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Ricky Martin -

During an interview for an edition of People's Pride, the vocalist recollected being questioned on television by Barbara Walters about his orientation, which he had not disclosed publicly at that time. Initially, when Walters urged him to refute the ongoing speculations about his homosexuality, he declined to respond, but later he simply stated, "I just don't feel like it."

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Ricky Martin -

In 2018, Martin revealed on 'The Daily Show' that he faced immense difficulty in coming out, even eight years after the fact. His loved ones warned him that it would ruin his career, adding to the challenge. The experience of being confronted on television and urged to "shut down the rumors" was invasive and violated his privacy. Martin confessed that even now, when he reflects on Walters' interview, he still feels a bit of post-traumatic stress.

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Cara Delevingne -

The model and actress received a discouraging remark from Harvey Weinstein, stating that her chances of success in Hollywood were slim due to her identity as a queer woman. He suggested that she date men as a disguise, all while making inappropriate remarks about her relationships with women.

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Cara Delevingne -

Cara Delevingne shared that during her encounter with Harvey Weinstein, he made a discouraging remark, stating, "You will never make it in this industry as a gay woman—get a beard."

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Ezra Miller -

The 'Flash' actor came out as a queer non-binary person in 2012, but sadly, it wasn't an easy process. Without mentioning any specific names, Miller explained how both industry insiders and outsiders reprimanded them for their "silly" actions that hindered their chances of becoming a leading actor. They recounted receiving numerous serious lectures and being informed that they had made a mistake by speaking honestly.

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Ezra Miller -

"I didn't think I'd done anything wrong, though there have been moments of doubt as a result of those conversations," Miller told ShortList. "But...what they said was, in fact, 'rubbish.' We are the ones. It's up to us to manifest the world we want to exist in."

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Evan Rachel Wood -

The actress revealed her bisexuality in 2011, despite being advised against it. According to her statement to IndieWire, she was directly told, "Don't do it." The reason behind this caution was to maintain her appeal to men, as it is believed that this helps in selling tickets and advancing one's career.

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Evan Rachel Wood -

Wood thankfully stated that all the predictions she had been warned about did not come true. Although one community was left, another welcomed her with open arms.

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Kristen Stewart -

According to the actress, during the early stages of her career, she received advice from someone with a traditional mindset discouraging her from talking about her personal life in fear of public disapproval. Moreover, she was even advised to limit public outings with her girlfriend in order to secure more significant acting opportunities. The actress shared this experience with Harper's Bazaar UK.

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Kristen Stewart -

"I've fully been told, 'If you just do yourself a favor and don't go out holding your girlfriend's hand in public, you might get a Marvel movie,'" she said. "I don't want to work with people like that."

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Raven-Symoné -

The ex-star of 'That's So Raven' from Disney Channel revealed how the network shaped her public image during her upbringing, including matters related to her sexuality.

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Raven-Symoné -

At around age 12, she realized she was a lesbian, but it wasn't until 2013, after her time with Disney, that she publicly acknowledged her identity. During her stint with Disney, she said that a team of fifteen people had complete control over her image and appearance. She was told that coming out would not align with the brand and wouldn't be marketable. "I was branded at such a young age," she reflected.

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Elliot Page -

Prior to Elliot Page publicly identifying as a transgender man, he first revealed his identity as a lesbian, a choice that faced resistance from numerous individuals in the entertainment sector. In an interview with Variety, Page acknowledged the prevalent belief that coming out could potentially harm one's professional trajectory. "There's this narrative that people are attached to: You cannot come out because it's going to hurt your career," Page explained. "And that's potentially true. When I made the decision to come out, I wasn't naive to that."

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Elliot Page -

Page stated that in the past, he was pressured to wear dresses and heels for events and photo shoots, as if lesbians don't wear such attire. However, Page emphasized that he will never let anyone put him in something he feels uncomfortable wearing ever again. 

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Amber Heard -

After revealing her bisexuality, the actress faced criticism that she was jeopardizing her successful career, which included acting alongside renowned stars such as Nicolas Cage and Johnny Depp.

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Amber Heard -

Heard revealed that she received advice to hide her sexuality to protect her career. She responded, "I cannot do this any other way. Watch me." The absence of openly LGBTQ+ actors in leading romantic roles was highlighted to discourage her. 

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Samira Wiley -

At the start of her career, the actress from 'Handmaid's Tale' received advice to conceal her lesbian identity. Wiley admitted being advised to feign a romantic relationship with her gay male friend, in order to shield their orientation from public scrutiny.

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Samira Wiley -

During an interview on the 'Make It Reign' podcast, Wiley expressed genuine concern that her career would suffer if she openly acknowledged her true self. Nevertheless, she decided to come out and has since achieved significant success. She described this experience as a self-discovery process, realizing that conforming to societal expectations was unnecessary.

