Hayden Panettiere came out publicly as bisexual in a new interview with US Weekly ahead of the publication of her memoir, “This Is Me: A Reckoning.” The 36-year-old actor got her start in Hollywood as a child actor and revealed she never discussed her sexuality publicly over the last couple decades because “I was not encouraged to just be myself.”
“No one ever encouraged me to just be myself, and then it came, the period of time, where it felt like people coming out, especially women coming out, and saying that they were bisexual, or liked girls, was a fad,” Panettiere added, noting she was “afraid” that she’d appear like she was “jumping on the bandwagon” if she were to come out as bisexual.
“And once again, it was always the fear of not being perfect, and what my team was going to think about it, what the public’s opinion was going to be about it,” Panettiere explained. “It was just never the right time, and it was a very difficult topic to articulate properly… it’s sad that I had to wait till I was 36 years old to share that part of me, but better late than never, right?”
With her memoir being published this month, Panettiere said she’s now “comfortable saying I’m bisexual. I’m comfortable to confidently say that, yes, I am bisexual. I said it!”
“It was always scary, because my life, I mean, there were paparazzi always outside, waiting for me outside, to follow me everywhere,” she added. “I had very little privacy, and I mean, I have dated women. It started at a very, very young age.”
Panettiere got her start as a child actor on soap operas such as ABC’s “One Life to Live” and CBS’ “Guiding Light.” She had a voice role in Pixar’s “A Bug’s Life” and became a Disney star with roles in “Remember the Titans,” “Tiger Cruise” and “Ice Princess.” Her notable movie roles also include “Bring It On: All or Nothing” and “Scream 4.” She reprised her “Scream” role of Kirby Reed in “Scream VI.” On television, Panettiere is best known for playing Claire Bennet on NBC’s “Heroes.”
Panettiere’s memoir, “This Is Me: A Reckoning,” publishes May 19.
Source:
variety.com
