‘Love, Simon’ Actor Joey Pollari Talks About Coming Out

Love, Simon is expected to be one of the breakout hit films of 2018. Over the past year the film's PR people have run some amazing campaigns to get us ready for the LGBTQ-centric journey that main character Simon (Nick Robinson) takes us on. In the film, Simon tries his best to keep his attraction to guys a secret from his family and friends while simultaneously working through his own urges and emotions. Through facing his fears he finally comes to grips with his sexuality. 

While Robinson isn't actually gay in real life (boo!), another actor from the film is. Joey Pollari, who plays one of Simon's love interests in the film, says that his coming out story is actually pretty similar to the main character. 

"His experience was similar to mine," the 23-year-old told The Advocate. As an member of the industry, Joey says he had yet to really "come out" prior to the interview, but his real coming out story happened when he was 18 years old. Overall, he says it was positive experience. "I think all my friends and family knew on some level. I think maybe two people were shocked."

Same, Joey. Same.

Like Simon, Joey says his toughest hurdle wasn't coming out to his friends or family, but rather to himself. He also spoke about how his supportive mother knew for years, and was "waiting for a very, very long time" for him to speak those words. Throughout his own journey, Joey credits gay icons like actress Judy Garland and novelist James Baldwin for helping him along the way. 

this is how I get up from chairs irl // photo by @branbarnhart

A post shared by Joey Pollari (@joeypollari) on Feb 22, 2017 at 5:22pm PST

"A lot of the trouble was self shame. I do believe a system of power, of patriarchy, of masculinity did impact me," he said, adding, "The greatest difficulty I found was that it didn't match my idea of myself. It seemed incongruent with the future I imagined for myself, the identity I had struck up with others. The interplay between me and women, me and men, now suddenly seemed entirely different. That just didn't seem fair or right."

Now that he's out, Joey says he realizes it's really not that big of a deal. "On the other side, it's a lot plainer than I thought." 

If I'm being honest, I'm just glad to see one more hot gay guy in Hollywood to drool over.