{"id":1989049,"date":"2025-08-31T00:08:21","date_gmt":"2025-08-31T00:08:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/?p=1989049"},"modified":"2025-08-31T00:08:21","modified_gmt":"2025-08-31T00:08:21","slug":"justin-sylvester-speaks-out-against-sawyer-hemsley-outing-drama","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/justin-sylvester-speaks-out-against-sawyer-hemsley-outing-drama\/","title":{"rendered":"Justin Sylvester Speaks Out Against Sawyer Hemsley Outing Drama"},"content":{"rendered":"

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E! News<\/em> host Justin Sylvester<\/strong> offered an impassioned response to TikTok star Grant Gibbs<\/strong> outing Crumbl Cookie cofounder Sawyer Hemsley<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\u201cOuting someones [SIC] sexuality online is not okay. Wasn\u2019t \u2026 is not \u2026 will never be OKAY,\u201d Sylvester, 38, wrote via Instagram<\/a> on Friday, August 29. \u201cI don\u2019t care what political party \/ religion \/ affiliation.\u201d<\/p>\n

The drama started when Gibbs, who has 229,000 TikTok followers<\/a>, made a video suggesting that Hemsley was \u201cgay to the gods\u201d<\/a> after watching him speak.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s a genetic component to sexuality mama, and let\u2019s just say he has the gene and there\u2019s no denying evolution, babe. Oh my God, that\u2019s a gay man!\u201d Gibbs told his followers. \u201cThat\u2019s a gay man and I\u2019ll say it to his face. There\u2019s no denying it. Holy s*** \u2026 I don\u2019t care if I\u2019m outing the CEO with millions of dollars, I don\u2019t give a f*** but that\u2019s a gay man.\u201d<\/p>\n

The video amassed more than 20 million views and 1.7 million \u201clikes\u201d as it stirred up debate over whether there is ever a valid reason to assume or out someone\u2019s sexuality.<\/p>\n

Sylvester clarified that he was not necessarily \u201cdefending the Crumbl cookie man\u201d as much as opposing the tactic of outing entirely.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo shade but \u2018I don\u2019t know this man, I\u2019ve never met that man \u2014 sorry to this man\u2019 \u2014 I\u2019m just saying it so it\u2019s doesn\u2019t become a TREND ON TIK TOK in 2 days and EVERYONE feels empowered to \u2018righteously out\u2019 someone,\u201d he argued. \u201cTake it from someone who has been outted [SIC], it\u2019s scary and dark. I know people who have TAKEN THEIR OWN LIVES over things like this so think twice is all.\u201d<\/p>\n

Several Bravoverse personalities showed their support for Sylvester\u2019s take, with The Real Housewives of New Jersey<\/em><\/a>\u2019s Margaret Josephs<\/strong>, The Real Housewives of Dubai<\/em><\/a>\u2019s Chanel Ayan<\/strong> and Shahs of Sunset<\/em> alum Mercedes Javid<\/strong> all backing him up in the comments section.<\/p>\n

\u201cYour friendly reminder that [speculating] \u2018isnt she\u2026 or he..\u2019 [is outing],\u201d Javid, 53, replied. \u201cWhen did people forget that is outing?\u201d<\/p>\n

Sylvester previously opened up about his coming out journey on Today With Jenna and Friends<\/em><\/a> in June 2022, when he explained that he knew he was \u201cdifferent\u201d from age 5. He recalled enduring so much homophobic bullying as a kid that he used to \u201crun through the woods\u201d to escape other children \u201ctormenting\u201d him.<\/p>\n

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\n Justin Sylvester on \u2018Today\u2019 in January 2025.<\/span> Nathan Congleton\/NBC<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u201cMy whole family knew that I was being bullied because I was gay and I think they were just in denial about it. I was in denial about it,\u201d he remembered. \u201cGrowing up that way, it\u2019s my one regret in life. I wish I had not only accepted myself earlier, but I wish I wouldn\u2019t have denied who I was.\u201d<\/p>\n

For his part, Hemsley responded to the viral debate with a poignant post<\/a> on Tuesday, August 26.<\/p>\n

\u201cOver the past little while, there have been people online trying to define me, twist things, and share conversations in ways that feel harmful. Instead of letting others write my story, I want to share it in my own words,\u201d Hemsley, 33, wrote via Instagram. \u201cThe truth is, over the past few years I\u2019ve come to understand and accept that I\u2019m gay. It\u2019s taken me a long time to really process this part of myself and even longer to feel comfortable enough to say it out loud.\u201d<\/p>\n

He went on, \u201cFor most of my life, I didn\u2019t have the clarity to answer the questions or respond to the rumors. Coming to terms with it has been overwhelming and, at times, scary \u2014 but it has also brought me peace, joy, and authenticity that I wouldn\u2019t trade for anything.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Crumbl co-founder mentioned that his journey was \u201ccomplicated\u201d because he grew up with \u201cvalues and beliefs\u201d that he still \u201cdeeply\u201d respects.<\/p>\n

\u201cI remain grateful for my foundation, even as I\u2019ve worked to embrace this truth about myself,\u201d Hemsley explained. \u201cI know some people may have questions or even judgments, but my hope is that kindness, empathy, and love will lead the way. I\u2019ve learned so much through this process \u2014 about strength, compassion, and the importance of living authentically.\u201d<\/p>\n

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