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Matt Bomer -

The actor, known for his role in 'White Collar,' made the decision to reveal his true self during a crucial point in his career. He acknowledged the potential consequences and the dangers associated with it. Despite having a studio film and a television series on the horizon, he prioritized being true to himself, keeping in mind the importance of authenticity for his family and his personal wellbeing. 

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Matt Bomer -

Although he has no regrets about revealing his true self, he recognizes that the journey was not easy. "To say that didn't cost me certain things in my career would be a lie. It did. To me that trade-off was worth it," he added.

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Lauren Jauregui -

As a member of Fifth Harmony, Lauren Jauregui was experiencing success in the music industry. However, as her fame grew, she faced pressure from her loved ones to conceal her bisexuality.

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Lauren Jauregui -

Jauregui, speaking to Out, expressed that many artists feel constrained by the fear of losing fans or isolating themselves. However, upon further reflection, they questioned the validity of this concern and wondered why it should hold anyone back. 

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Matt Dallas -

Matt Dallas, known for his role in 'Kyle XY,' revealed in a Q and A video that he was advised to hide his sexuality and refrain from discussing it publicly. In order to achieve success in the entertainment industry, he was instructed to bring a female companion with him to public events. This expectation implied that being openly gay could hinder one's career prospects, particularly when it came to on-screen roles.

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Matt Dallas -

Regrettably, he continues to experience the psychological effects of this damaging belief.  "I became very disconnected from who I was, and there's a lot of residual [stuff] that to this day I still deal with where I find myself [thinking] 'Oh, I sound too gay' or 'I'm acting too gay' because it was so drilled into my brain."

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Olly Alexander -

During the rise of Years and Years, Olly Alexander, a British singer, disregarded his publicist's counsel of avoiding discussion about his sexuality and acknowledged the importance of being true to himself, recognizing his responsibility to his younger self.

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Olly Alexander -

Alexander disclosed his sexuality when asked by a journalist, saying, "Yes, I'm gay and this song is about a man." He felt the need to convey this for his younger self, to show that hiding is no longer necessary. Thankfully, his fans provided him with overwhelming support.

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Colton Haynes -

After relocating to Los Angeles to pursue acting, the actor known for 'Arrow' revealed that he was advised against publicly acknowledging his homosexuality. This led to a prolonged internal battle, eventually leading Haynes to seek treatment for anxiety.

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Colton Haynes -

Colton revealed that upon moving to Los Angeles, he faced discouragement about his sexuality impacting his career prospects. His management team and others explicitly advised him against being openly gay and even attempted to arrange relationships with women. Colton clarified that the rumored heterosexual romances he was linked to were entirely false during a discussion with Andy Cohen.

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Jonathan Knight -

Jonathan Knight was warned that his career would be ruined if he revealed his true self. Knight shared that his manager was aware of his homosexuality and cautioned him about the consequences of coming out. He remembered his manager saying, "If anybody finds out, your career is over. The New Kids' career is over. My career is over.'" The weight of these words was immense. The pressure continued to mount over the years, causing him to experience anxiety. It was not until several years later, and not by his choice, that he finally revealed his truth.

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Jonathan Knight -

Knight's outing occurred when his then-boyfriend sold images of them to the National Enquirer. Despite not wanting to make an official declaration, he explained, "I didn't want to. I was just living my life... it wasn't something I was hiding." However, circumstances forced him to issue a statement and face the ordeal of clearing the air. This entire process was immensely distressing. Every stage of this journey was an immense injustice to Knight. Fortunately, times have since evolved, and he is now in a joyful marriage with his long-term partner, Harley Rodriguez.

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Jonathan Bailey -

Jonathan Bailey, known for his role in 'Bridgerton,' revealed to Attitude that the majority of the conversations in which he was told to stay in the closet were actually with other gay men in the industry. Despite hearing their perspectives, Bailey ultimately took control of his own life.

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Jonathan Bailey -

Bailey explained that openly gay roles in 'gay productions' often make publicists and casting directors hesitant. "There's a sense of shame, I think, that's palpable throughout gay men within the industry," he added.

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Sarah Paulson -

Paulson, who identifies as queer, was advised to keep her relationship with Holland Taylor, who is 34 years older than her, private to safeguard her career.

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Sarah Paulson Act -

"Early on, when people found out I was with Holland, some said: 'I think you have to be careful, I'm afraid it's going to affect your career negatively.' I was like, what? It never occurred to me at all," Paulson told The Edit. 

Sources: (Short List) (Too Fab) (StyleCaster)

See also: You won't believe the age gap between these celebrity couples!

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