Stephen Fry Reveals Being Gay Felt Like ‘a Horror Inside Him’ As a Teenager

Fry Opened Up on His Experiences in a New Interview with The Times

By Codie Bullen For Mailonline

Published: 06:46 EDT, 21 September 2024

Updated: 07:02 EDT, 21 September 2024

Stephen Fry has opened up on being gay as a teenager and revealed he used to be known as “celibate Stephen”.

The actor, 67, publicly came out as gay in the 1980s and has been open about his sexuality for many years.

In a new interview with The Times, Stephen admitted being gay used to feel like there was “a horror inside him” and he felt “rejected.”

He explained: “In the Eighties, I was known as Celibate Stephen. I was so excited by my work that I forgot to have sex. It was also fear: I always felt rejected in gay bars. I couldn’t dance; I didn’t look cool. All I wanted was to sit and talk. In some ways, though, I was lucky: I lost many friends to Aids.”

“Being gay gave me years of misery but an education in literature. By the time I was 13 my sexuality was a secret horror swelling inside me and I was desperately trying to find out who I was, what future there was for me. I knew the disgrace and humiliation of gay people.”

Stephen Fry has opened up on being gay as a teenager and revealed he used to be known as ‘celibate Stephen’

In a new interview with The Times, Stephen admitted being gay used to feel like there was ‘a horror inside him’ and he felt ‘rejected’

He added: “Oscar Wilde had taught me that it would be a life of mockery, exile and secrecy. And then there were those writers, like EM Forster or Somerset Maugham, who held their heads up high and made me feel that it wasn’t all slime and grim mackintosh people in a terrible world of darkness.”

The broadcaster revealed that he would not want to live past 100 because he would “hate to be that lonely.”

Speaking about longevity to Evgeny Lebedev on his podcast Brave New World, Stephen admitted that he “likes the idea of death,” and it is the “idea of decay” that shakes his boots.

He explained: “Personally, I’m not particularly interested in longevity for myself. I’m interested, as I think most people are, in the idea of an old age that is as pain-free as possible and where there isn’t too much cognitive loss… But I am not someone who wants to live longer than the rest of my friends.”

He continued: “If everybody – my family and friends – lived into their 120s, then maybe I’d be quite happy to pass 100. But as it is, I would hate to be that lonely Flying Dutchman figure so beloved of history… The survivor, all of whose dependents and acquaintances have since died. I would find that deeply upsetting.”

Stephen and Elliott – who is 30 years his junior – tied the knot back in January 2015, just 10 days after announcing their engagement (pictured at the 2017 Vanity Fair Oscar Party)

Stephen’s comments come nearly five years after he was pictured with his husband, Elliot.

He and Elliott, who is 30 years his junior, tied the knot back in January 2015, just 10 days after announcing their engagement.

Elliot, from Southampton, met Stephen in 2014 and was initially known as Mr E. before they went public.

The pair are known to keep their romance under tight wraps as they were last pictured together in May 2019 for the star-studded Rocketman premiere in London.

Conclusion:

Stephen Fry’s latest interview with The Times offers a candid glimpse into his experiences as a gay teenager and his continued struggles with the concept of longevity.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Q: Why did Stephen Fry feel so rejected as a teenager?

A: Stephen Fry has spoken publicly about feeling rejected in gay bars and clubs as a teenager, feeling like he didn’t fit in and was ostracized by his peers.

Q: What is the significance of Stephen Fry’s comments about longevity?

A: Stephen Fry has stated that he does not want to live past 100 because he would “hate to be that lonely,” indicating that he prioritizes being surrounded by friends and family over extending his own life.

Q: How did Stephen Fry’s husband, Elliot, enter his life?

A: Elliot, who is 30 years Stephen Fry’s junior, met him in 2014 and was initially known as Mr E. before they went public with their relationship. The pair tied the knot in January 2015 and have been together ever since.