# What famous person could come out of the closet... **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 1, 2009, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-famous-person-could-come-out-of-the-closet/495026 "2009-05-01T21:03:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Honesty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/f04885/32.png) [@Honesty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Honesty)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2009, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-famous-person-could-come-out-of-the-closet/495026/61 "2009-05-05T18:08:52Z")
I’d be surprised to hear that Barack Obama was gay. He really seems into Michelle so it would surpise me. I’d be shocked (but heartily amused) if Anderson Cooper or Shepard Smith came out of the closet. ---
**Author:** ![Hazle\_Weatherfield](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Hazle\_Weatherfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hazle_Weatherfield)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2009, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-famous-person-could-come-out-of-the-closet/495026/62 "2009-05-05T18:38:13Z")
Isn’t it common knowledge that Anderson Cooper is gay? ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2009, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-famous-person-could-come-out-of-the-closet/495026/63 "2009-05-05T18:43:48Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > Throw in the video rights and we’re back in your corner. I’m sure we could Ms. Dushku to PRETEND to be a lesbian with the right script. (That’s not a slam; I think she’s a decent actress. The right script would be a good one in which she happened to be playing a lesbian.) ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2009, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-famous-person-could-come-out-of-the-closet/495026/64 "2009-05-05T19:05:57Z")
> [@scifisam2009](#): > > Any unmarried premier-league footballer who’s currently doing really well at the game. Can you imagine the headlines if [Cristiano Rinaldo](http://media.photobucket.com/image/Cristiano%20Rinaldo/luckykissxoxo/cristiano-ronaldo.jpg), [Steven Gerrard](http://sjsandteam.files.wordpress.com/2008/12/steven_gerrard_and__403443a.jpg), [John Terry](http://www.freewebs.com/football-ownage/John%20Terry.jpg), [Frank Lampard](http://topnews.in/files/Frank-Lampard1458.jpg) or someone similar came out. I think that [Wayne Rooney](http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_HrtzA03n-uY/STf2wqIuMJI/AAAAAAAAACk/iR8VUsrFTms/s400/wayne_rooney_855_18295341_0_0_7005137_300_profile.jpg) (see possible homophobes) or [David Beckham](http://www.yourcelebritystuff.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/07/david-beckham-emporio-armani-ads.jpg) (not really surprising) would help much. Links included in case gay North American Dopers don’t recognize these folks. ---
**Author:** ![Sebastienne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a698b9/32.png) [@Sebastienne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sebastienne)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2009, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-famous-person-could-come-out-of-the-closet/495026/65 "2009-05-05T19:21:19Z")
> [@Mojo\_Pin](#): > > The host of the Discovery show Man Vs Wild, Bear Grylls, is pretty much the last person on earth I expect could possibly be gay. That would surprise me. I dunno about the good for gay rights thing though, maybe just the fact that one of the most badass people on earth is gay would be something? Why is he the last person on Earth who could possibly be gay? I only watch the show off and on and don’t follow his celebrity life, but he reminds me a fair bit of some of the “big on adventure travel and outdoor sports” 30something gay guys I’ve met at the climbing gym. ---
**Author:** ![Green\_Bean](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/green_bean/32/1760_2.png) [@Green\_Bean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Green_Bean)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2009, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-famous-person-could-come-out-of-the-closet/495026/66 "2009-05-05T19:37:10Z")
> [@Ranchoth](#): > > [King Abdullah](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abdullah_of_Saudi_Arabia). > > Certainly a surprise; but I’m not sure if it’d be really good, or _really_ bad for gay rights. Not to be confused with [King Abdullah II of Jordan](http://www.katrinadestruction.com/images/v/hurricane/SIP0521994-king-nagin.html). (And because I just know that someone’s going to say something about Queen Rania, [here’s a link](http://www.greece-athens.com/news_images/40.jpg).) It would be good for a Middle Eastern leader who is popular and well-regarded in the West to come out. But I hope it’s not King Abdullah! > [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > I’ve no desire for Portia de Rossi, but I’d like Jodie Foster. We’ll swap Will Smith, Daniel Craig, and Colin Firth. Whaddaya say? Will Smith and Daniel Craig are not yours to give. I wouldn’t know Colin Firth if he bit me on the ass, but if he’s in the same league as Will Smith and Daniel Craig, he’s welcome to bite me on the ass anytime. ---
**Author:** ![Lars\_Aruns](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c68b51/32.png) [@Lars\_Aruns](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lars_Aruns)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2009, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-famous-person-could-come-out-of-the-closet/495026/67 "2009-05-05T19:44:49Z")
Silvio Berlusconi, PM of Italy. _That_ would be a surprise, especially to his religious conservative allies, who would pretty much stop supporting him instantly. ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/46a35a/32.png) [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_T-Bonham.net)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2009, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-famous-person-could-come-out-of-the-closet/495026/68 "2009-05-05T19:59:51Z")
