34-year-old comedian (who has previously talked about having relationships with both men and women) admitted that after his father had an affair while married to his mother, he was left with a “secret” that he kept from everybody in his life.
While speaking on his new HBO special ‘Rothaniel’, he said: “After [the affair] was out in the open, I was left alone feeling like a liar, because I had a secret,” he says. “One that I kept from my father, my mother, my family, my friends, and you. Professionally, personally. And the secret is that I’m gay.”
The studio audience applauded the former ‘Carmichael Show’ star after his announcement and while he was showing appreciation, he explained that he had spent his entire life “rebelling against” his sexuality and never thought he would “come out.”
He added: “I’m accepting the love, I really appreciate the love. My ego wants to rebel against it. “I rebelled against it my whole life. I thought I’d never, ever come out. At many points I thought I’d rather die than confront the truth of that, to actually say it to people. Because I know it changes some people’s perceptions of me. I can’t control that.”
He explained further by saying while his mother still has her religious beliefs and as a result, his relationship with her has become more “fraught” since coming out, he feels more “free” now.
He said: “As much as she believes in God, I believe in personal growth and feeling free. And I do feel freer.”
