Lukas Gage has opened up about the ‘witch hunt’ over straight actors playing gay roles.
The White Lotus star, 29, has spoken openly about being gay and last year married hairstylist Chris Appleton, only to divorce seven months later.
And now he has slammed a recent trend of actors being bombarded by questions from fans about their sexuality when they play gay characters.
Speaking to Attitude magazine as he graced the cover of their latest issue, Lukas said he felt like people were ‘coming for him’ about his role in The White Lotus.
‘I was dealing with people coming for me, being like, “Why is he stealing a gay role? He’s just a straight guy, how dare he”, blah blah blah.’
Lukas also empathised with Heartstopper star Kit Connor being ‘bullied’ into coming out at just 18 years old after playing Nick in the Netflix series.
Lukas Gage has opened up about the ‘witch hunt’ over straight actors playing gay roles for Attitude’s January/Febraury issue
Lukas slammed a recent trend of actors being bombarded by questions from fans about their sexuality when they play gay characters
‘It’s two-fold. I’m in the camp where there’s of course certain scenarios,’ Lukas said of who should play gay characters.
‘It’s an injustice to not cast with diversity and inclusion, to tell the most authentic story.
‘In other less specific cases, it’s important to remember it is acting, and we should be free to play as many different kinds of roles as possible.
He continued: ‘There has to be grace and generosity. I don’t like it when people do a witch hunt for people for doing it.
‘Trying to take them down. … There’s a grey area with sexuality. Nuances. To be demanding receipts…’
Recalling Kit’s experience after Heartstopper was released, Lukas said: ‘I remember, it was the same time people were coming for me, they were coming for Kit [Connor].
‘Feeling bullied into coming out at 18 years old? That area where public and private intersect is so confusing to me.
‘I want to have visibility, to be a role model. I want little kids to see me and think, “He’s doing it — I could do it too.” But it’s also the thing Tina Fey said, “Authenticity is expensive”.’
Speaking to Attitude as he graced the cover of their latest issue, Lukas said he felt like people were ‘coming for him’ about his role in The White Lotus
Lukas also empathised with Heartstopper star Kit Connor (pictured) being ‘bullied’ into coming out at just 18 years old after playing Nick in the Netflix series
It comes days after Lukas was locking lips with Pitch Perfect star Anna Camp, 42, at a SAG-AFTRA party held at the Chateau Marmont on Friday.
They only seemed to have eyes for one another as they appeared oblivious to another blonde jumping in to pose alongside them with her thumbs up.
For the night out, Lukas sported a pale green multiprint jacket and black trousers – and looked in high spirits as he partied with the females.
Anna took to Instagram after the bash, calling it a ‘lovely’ night as she shared snaps of her red carpet look.
‘Thankyou @entertainmentweekly for the lovely evening celebrating @sagaftra,’ she wrote, adding, ‘and thank you to @makeupelabela and @dereksyuen and Thanku to my favorite hot pink heels.’
The White Lotus star, 29, has spoken openly about being gay and last year married hairstylist Chris Appleton, only to divorce seven months later
It comes days after Lukas was locking lips with Pitch Perfect star Anna Camp, 42, at a SAG-AFTRA party held at the Chateau Marmont on Friday
The smooch comes six months after Gage finalised his divorce from Chris Appleton, 41.
The You alum was briefly married to Kim Kardashian’s hairdresser Chris in 2023, but the couple split that same year.
Lukas and Chris reached a divorce settlement in June, seven months after their divorce was filed.
They had married in Las Vegas in April 2023, in a ceremony officiated by Kim Kardashian and attended by Shania Twain, who performed You’re Still The One.
Attitude January/February issue is out now.
