March 31, 2017
Watch: 'Walking Dead' Actor Comes Out as Gay in Moving Vid
READ TIME: 1 MIN.
An actor on "The Walking Dead" posted a YouTube video Friday coming out as gay.
Daniel Newman, who plays Richard (a member of The Kingdom) on "TWD," posted a nearly 7-minute video called "#OUTandPROUD," in which he explains his decision to discuss his sexuality. He says he was working at an LGBTQ homeless shelter when a girl thanked him for volunteering as a straight ally. He told the girl he's actually gay and she responded by saying, "Why have you never said that publicly before? You could help change our lives."
Newman said her response felt like "a gut punch."
"It felt like someone had knocked the wind out of me. I realized how important it is in this day and age to be visible; have people know who you are," the actor said.
He later discusses being gay in Hollywood, saying:
"I'm an actor. The whole world, the industry, is like 'here's your big break, you're on 'The Walking Dead,' you can't come out, you can't be in the press, because everything you work so hard for is going to be gone. There's no gay or bi leading men, no action heroes, your career's going to be over.' I don't care. Because I know what's right."
Later, Newman took to social media to comment on his video.
Watch the clip below.
