Pro wrestler Darren Young is also known as “Mr. No Days Off” to his fans. Young announced he was gay to a TMZ photographer Thursday morning in Los Angeles and he was in New York Friday morning to joinTODAY’s Matt Lauer for an exclusive interview — living up to his nickname. Young, whose real name is Fred Rosser, told Lauer it just felt like the “right place and right time,” to comment on his sexuality.
“I’ve been suppressed in these feelings for so long in my life,” said Young, 29. “I just need to be happy. To the day I’m six feet under, I will always say ‘I want to be happy.’ And I’m happy now.” Young wrestles for World Wrestling Entertainment and has received support and praise from his colleagues and company. The WWE released a statement midday Thursday congratulating Young on his announcement:
“WWE is proud of Darren Young for being open about his sexuality, and we will continue to support him as a WWE Superstar.”
As comfortable as Young appeared in the candid interview, he told Lauer Friday he had been living in fear he would be “outed” by someone in the wrestling world before he was ready. “I was terrified,” Young admitted. “And I think anybody in my shoes would feel the same way. But, you know it took some guts.” Young revealed to Lauer he spoke with NBA veteran and current free agent Jason Collins Thursday night. Collins, who announced he was gay earlier this year in an article for Sports Illustrated, served as an inspiration to Young and even gave him advice on how to handle increased public attention.
Young said he expects a mixed reaction from the crowd the next time he steps in the ring but is more concerned with his role moving forward. “At the end of the day, I want to be able to be a role model,” Young said. “I want to be a role model to people that are afraid to come out. I want to be there. I want to be able to speak at different functions and educate and tell my story.” One of WWE’s premiere pay-per-events, SummerSlam, is Sunday night at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.
article by Todd Johnson via thegrio.com
Well…someone needs to say it; so it might as well be me..So WHAT?? Alright you’re gay and you’re happy; AND? Every other day someone is waving their sexuality out in the air..Its like announcing to the world @This is what I do in my bedroom..My question IS , Do we really need to know this much about folks we don’t ever know??? And must WE keep seeing it & hearing it every other day? How about saying I’m happy & I’m filthy rich so I’m going to feed 1,000 or so of the millions of starving children in the country/world? Or providing homes to working folks who are homeless in our country? Or providing books/tuition to some of the many, many Black scholars in our country who feel so defeated they don’t think they’ll ever be able to afford it? I could think of so much more for rich folks to spend precious time boasting about…I don’t think anyone has to go around professing their sexuality; its THEIR business..Because soon as its made public and folks begin to speak freely of their opinion?? Said folks become the “bad” guy/gal for freely speaking out..That is uncool and hypocritical. I personally think/feel its just fine to BE gay or straight without making an annoucement to the world about it..And then to consider it news? It isn’t news folks…If they want the whole world to know why not just wear a Tshirt which says they are gay? Americans have gotten so distracted by the media and etc; so as they don’t even wonder or ask or know of real news topics going on..Thats the end of my rant..Just keep seeing it all the time & wondering why its considered news when it isn’t..And until folks stop considering it as news it will continue to be paraded about as news..Just my 2 cents/pence worth
that’s true. never thought about it that way.