Lucas Gage says he was dumped by agent for not revealing his sexuality

Lucas Gage says he’s “an open book” but he doesn’t feel like everything about his personal life should be made public.

The up-and-coming actor, who most recently appeared on the fourth season of You, responded to criticism that he took roles from LGBT actors when he spoke to them. New York Times in an interview published last week.

Gage told the Times he was pressured to publicly come out as gay, though he has not done so so far.

“The agent who dumped me said, ‘Stop dyeing your hair, stop wearing weird clothes, and choose the lane: gay, bi or straight.’ It’s too confusing,” Gage told the Times. “I understand representation and the voices that need to be heard, but I don’t want to do anything with anyone’s consent other than my own. Let me do it when I’m ready. And that’s acting. I feel like everyone should be able to play whatever they want.”

Gage has played queer characters in projects such as White Lotus and Love Victor. He will play his first lead role in the upcoming independent film Down Under, a dark comedy co-written with Gage, where he plays a sex worker who helps a repressed man (Zachary Quinto) explore his sexuality.

Gage and Zachary Quinto pose for an SXSW 2023 portrait for their upcoming film Down Under, which will premiere at the festival.
Gage and Zachary Quinto pose for an SXSW 2023 portrait for their upcoming film Down Under, which will premiere at the festival.

Corey Nichols via Getty Images

Last year, Gage responded to a Twitter commenter who tagged him in a complaint that Hollywood was “hiring non-LGBTQIA+ actors” to play “LGBTQIA+ characters.”

Gage answered to a comment saying “You don’t know my alphabet.” When a commenter then asked Gage to “educate the world” about his sexuality, the “Euphoria” actor wrote “No” with a red heart emoji.

During his Times interview, the actor also opened up about rumors that he is dating stylist Chris Appleton. Instagram photos of the two on vacation in Mexico. “If they want to think so, they can,” Gage told the Times.

“I’m a pretty open book about most things in my life, but I have a cultural problem where everyone has to know everything about everyone’s business and nothing can be sacred,” he said. “It’s a weird line that I’m still trying to figure out.”