Wrestler Anthony Bowens reflects on viral coming out moment in the ring

US grappler Anthony Bowens has reflected on what it was like to announce his sexuality while standing in the wrestling ring.

The All Elite Wrestling (AEW) star spoke exclusively to PinkNews about the moment almost two years ago when he told an arena full of people, and fellow wrestler Harley Cameron, that he was gay.

It came after Cameron playfully flirted with him in the ring, saying: “It’s pretty clear that you’re into me.” Pointing to his pink-and-white kit, Bowens replied: “I don’t know if you can see my gear here, lady, I’m gay.”

@pinknews AEW star Anthony Bowens spoke exclusively to PinkNews about his viral coming out moment in the ring. On the June 23, 2023 taping of AEW Rampage, wrestler Harley Cameron flirted with Bowens—only for him to shut her down by proudly declaring he’s gay. The moment sparked a powerful crowd chant of “He’s gay!” that quickly went viral, racking up millions of views online. #anthonybowens #aew #wwe #wrestling #harleycameron #gay #lgbtq ♬ som original – Jon (Moxley's version)

The moment sparked a crowd chant of “He’s gay,” clips of which quickly went viral, racking up millions of views online.

“I think that was the first time in history anybody’s ever said, ‘I’m gay’ in a wrestling ring on television,” Bowens said. “I don’t think, in the moment, that dawned on me.”

He had always wanted to make the statement “in a fun way”, he added. “I didn’t want it to be serious. I wanted to be light-hearted and it to be just the right segment.”

Bowens, then 32, had been approached by organisers about setting up the playful bout with Cameron. “Harley is such a fun character,” he said. “She was playing a very ditsy kind of character, not aware of her social surroundings. Then she would hit on me, fall in love with me, and I would drop the bomb,” he revealed.

Discussing the crowd’s reaction, Bowens admitted that he had been a little apprehensive. “I wasn’t sure what the response would be, [I] expected “a couple claps [and] didn’t think it would be too negative,” he said.

To “have an entire arena standing up, going nuts and chanting ‘he’s gay’ was incredible. It was a fun thing to do. Everyone in the building was enjoying it and it’s a moment people still bring up.”

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