Comedian Jerrod Carmichael explains how life has changed since coming out
BEVERLY HILLS, CA – APRIL 28: Comedian Jerrod Carmichael performs onstage (Photo by Jonathan Leibson/Getty Images for UCLA Jonsson Cancer Center Foundation)
Jerrod Carmichael explained how his life has changed since coming on in a new interview.
The comedian publicly came out as gay during his HBO special Rothaniel, which premiered on 1 April, a day before he hosted Saturday Night Live.
Appearing on Jimmy Kimmel Live! on Thursday (12 May), Carmichael said he has felt “freer” since.
“After coming out, you realise that, like – I realise a lot of people are in the closet about something,” Carmichael said”
“It’s inhibiting. Like, I realise I take better pictures since coming out because I’m not worried about looking gay. Was I not smiling because smiling is gay? So silly.”
The star, who recently featured in the comedy film On the Count of Three, told the audience of the Blue Note Jazz Club in New York on 1 April that he was gay after revealing stories about his family’s history, including a story about realising his father cheated on his mother.
“After that was out in the open, I was left alone feeling like a liar, because I had a secret. One that I kept from my father my mother, my family, my friends, and you. Professionally, personally. And the secret is that I’m gay,” he said.
After the audience applauded, Jerrod Carmichael said: “I’m accepting the love, I really appreciate the love. My ego wants to rebel against it. I rebelled against it my whole life. I thought I’d never, ever come out.”
A month later, having hosted SNL, and featuring in his own directorial debut, Carmichael expressed his relief to finally be himself in the public.
“A lie begets more lies and it’s all you can think – at least me, it’s all I can think about, the things I’m not saying,” he told Kimmel. “It’s like being in AA or something. Like, one day at a time. I didn’t lie today, OK, I didn’t lie today.”
Carmichael came to prominence on the Los Angeles comedy scene. He also created the semi-autobiographical sitcom The Carmichael Show which ran for two years.
