Darren Young comes out as gay

[tomthebodz]

Darren Young is gay and is the first openly gay wrestler in WWE

http://www.tmz.com/2013/08/15/darren-young-wwe-superstar-gay/

MOD NOTE: Stay on topic guys. Spam and prejudiced remarks will be removed and disciplined.

Massive amount of respect to him for doing so. I can imagine being a gay wrestler is one of the hardest things to cope with.

Apart from him I only know of Orlando Jordan and Chris Kanyon as wrestlers who came out.

 

[AshleyFTW]

http://www.tmz.com/2013/08/15/darren-young-wwe-superstar-gay/
(Would post the video but have no idea how)

Got asked the question about whether a gay man would be successful in WWE/MMA then made his announcement.

Do you think this will affect his career? Will WWE get behind him?

 

[rb286]

WWE will get behind him publicly at least. I know Vince is reported to be an old stick in the mud who is behind on the times, would that make him treat Darren Young differently? I don't know. Personally, I don't think it should affect his career and I'm surprised he came out. It must have taken alot of guts to come out, especially when you're a pro wrestler. Kudos to him.

 

[sTyLnK]

Why is being a wrestler a hard thing to cope with? Because he wrestles other men or because other wrestlers might think differently? It's pretty clear that most if not all the people in the back are well aware of it. The way he came across and mentioned it was far too casual.

Being gay has become the norm in our society. Its gotten to the point where it's like, oh, they're gay? Okay, cool I guess. Most people just nod their heads and move on. That's how little of a deal this is, honestly.

 

[rge2010]

WWE will be rubbing their hands together and getting ready to milk this for all they can. GLAAD will be very happy too.

Dont forget Pat Patterson is a gay.

 

[Dirk]

I'm glad for him. Respect - it can't be easy working in an environment like that and be openly gay at the same time.

Being part of a "minority" now will also maybe save him from being fired... Potential discrimination claims and what not...

 

[i'm a cm punk girl]

Awesome! i want to see him break the gay stereotype and become the most brutal wrestler on the roster! Chair shots for everyone!

 

[Remix]

I'm glad for him. Respect - it can't be easy working in an environment like that and be openly gay at the same time.

Being part of a "minority" now will also maybe save him from being fired... Potential discrimination claims and what not...

...Considering that Vince's right hand man (Pat Patterson) is gay, Coachman has gone on record as saying nobody really cares about sexuality and that there's pretty good odds that Young isn't the only wrestler in the locker room who's into guys I don't really think that the environment would be that bad. As for claiming discrimination: he's not got a case. If he's cut, odds are others will be too and he's not an employee.

 

[shalliin]

Darren Young is not the 1st openly gay wrestler. Pat Patterson isn't either. Pat Patterson was the first to be widely known as gay, but this was after his in ring career was over. The first 2 active wrestlers to come out were Chris Kanyon and Orlando Jordan (ok, Jordan is bi/tri/ whatever). Both were active and in OJ's case it was a character point during his time in TNA and his later part of his wwe run. Kanyon was still active, if not with either of the major companies (if you can call tna major). There might have been others but those two beat Darren Young by almost a decade in the case of Kanyon and at least 5years for OJ.

 

[closet_fan]

While I didn't care much for Young as a wrestler, I'm happy that someone had the guts to come out, especially in these times, and say "Yep I'm gay." I'm not sure how some of the wrestlers will handle it, but I do hope a majority come up to him, shake his hand and say congrats. There are so many homophobes in this country it's ridiculous. I give Young tremendous kudos for doing this and following in the footsteps of Patterson, Jordan and Kanyon (RIP).

Being gay has become the norm in our society. Its gotten to the point where it's like, oh, they're gay? Okay, cool I guess. Most people just nod their heads and move on. That's how little of a deal this is, honestly.

To a majority it's no big deal, but there are still a lot who are against it. Former 49er Kwame Harris came out after his career was over. Chris Culliver openly bashed him and any other gay guy still in the closet.

"We don't have any gay guys on the team," Culliver said. "They gotta get up outta here if they do. Can't be with that sweet stuff."

Hopefully, the WWE embraces it. While also telling homophobe Jay Briscoe to go F himself for his Twitter rant against homosexuals.

Times have changed since Chris Kanyon came out. He says his career was ruined by his openness. Jordan is still wrestling, although I don't know how he would have been accepted in the WWE locker room if he came out while still there. Didn't he come out after he left?

In any case, hopefully Young's journey is the same as Jordan's and not like Kanyon's.

 

[RKOrob]

Darren Young is not the 1st openly gay wrestler.

