the most exhausting thing in the world."
Prior to this, the 27-year-old star revealed that he was struggling with clinical anxiety and ulcer. Although he was at the cusp of his career - having bagged key roles in "Teen Wolf" and "Arrow" - Haynes took a step back and checked himself into rehab for anxiety.
With his recent coming out, Haynes earned the support of fans and colleagues in the entertainment industry. But the environment wasn't as supporting when Haynes first came out in his younger years. His mother wasn't particularly accepting of his decision and he was the subject of bullying at school.
As a result, a young Haynes rebelled. He ran away from home and stayed at a friend's house. It was then that he received a call about his father's suicide by swallowing around 40 oxycodone pills.
"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," Haynes told Out about his father's death.
Among other things, Haynes talked about going through a difficult break-up with a man he dated for six years. The split led to a "complete mental breakdown." He also shared his ideal man, which he describes as a mix of John Cena, Idris Elba and Ryan Reynolds.
Haynes is set to appear in Fox's "Scream Queens" Season 2 this September, and details about his character is being heavily kept secret. He's also expected to return to "Arrow" Season 5 as Roy Harper/Arsenal.
