Neil Patrick recently got candid about the time he came out as gay. The 'How I Met Your Mother' actor revealed that he made the announcement out of fear.
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Add BollywoodShaadis on GooglePerez Hilton is currently healing from his self-inflicted wounds in the hospital following his disturbing August 4, 2026, TikTok live. Amid that, a division has surfaced among the netizens, with some praying for the blogger's well-being while others have reminded the world of his past of bullying many celebrities. And now, Neil Patrick Harris has reflected on how he felt forced to come out back in 2006.
Neil Patrick Harris rose to fame for his work in How I Met Your Mother. However, while he was a womanizer in the show, in reality he was not only attracted to men but also kept his sexuality a secret. That was until he felt like he was being targeted by gossip bloggers, including Perez Hilton. Now, in a recent conversation on the Hang Out With Sean Hannity podcast and said:
"I had started dating David, who's now my husband, David Burtka, well before I auditioned for 'How I Met Your Mother.' Everyone on that show knew David, knew that we were a couple. But that was at a time when there were bloggers on the internet and that you would go to, like, read the salacious, you know, 'Try to guess who this actor is that's gay and in the closet,' kind of comment."
Neil Patrick Harris revealed that there was fear that he would be the next "target" of those gossip blogs. He shared that even though he and David Burtka were attending movie premieres together, he would walk the red carpet while Burtka would go around "the other side of the photographers."
The actor acknowledged that they could have justified keeping their personal life private at the time, given both he and Burtka risked potential professional ramifications by confirming their couple status. However, things were getting a little out of hand. Neil Patrick Harris recalled:
"If I'm getting to walk across while he's like skulking behind, right? And then, sure enough, the target came towards me in a very weird way. A comment had come out that I had said that I wasn't of that persuasion, which was the quoted phrase. Like someone asked a publicist about my sexuality and the publicist said I was 'Not of that persuasion.' That turned into, 'That's weird for him to say because we know that he's gay.'"
Neil Patrick Harris further shared that he soon realized that he needed to get ahead of the story that was brewing about him. He revealed that he wanted to say something before some gossip piece on him was released. He recalled thinking, "I don't want to be coming out in reaction to 'If anyone has any information on Neil Patrick Harris, have you ever slept with him, please come forward.'"
While Neil Patrick Harris didn't directly name Perez Hilton during the conversation, many believe that the actor was talking about the blogger because he did infamously launch an online campaign to "out" the star in the early 2000s. According to reports, Hilton solicited his readers to come forward with any tips about the actor's personal life. When Harris did come out, Hilton responded, "We are so proud (despite the naysayers) in having a hand in bringing about change."
However, before the disturbing livestream, Perez Hilton had been focusing on making amends for his actions. During a July 2026 appearance on Hang Out with Sean Hannity, Hilton had expressed his regrets and apologized for the way he targeted celebrities on his blog. He shared that he even reached out to Neil Patrick Harris, as well as Britney Spears and Khloé Kardashian, to make amends. He stated:
"I realized what I was doing was wrong. I realized I could still be funny, but I didn't have to be so cheap, and I didn't have to be so cruel. It was cruel. It's something that I carry with me. It's like my scarlet letter, and it's very heavy baggage."
What are your thoughts on Neil Patrick Harris' revelations? Let us know.
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