No-one's saying he is, but as far as I'm aware, he's the first wrestler to come out as gay while still employed as a full-time wrestler in the WWE. Fair play to him. I don't think it'll have any difference on his career whatsoever

 

[Jack-Hammer]

Good for him. Contrary to popular belief, I don't think that there's really all that much of a stigma associated with being gay in wrestling, at least not if you've read any of the various books written by Bret Hart, Mick Foley and others. Just like in every other aspect of life, I'm sure that some wrestlers aren't comfortable with the notion for one reason or another. Some will be able to mask that discomfort and be professional and some probably won't.

Pat Patterson's homosexuality is often jokingly referred to as the worst kept secret in pro wrestling. During the Attitude Era, he openly encouraged Jim Ross & Jerry Lawler to joke about it on Raw. For instance, Jim Ross used to say that Patterson did "rear end word" at Brisco Brothers Body Shop. Patterson was and still is very close friends with the McMahons. Hell, he's Stephanie McMahon's godfather so that goes to show you how little Vince cares about someone's sexual orientation as it pertains to the quality of who they are as a person.

 

[Honkey_Kong]

It really couldn't hurt his career. It's not like he's going to be main eventing Wrestlemania any time soon. I'm sure the WWE will just exploit him in front of the media as their token gay on the roster. That might mean a slight mid card push for him until the novelty of their gay wrestler wears off.

The problem he has though isn't that he's gay, it's just that he's not a good enough professional wrestler to ever make it past the lower mid-card. Let's not kid ourselves, Titus is carrying him right now.

I really don't think that any wrestler, athlete or celebrity should announce that they're gay. Quite frankly it's none of our business if somebody is or isn't. Their personal lives should remain private. In fact, beyond the sexual orientations of these guys, we as fans should respect their privacy and not peer in to their lives.

All that being said, Darren Young is going to probably live to regret publicly coming out. No matter what he does, he's always going to be "the gay wrestler." It'll haunt him especially if Vince pushes him. He'll never know for sure if he got his spot because of his ability and talent or if he got there so that Vince can show how multicultural he is by parading his gay wrestler.

 

[George Steele's Barber]

Good for him, maybe bad for his character/career. There's a line that exists in wrestling where the combination of sports parody, soap opera, and live audiences make it a struggle for the fan to buy in to the character the performer and WWE is trying to sell. It's one thing when you have a married John Cena making out with Eve Torres but another when you are trying to develop Darren Young in to anything more than the 'gay guy'.

It's generally best we as fans don't know the major details of these guys lives (marital status, religious beliefs, number of kids). Especially for the underdeveloped talents like Young. Not knowing anything gives way more flexibility to a talent to be anything in the wild world of professional wrestling. Now that Young has come out there is less flexibility. That doesn't mean he can't find success or use this to find success but his flexibility is definitely limited. Hopefully him and WWE discussed this before the announcement and made a plan for his future and not just how WWE is going to promote this to gay organizations.

 

[Deste003]

I applaud Darren Young for the courage needed to come out in the public light like he did. He may not be the first out wrestler but he his the first one to come out while employed with WWE. Meaning the brightest light is shining on him, even if he's a low mid carder. Do I think this will change his career? No. But if they use the publicity correctly and don't over do him as gay then he might have a shot at a small push. Now he can be more himself and more comfortable now that the whole world knows his secret. You will be seeing more on Young even if its just for the publicity of WWE.

 

[Tbgator85]

I think him coming out is not only brave on his part, but maybe a strategic move as well as opposed to staying in the closet.

He pretty much made himself "Future E devour" proof.
He has been pretty much a no-body since he left the Nexus and could have been released at anytime. Now, if the WWE were planning on releasing him, they are going to get a TON of bad publicity for "Firinig the 1st homosexual entertainer to come out."

In fact, I think this can only enhance his character and give him a push (with Titus Oneil as well) The "gay" characters really stood out in the past (Billy & Chuck, Rico and brought them to high-profile matches and segments) I don't him his character persay will be portrayed as gay but just the general knowelgde of the man behind the character will bring in publicity and you know the WWE will cash in.

I see 0% chance of this becoming one of Vince's "BE A STAR" moments.
But 100% of it becoming a real "BE A STAR" movement.

 

[Honkey_Kong]

I think him coming out is not only brave on his part, but maybe a strategic move as well as opposed to staying in the closet.

He pretty much made himself "Future E devour" proof.
He has been pretty much a no-body since he left the Nexus and could have been released at anytime. Now, if the WWE were planning on releasing him, they are going to get a TON of bad publicity for "Firinig the 1st homosexual entertainer to come out."

In fact, I think this can only enhance his character and give him a push (with Titus Oneil as well) The "gay" characters really stood out in the past (Billy & Chuck, Rico and brought them to high-profile matches and segments) I don't him his character persay will be portrayed as gay but just the general knowelgde of the man behind the character will bring in publicity and you know the WWE will cash in.

