Actor Daniel Franzese has come out gay
in an open letter to his gay character in the 2004 film Mean
Girls.
The 35-year-old Franzese has appeared
in more than 14 films, including Bully, Party Monster, Bristol
Boys and War of the Worlds. But he is fondly remembered
for playing gay teen Damian in Mean Girls.
In the letter, published
at Bent,
an Indiewire blog, Franzese blamed Damian for ruining his life.
“I became celibate for a year and a
half. I didn't go to any gay bars, have any flings and lied to
anyone who asked if I was gay. I even brought a girl to the Mean
Girls premiere and kissed her on the red carpet, making her my
unwitting beard,” he wrote.
“I had the perfect opportunity in
2004 to let people know the REAL Daniel Franzese. Now in 2014 –
ten years later – looking back, it took YOU to teach me how to be
proud of myself again. It’s okay if no one wants to sit at the
table with the 'art freaks.' Being a queer artist is one of my
favorite things about myself. I have always been different and
that's rad. People have always asked if I was really gay? While my
reps usually lied to protect me. My friends and family all knew the
truth but now it's time everyone does. Perhaps this will help
someone else. I had to remind myself that my parents named me Daniel
because it means 'God is my judge.' So, I’m not afraid anymore.
Of Hollywood, the closet or mean girls. Thank you for that, Damian.
(And Tina [Fey].)”