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Tom Daley’s heartfelt YouTube confession

In an ideal world, the Olympic diver wouldn’t have had to make a video to discuss his sexuality.

 

Michelle Jaworski

IRL

Posted on Dec 2, 2013   Updated on Jun 1, 2021, 12:50 am CDT

There’s been speculation for years about Olympic diver Tom Daley’s sexuality, but on Monday, the 19-year-old finally set things straight—well, straight-ish.

Take a minute to watch Tom Daley’s confession on YouTube. He reveals that he’s in a relationship with a man, and he’s never been happier. 

In a five-minute video, Daley says he felt that he was misquoted as saying that he was “not gay” in a September interview with The Daily Mirror.

“Come spring this year, my life changed massively when I met someone and they made me feel so happy, so safe, and everything just feels great,” Daley says. “And that someone is a guy.”

It took Daley by surprise. He’s dated girls and still fancies them. But with his current boyfriend, something just clicked. 

Having always been vague when asked about his love life in past interviews, he didn’t think it was a huge deal, and in an ideal world, he wouldn’t even have had to make a video to discuss his sexuality.

His mother has been completely supportive. He notes that his father, who died of cancer in 2011, would have supported him as well, telling him that “as long as you are happy, I’m happy.”

He then told the rest of his family and friends before posting the video. He received mixed reactions. Many were supportive, but some of them wanted him to do a statement while others wanted him to keep quiet.

“I wanted to put an end to all the rumors, the speculation and just say it and tell you guys because it’s what I want to do,” Daley says. “My friends and family are always there to support me and I hope you guys can be too.”

Daley is headed to Houston for a training camp, where he is determined to win another medal for Great Britain.

H/T HyperVocal | Photo via Tom Daley/YouTube

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*First Published: Dec 2, 2013, 11:41 am CST