Lance Bass: “It’s scary admitting you’re gay in Hollywood.”
Fear of losing jobs — and the admiration of fans — is one of the main reasons why many stars decide to remain in the closet. Lance Bass, a 1990s teen heartthrob with ’NSync, admits this concern played a part in his decision to wait until 2006 to finally admit he is gay. “It’s scary for someone to come out because they know it will hurt their career — even now. It really does typecast you,” Lance tells In Touch exclusively. “In Hollywood, it really matters what your personal life is. It sucks that it’s that way, but that’s the reality.”
Hollywood image consultant Michael Sands says that stars’ livelihoods depend on their “appeal to viewers of the opposite sex. The public dictates whether or not artists will work, and so stars need to be seen as romantically attainable.”
But coming out doesn’t have to be a career killer. “Look at Ellen, she wasn’t accepted at first, but now she’s huge,” notes Sands. “What stars who come out need to do is reinvent themselves.” Lance, a favorite on this season’s Dancing With the Stars, agrees. “To be able to be yourself is much better than getting that job you wanted,” he says. “In the end, you will be a much happier person.”
