WWE wrestler Darren Young told a TMZ cameraman that he is gay, making him the first active professional wrestler to come out, according to the gossip outlet.
Young happened to be at the airport — where many celebrity/TMZ encounters occur — and was asked whether he felt a gay wrestler could be successful in the WWE. Young contemplated the question, and then he decided to reveal he is gay.
“Absolutely [I think a gay wrestler could be successful),” Young answered. “Look at me. I’m a WWE superstar and to be honest with you, I’ll tell you right now, I’m gay. And I’m happy, very happy.”
The cameraman was “flabbergasted” by Young’s revelation and stunned by the coming out moment. Young didn’t think much of it.
“To be honest, I don’t think [my sexuality] matters. Does it matter? Does it matter to you? Does it change what you think about me? I guess if you want to call it coming out … I really don’t know what to say it is but I’m just letting you know. I’m happy with who I am, I’m comfortable with myself, and I’m happy to be living the dream. I’m in L.A. for SummerSlam with WWE.”
Young continued to say that he just wanted to be open to be happy with himself and to inspire others.
“You know, to be honest with you, I’m happy with myself. Some people might not like it, some people will like it, but I’m here to please myself. I’m here to be happy. It’s very important I’m happy with myself.
“I’m hoping to be able to make a difference. It’s very important to me that people understand that someone’s sexual preference shouldn’t really matter. It should be about the person.”
One concern that some have is that having a gay person in wrestling could affect the workplace. Young dismissed that notion.
“We’re all adults. When I come to work, I come to work. Business is business. I’m a WWE superstar and I’m there to entertain the WWE universe, and that’s what my job is to do … and I do it well.”
Young made his professional debut in 2002 and began wrestling for WWE in 2005 and 2006. He teams up with Titus O’Neil to form the Prime Time Players. His revelation will likely come as a shock to fans. Reading Young’s Twitter bio shows what kind of heterosexual character he portrays in the wrestling world:
“As comfortable in the VIP section as he is in the ring, Darren Young’s life revolves around three things — money, women and wrestling.”
That may be what his fake life revolves around, but his personal life is much different.
Young joins Jason Collins as one of the more notable professional sports figures to come out this year. Last year, boxer Orlando Cruz came out as gay.
Transcription via Cage Side Seats
Photo: Twitter/Darren Young
