Colton Haynes' managers made up false dating stories to hide sexuality

Actor Colton Haynes was frequently set up on dates with famous female celebrities in his managers' reported efforts to hide his sexuality.

The former Arrow star 'came out' publicly last year (16), but before he revealed he was gay, it was rumored the actor had dated the likes of reality TV beauty Lauren Conrad. However, Colton claims the reports were all fabricated by his management team in a bid to make him appear straight.

"I was with my management team and a team of people that just literally told me I couldn't be this way," he told U.S. personality Andy Cohen on his Radio Andy show on Monday (12Jun17). "They tried to set me up with girls. I was rumored to date (sic) Lauren Conrad for six months because they were kind of angling a story, and then I 'dated' every other young person, which of course I didn't date."

Colton explains the women were well aware of his sexuality the "whole time" they were supposedly "dating", likening the arrangement to one used by another closeted gay actor from the 1950s and '60s.

"It was like a Tab Hunter situation," he continued. "It was horrible - then I just had a breakdown. I kind of had a mental break and I just couldn't work on the show (Arrow) anymore."

The 28-year-old entered rehab to deal with anxiety issues from all of the media attention he experienced after coming out last year (16). However, Colton is now engaged to celebrity florist Jeff Leatham and is "happier and healthier than ever".

"(It) took me so long to get to this point, but I'm doing so good," he said.

"I was so tired of not being myself and having to lower my voice for certain things and having to not dress the way I wanted to dress and do all this stuff," he added. "It was life-changing whenever (sic) I came out."