Chris Appleton has opened up about coming out as gay later in life — and how he had to battle with letting go of the “guilt” and “shame” surrounding his sexuality.
“I think coming out later on in life — I was 26 — was incredibly difficult because I had two kids, I had a partner I’d been with for nine years, I thought I had it all figured out. Everybody else also thought I had it figured out,” he began. “So when you’re all of a sudden then changing the record, people are like: ‘Well, you must have always known,’ and I didn’t realize I did.”
Chris also discussed his current relationship with his ex, who he is now good friends with. In fact, the star revealed that he recently got emotional while on the phone with her as he reflected on the person he used to be.
Chris went on to share his pride for their two children, 21-year-old Billy and 20-year-old Kitty, acknowledging that he is grateful to be able to show them a world outside of his hometown of Leicester, England.
Summarizing the way that his life has improved since he accepted his true self, Chris concluded: “I didn’t see myself for 26 years. 26 years of my life, I didn’t see myself — I didn’t let myself see myself. And it wasn’t until someone said to me: ‘You’re allowed to see yourself, you’re allowed to be that person, you don’t have to feel guilty,’ my whole life literally changed. And I never want to be back in those chains.”