> [@Lars\_Aruns](#): > > Silvio Berlusconi, PM of Italy. _That_ would be a surprise, especially to his religious conservative allies, who would pretty much stop supporting him instantly. I think you underestimate the ability of conservatives (or humans generally) to schizophrenically ignore obvious discrepancies between what their leaders say & what they do. Besides all the fundamentalist church leaders who have been exposed in sexual scandals lately, wasn’t the head of the Austrian neo-nazi party well known as gay, even before his death in a traffic accident after fighting with his boyfriend? ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2009, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-famous-person-could-come-out-of-the-closet/495026/69 "2009-05-05T23:04:35Z")
> [@Green\_Bean](#): > > Will Smith and Daniel Craig are not yours to give. My bolt-action catamitizer and I beg to differ. :: carefully loads catamiting ammo :: Now if y’all will excuse me, I need to go rescue Katie from Tom. She doesn’t deserve that. Nobody does. ---
**Author:** ![Shirley\_Ujest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shirley\_Ujest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirley_Ujest)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2009, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-famous-person-could-come-out-of-the-closet/495026/70 "2009-05-05T23:28:36Z")
> [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > My bolt-action catamitizer and I beg to differ. > > :: carefully loads catamiting ammo :: > > Now if y’all will excuse me, I need to go rescue Katie from Tom. She doesn’t deserve that. Nobody does. Nobody put a gun to her head. I strongly suspect it was the lure of wads of money and a higher level of fame that her own lame acting skills could never ever acheived that did it for her. ---
**Author:** ![SciFiSam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/47e85d/32.png) [@SciFiSam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SciFiSam)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2009, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-famous-person-could-come-out-of-the-closet/495026/71 "2009-05-06T00:00:50Z")
> [@ShibbOleth](#): > > Can you imagine the headlines if [Cristiano Rinaldo](http://media.photobucket.com/image/Cristiano%20Rinaldo/luckykissxoxo/cristiano-ronaldo.jpg), [Steven Gerrard](http://sjsandteam.files.wordpress.com/2008/12/steven_gerrard_and__403443a.jpg), [John Terry](http://www.freewebs.com/football-ownage/John%20Terry.jpg), [Frank Lampard](http://topnews.in/files/Frank-Lampard1458.jpg) or someone similar came out. > > I think that [Wayne Rooney](http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_HrtzA03n-uY/STf2wqIuMJI/AAAAAAAAACk/iR8VUsrFTms/s400/wayne_rooney_855_18295341_0_0_7005137_300_profile.jpg) (see possible homophobes) or [David Beckham](http://www.yourcelebritystuff.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/07/david-beckham-emporio-armani-ads.jpg) (not really surprising) would help much. > > Links included in case gay North American Dopers don’t recognize these folks. It would be fantastic if any of the first lot came out, especially the British ones. Rooney and Beckham, though, are married. I don’t think it would help if they left their wives for men; nor would it help if they revealed they’d had bisexual experiences, because it would obviously (given the ages at which they got married) just be a ‘phase’ before committing to their real relationships. ---
**Author:** ![Moirai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/96bed5/32.png) [@Moirai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moirai)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2009, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-famous-person-could-come-out-of-the-closet/495026/72 "2009-05-06T00:05:37Z")
> [@Hazle\_Weatherfield](#): > > Isn’t it common knowledge that Anderson Cooper is gay? Yeah, but he won’t admit it. ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2009, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-famous-person-could-come-out-of-the-closet/495026/73 "2009-05-06T01:14:56Z")
> [@Shirley\_Ujest](#): > > Nobody put a gun to her head. I strongly suspect it was the lure of wads of money and a higher level of fame that her own lame acting skills could never ever acheived that did it for her. You appear to be trying to persuade me to look at this sensibly. That seems odd. I don’t actually care about Katie Holmes one way or the other. I just find Cruise annoying. ---
**Author:** ![Nzinga\_Seated](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b5ac83/32.png) [@Nzinga\_Seated](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nzinga_Seated)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2009, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-famous-person-could-come-out-of-the-closet/495026/74 "2009-05-06T01:19:16Z")
> [@Sampiro](#): > > The time to come out was when he was a superstar and he _denied_ it in the press (three times before his cock grew). Sampiro. What are we going to do with you? ---
**Author:** ![BrassyPhrase](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ea666f/32.png) [@BrassyPhrase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrassyPhrase)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2009, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-famous-person-could-come-out-of-the-closet/495026/75 "2009-05-06T03:37:01Z")
> [@Nzinga\_Seated](#): > > Sampiro. What are we going to do with you? Raise him on our collective shoulders and march him around the Dope City Square as a hilarious hero? Just my .11. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2009, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-famous-person-could-come-out-of-the-closet/495026/76 "2009-05-06T03:47:35Z")
> [@scifisam2009](#): > > It would be fantastic if any of the first lot came out, especially the British ones. > > Rooney and Beckham, though, are married. I don’t think it would help if they left their wives for men; nor would it help if they revealed they’d had bisexual experiences, because it would obviously (given the ages at which they got married) just be a ‘phase’ before committing to their real relationships. Sorry, typo on my part. I meant to put that it would NOT help if they came out. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-famous-person-could-come-out-of-the-closet/495026.md?page=3)