I see 0% chance of this becoming one of Vince's "BE A STAR" moments.
But 100% of it becoming a real "BE A STAR" movement.

WWE and TNA had no problem releasing Orlando Jordan. Granted Orlando Jordan did take an underage boy across state lines, but still. If WWE feared that negative publicity, they wouldn't have done that. Hell, even after they made Orlando's gayness part of his gimmick, TNA still released him.

And you know what? Orlando is a better at promos and wrestling than Darren Young is. So, Darren shouldn't think for a second that he isn't going to get future endeavored, he still might! Besides, Darren's orientation shouldn't be a factor in his continued employment.

 

[Tbgator85]

WWE and TNA had no problem releasing Orlando Jordan. Granted Orlando Jordan did take an underage boy across state lines, but still. If WWE feared that negative publicity, they wouldn't have done that. Hell, even after they made Orlando's gayness part of his gimmick, TNA still released him.

And you know what? Orlando is a better at promos and wrestling than Darren Young is. So, Darren shouldn't think for a second that he isn't going to get future endeavored, he still might! Besides, Darren's orientation shouldn't be a factor in his continued employment.

I didnlt know about the underage boy haha.
But that was then and this is now.
In today's world being gay is much more celebrated than in the past when it was shunned.
It SHOULDN'T make a difference in his unemployment.... but it will.

Plus, TNA would get rid of anyone...

 

[BeastFromTheEast]

Kudos to Darren. I'm sure WWE already knew this info, but it's really a classy move to make it known to the general public.. No, I don't think it will hurt him in WWE because after all Pat Patterson is openly gay and he has been there for decades. Who knows, maybe this could help boost his career....only time can tell. I for one won't be bother by this and hope the rest of the IWC can accept it as well. I think he is talented and hope the best for him.

 

[oldschool123]

His old sequined headband makes a lot more sense now.

I'm glad that he feels comfortable enough to come out, odds are that he isn't the only homosexual WWE superstar just by the shear numbers.

Primetime Players are still my favorite tag team!!

 

[Danger Burger]

Jesus, was I the only person who thought that interviewer was the most annoying person they've ever listened too?? "Man, like, man" was he Irish? Do many people still use the word iota??

Anyway, thats cool that Darren has the gusto to come out. He's not the first, but I still think its a ballsy move to make. So long as they don't figure on capitalising on this through a rehash of Chuck and Billy I think it doesn't really matter. Whether it will matter to the guys in the back, or maybe they already know... Thats anyone's guess. He's not the first gay superstar anyway, and unlikely he's the only one for that matter.

Shouldn't make any difference to his career either. He's at a comfortable spot for his abilities as is. No where near a big push yet, and can't be pushed too far down from the three PPV's a year position!

 

[The Gribbler]

Okay, I am a little worried here... Vince McMahon may or may not care that Young is gay, BUT Vince McMahon has a long history of finding things funny that the rest of us find appalling... I am just a little worried Vince might take this as something to take the mickey out of.

I mean did Vince not have an announced hit someone with their own wooden leg without telling them once? Did he not repeatedly humiliate Jim Ross, simply because he knew JR was a team player and would sell the shit out it. The list of things goes on and on, I just hope he doesn't do anything stupid.

Other then that, good on you Young, nice to know people aren't afraid to admit who they are.

Just My Opinion

 

[harrythem]

Good for DY that he is comfortable to come out in a very high-school style atmosphere. It's a worry how WWe will use this as they don't have the best track record at handling sensitive things well in storylines. But good for him.

Now the stories about him dating Tamina Snuka make sense

 

[GelBrache]

Sorry but if you couldn't tell Darren Young was gay, you need to pay attention. Kudos to him but why does everyone make such a big deal over it?

People coming out like it's the new trend. Why do people act like it's such an "inspiration" to be a pervert?

I don't go around flaunting my heterosexuality.

Anyway, I can see it now, PTP gets split, then WWE uses Black Cena as the face of BAStar

Also, I wonder how long until the WZ main page steals this story from the OP without giving credit

 

[Mark Henry's Beard]

Straight, white John Cena vs. gay, black John Cena has money written all over it. Not really.

It wouldn't surprise me if he gets a singles run out of this. Makes some sense, what with WWE preaching tolerance and their anti-bully shit. Present him as a non-effeminate role model for little gay kids. I think it would work. Could also see them sweeping this under the rug and never mentioning it. Definitely think it's time to break up the Prime Time Players. They have nothing to do but job right now. Love Titus, and this certainly makes Young more interesting as a singles competitor. Their time is up. Their time is now.