Disney Channel stars open up about groundbreaking first ever coming out scene
Stars of the Disney Channel’s Andi Mack have opened up about a groundbreaking first ever coming out scene.
The Disney Channel earlier this month aired its first ever coming out scene on the show.
The character Cyrus, played by Joshua Rush, came out after he told friend Buffy that he had feelings for a male classmate.
Rush said he hopes his character’s coming out will help inspire young viewers to be true to themselves.
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He said: “I hope people, out of Cyrus’ storyline, got this feeling like, you can be who you are,” he said. “If there’s something you’re thinking about, you should talk about it.”
According to a Disney represenative, the character Buffy “makes for positive role models for kid and adult viewers.”
In the season two premiere of Andi Mack, 13-year-old Cyrus – one of Andi’s best friends – begins to realise he has feelings for fellow teen Jonah.
News of this storyline predictably outraged One Million Moms, leading the anti-LGBT campaign group to launch a boycott of the Disney Channel.
After Jonah breaks up with his girlfriend Amber and quickly asks out Andi, Jonah decides to open up to his and Andi’s other best friend, Buffy.
The subsequent scene, in an episode watched by 1.62 million people, is emotive, realistic and beautiful.
After a clearly emotional, hesitant Cyrus says he hasn’t ordered food, Buffy tells him: “You’re scaring me.”
“I’m scaring me too,” comes the reply.
Cyrus then reveals: “Last night, when we were watching Andi and Jonah, you asked me am I happy for Andi, and I said: ‘Yes, I’m happy for Andi.’
“But I’m also not happy.”
“How come?” responds Buffy. “Are you jealous?”
He nods, tearing up.
“Cyrus, do you like Andi?” she asks.
He shakes his head, mouthing the word: ‘No’.
“You like Jonah,” Buffy finally realises.
He nods and looks down, fearing the worst.
“Buffy, I feel weird. Different,” he eventually tells her.
“Cyrus,” she says, taking his hands and smiling, “you’ve always been weird, but you’re no different.”
Cyrus tells her he’s “glad” he told her, and she assures him that telling other people will go well too.
He then says: “This is really bad timing,” following it up with a cheesy punchline.
“I just got a girlfriend.”
Watch the full scene here:
