Barry Manilow has revealed that he kept his sexuality a secret because he feared coming out would jeopardize his career.
In a recent interview with The Hollywood Reporter, 80 year old singer The actor, who came out as gay in 2017, said he had struggled to hide his sexual orientation for years.
“I didn't want my career to end. I love it. I'm grateful for it. But it was a burden to keep it quiet,” Manilow said. “I was always worried.
Barry Manilow admitted that hiding his sexuality was a “burden” and that he was “always worried.” (Martin Scholer/NBC via Getty Images)
“Every interview, 'They'll ask me if I'm gay.' By the way, no one ever did that. They never asked me the $64 question. did.”
Barry Manilow, Jenny McCarthy, Hollywood mourns 'Three's Company' star's death, honors Suzanne Somers
The Grammy winner recalled an alleged exchange with Clive Davis in the 1980s, in which the record producer claimed that disclosing his sexual orientation had hurt music legend Elton John's career. He said he pointed it out.
“He said, 'Elton John has come out as bisexual. No artist should ever do that. It's going to hurt their career,'” Manilow told the magazine. Ta.
Manilow came out as gay in 2017 and married his longtime partner Garry Keefe in 2014. (Steve Granitz/Wire Image)
John, 76, came out as bisexual at the age of 29 in a 1976 Rolling Stone interview. The “Benny and the Jets” singer was a worldwide rock star at the time. In 1992, when he was 45, John said in another interview with Rolling Stone that he was “completely comfortable with being gay.”
Davis, 91, revealed in her 2013 memoir, The Soundtrack of My Life, that she is bisexual. The five-time Grammy winner, who was previously married to Janet Adelberg and Helen Cohen, had relationships with men starting in the late 1970s, she writes.
Like what you’re reading? Click here for more entertainment news
However, Davis told The Hollywood Reporter that he had no recollection of ever having a conversation with Manilow.
“We've never been there,” Davis told the outlet. “If this story had come up, to analyze what the implications would be, I would have said it's a risky proposition for my career. But once he told me he was gay, I never said that, so we never had a conversation about whether or not I should come out.”
The singer recalled a conversation he had with Clive Davis about Elton John's career after coming out. (Bruce Grikas/Wire Image)
Manilow met her husband Garry Keefe in 1978, and the two married in April 2014. Manilow was previously married to her high school sweetheart, Susan Diechsler. The two married in 1964, but the marriage was annulled a year later.
The singer explained his decision to hide his sexuality in a 2017 interview with People magazine, during which he revealed for the first time that he was gay.
During the interview, Manilow spoke about her longtime romance with Keef. In 2015, reports about his sexuality and marriage to Keef first surfaced, which he described as “both a blessing and a curse.” He hid his sexuality for fear of disappointing his fans, he told People.
“I thought I would disappoint them if they found out I was gay, so I didn't do anything,” Manilow explained.
But Manilow said his fans supported him when he came out.
Manilow and Keef first began dating in 1978. (Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
“When they found out Gary and I were together, they were so happy. The reaction was amazing. Strangers commented, 'That's great!'” I'm just so grateful. ” he said.
The New York native told People that he thought he had met the right person when he started dating Keef.
Click here to sign up for our entertainment newsletter
“I knew this was my limit,” Manilow said. “I was one of the lucky ones. I was pretty lonely up until then.”
Manilow said she always wanted to keep her private life out of the spotlight.
“I'm very private. I always have been,” he said.
Manilow worried that she would disappoint her fans if she came out, but said the reaction from fans has been “amazing.” (Arturo Holmes/Getty Images)
In a 2017 interview with the Chicago Sun-Times, Manilow revealed that he is the stepfather to Kirsten Keefe, 47, Keefe's daughter from a previous marriage.
“We have Garry's biological daughter, Kirsten, and we've been raising her together for many years,” the “Copacabana” singer said. “Kirsten turned out to be one of the most beautiful and intelligent women I have ever met.”
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
In an interview with People magazine in October, Manilow talked about his joy at becoming a grandfather for the first time after Kirsten adopted a baby girl.
“I'm a grandpa now because Garry's daughter Kirsten adopted a little girl,” he said. “I never thought about having a baby or having anything to do with a baby.” [being] Fathers and things like that.
“I'm watching this little girl (she's 2 1/2 years old) grow and learn. This is a whole new experience for me and I'm really enjoying it.”
