'Arrow' star Colton Haynes publicly comes out: 'I'm happier than I've ever been'

Former Arrow star Colton Haynes has publicly come out as gay. 

In a very personal interview with Entertainment Weekly, the actor opens up about why he never really commented on his sexual identity before. A few months ago, he alluded to it when a viral Tumblr post commented on his "secret gay past" -- to which Haynes responded, "Was it a secret?" 

Many viewed this as Haynes' way of slyly coming out -- but he wasn't officially ready to confirm his sexuality at that time. The media attention took him aback. 

“It was a complete shock. I wasn’t ready to be back in the headlines,” he says. “I should have made a comment or a statement, but I just wasn’t ready. I didn’t feel like I owed anyone anything. I think in due time, everyone has to make those decisions when they’re ready, and I wasn’t yet

"But I felt like I was letting people down by not coming forward with the rest of what I should have said.”

That said, Haynes adds that he's been out since high school to his family, friends and work colleagues. 

The actor also shed light on why he asked to leave Teen Wolf and Arrow.

“I asked to step away because I cared more about my mental and physical health than my career at the time,” he says. “I’ve had terminal anxiety my entire life. Physically ill, fainting. I’m 27 years old, and I have an ulcer. I had to step back.” 

He's excited now to get back into work, adding that he'd even be willing to return to Arrow if the show will have him ("I would love to do more"). Haynes is still very close with the show's creator, Greg Berlanti.

“It took me so long to get to this point, but I’m doing so good,” he says. “I’m happier than I’ve ever been, and healthier than I’ve ever been, and that’s what I care about.”

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