John Barrowman ‘knows’ there are gay footballers out there
John Barrowman (Kent Horner/Getty)
Actor John Barrowman has said that he “knows” there are gay footballers out there, despite the fact that none of the players at Britain’s top levels are openly gay.
The actor made the comments while reflecting on a conversation he had with former Spurs and West Ham Boss Harry Redknapp while the pair were competing on I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here!
Redknapp said at the time that Barrowman was the first gay man he had met. However, in an interview with The Sun, Barrowman said: “I had this conversation with Harry who apparently had never met a gay man before he met me in the jungle which I find hard to believe as I know there are gay footballers out there.”
People no longer care ‘who you sleep with,’ John Barrowman says
Barrowman said he sympathises with gay footballers who are afraid that coming out will ruin their careers, however he said that it was important for high-profile figures to make a positive impact.
“If people are fearful of coming out because of their job, they’re stupid because there are so many ways and people around to protect them now and if they come out, whether they’re sportsman or they are in Hollywood.
“There are so many people who really don’t care anymore who you sleep with.
“If you’re worried it’s going to affect your career, you’re living in another century.”
“I had this conversation with Harry who apparently had never met a gay man before he met me in the jungle which I find hard to believe as I know there are gay footballers out there.”
– John Barrowman
Elsewhere in the interview, Barrowman said that prominent gay people coming out could “save and change” lives.
Slaven Vlasic/Getty
“That’s the thing I look at when I’m speaking on my soapbox or playing a character who is gay or bisexual, is help that one person to be their own self.”
John Barrowman does not have an issue with straight actors playing gay characters
He also revealed that he has lost out on film roles in the past because execs did not want to hire gay actors to play straight roles.
Barrowman revealed that he does not have an issue with straight actors playing gay characters, however he resents them being showered with awards for it.
“An actor’s job is to portray the part. The one thing I don’t agree with is people going ‘oh my God, it was such an amazingly difficult role to play.’ It’s really not that difficult.”
Barrowman made waves in the UK last year when he competed in the latest season of I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here!
The openly gay actor said he wanted to be known as the King and Queen of the Jungle if he won the show.
