Former Disney star Garrett Clayton comes out as gay in moving Instagram post

Former Disney star Garrett Clayton has come out as gay in a powerful Instagram post.

Garrett Clayton, who has starred in projects such as Disney Channel’s Teen Beach Movie and NBC’s 2016 production of Hairspray Live!, has come out as gay.

In a post on the star’s Instagram page, Clayton revealed that he had been in a long-term relationship with a man named Blake Knight. He chose to come out now because of his upcoming film Reach, which deals with a high school student struggling with suicidal thoughts.

He shared via Instagram:

"REACH deals with some very serious and timely topics that have affected me personally, and have likely influenced many of your lives as well. (I also prefer to share things that are particularly important for me here on my IG) instead of in some random magazine or online article – because you are the ones that have been rooting for me and following me on my professional and personal journey in life."

Clayton was intrigued by the role in Reach because it was a topic that was especially personal, not only for him but also for his boyfriend.

"When I read the script for REACH, I immediately knew it was a film I had to be a part of. I have personally dealt with suicide within my own family, intense bullying in high school, and – on top of it all – myself and the man I’ve been in a relationship with for a long time (@hrhblakeknight) have both experienced shootings within our hometown school systems."

Clayton, who played real-life gay porn star Brent Corrigan in the 2016 film King Cobra, was seemingly outed in an interview by openly gay actor Noah Galvin in 2016, without naming names. Galvin discussed a “kid who guested” on The Real O’Neals who was “blatantly” flirting with him, but wouldn’t discuss his sexuality.

The comments led many to believe he was talking about Clayton, who played a gay teen on an episode of the short-lived ABC sitcom. Clayton never responded to the comments, and Galvin never named names. Everyone comes out in their own time, though, and if Clayton was only ready now, then that’s his choice.

Reach is set to premiere Oct. 19.