From actors challenging stereotypes surrounding masculinity to musicians refusing to let others define their identities for them, these 5 openly bisexual celebrities each demonstrate a different misconception people continue to make about bisexuality. In their own ways, they remind audiences that queerness does not have one specific look, timeline, or experience.
Kit Connor
One of the leading stars of Netflix's "Heartstopper", Kit Connor played Nick, a young teenager struggling to come to terms with his bisexuality -- something that can be especially difficult within a high school environment where growing masculinity is encouraged and anything other than complete heterosexuality is often viewed as feminine. In the show, Nick comes out to his mother as bisexual in a lovely and touching scene that warmed the hearts of many viewers. For a lot of people, "Heartstopper" became the show that demonstrated that coming out does not have to be frightening and can happen on your own terms.
Unfortunately, this was not entirely the case for Kit Connor himself. Many fans began demanding confirmation that Connor was also part of the LGBTQ+ community, much like his co-star Joe Locke. While Connor has since explained that he was primarily calling out those accusing him of "queerbaiting", in 2022 he tweeted: "I'm bi. Congrats for forcing an 18-year-old to out himself. I think some of you missed the point of the show." It is fair to say that the tweet quickly became iconic, whilst also teaching many people to take a step back and reconsider the extent to which they believe they are entitled to celebrities’ personal lives.
Lara Raj
A member of the viral girl group KATSEYE, Lara Raj is iconic in her own right. A credited music producer, featured in other artists’ music videos, and scouted to join the group as the "No.1 vocalist", she has quickly taken the internet by storm. What makes her even more admirable, however, is her confidence and openness surrounding her bisexuality, casually coming out during a live stream as "half fruitcake" rather than turning it into some dramatic reveal.
By treating her sexuality as something completely normal -- not something that needs to be "exposed" to the world -- Raj takes control of the narrative people often create around queerness as though it is automatically a huge spectacle. Similarly to Kit Connor, she has still faced backlash from some fans whenever she is seen with a male partner rather than a female one. This reflects one of the most harmful stereotypes surrounding bisexuality: the assumption that being bisexual is somehow the same as being gay, or that attraction to the opposite sex suddenly "invalidates" attraction to the same sex. Lara’s openness quietly challenges this idea, reinforcing that bisexuality is its own nuanced identity rather than a "phase" or a cop-out.
François Arnaud
You may recognize François Arnaud from the hugely popular series "Heated Rivalry", which follows the (10-year-long) situationship between two rival male ice hockey players. Much like "Heartstopper", the series explores relatable experiences of questioning one’s sexuality and attempting to reconcile perceived "feminine" traits within the heavily masculinized world of sport. Arnaud plays one of the side-characters, Scott Hunter, who is assumed to be straight purely based on appearances and who therefore struggles with the looming inevitability that he may one day have to "come out" to an audience made up predominantly of middle-aged men.
What makes the character’s final moment especially powerful is that it is not some dramatic verbal announcement to the world but arguably something even braver: kissing his boyfriend live on television. Arnaud, who is openly bisexual himself, has also spoken about the disappointment of dealing with assumptions surrounding his sexuality throughout his career. As a result, he stands as an important bisexual icon who challenges stereotypes about bisexual men needing to appear camp or outwardly "gay" while also disproving the persistent misconception that bisexual men are simply gay men unwilling to fully admit it.
Hayden Panettiere
Of course, the iconic Hayden Panettiere also deserves a mention as one of the most recent additions to the openly bisexual celebrity community. Best known for her roles in "Heroes" and Bring It On: All or Nothing, Panettiere has spent much of her career being typecast as the stereotypical blonde cheerleader archetype and, by extension, perceived as very conventionally "straight". This is precisely why her recent announcement that she is bisexual feels so significant, particularly ahead of the release of her memoir This Is Me: A Reckoning last month.
Whilst the memoir will likely provide further insight into her experiences and sexuality, the most important takeaway has arguably already been established: it is never too late to come out. In many ways, Panettiere’s openness also reinforces an even broader point -- that nobody owes the public an explanation of their sexuality at all. Her announcement quietly challenges assumptions people make based on appearance, past relationships, or the kinds of roles an actress has played throughout her career.
Cardi B
Cardi B is certainly one of the more unexpected openly bisexual celebrities many people have come across, which is precisely why she deserves a place on this list too. She has always been very open about her experiences with both men and women, and that openness feels especially important given that her career exists within the rap industry, a genre often associated with hypermasculinity, sexually explicit lyrics, and, at times, homophobic attitudes.
What makes Cardi B stand out is her refusal to separate or censor different aspects of her identity in order to fit into a primarily male-dominated space. She takes pride in all parts of her life and experiences, and her fluid sexuality is no exception. In doing so, she challenges assumptions about what bisexuality is supposed to "look like" while also demonstrating the importance of remaining authentic to yourself even within industries that may not always encourage that openness.
