Hugh Sheridan clarifies his sexuality, saying he’s ‘straight for now’ and has ‘never’ been non-binary – three years after coming out as bisexual
Hugh Sheridan has clarified his sexuality, stressing that he is ‘straight for now’ and has never been non-binary.
The 38-year-old Australian actor came out as bisexual and non-binary on Instagram in 2021, but has now maintained that he identifies as “straight,” referring to people who are only attracted to the opposite sex.
Hugh, who is single after calling off his engagement to Kurt Ackerman, made the claims on Thursday’s The Kyle and Jackie O Show, three years after he first came out.
In 2021, Hugh identified himself as non-binary and “bi” in an Instagram post, but added that he didn’t want to subscribe to labels surrounding his sexuality.
Speaking to presenters Kyle Sandilands and Jackie ‘O’ Henderson this week, Hugh revealed that he identifies as heterosexual and has never been non-binary.
Non-binary people do not categorize their gender identity as male or female and often use the pronouns they/them.
“I’m not non-binary, I’m just like you,” Hugh told Kyle, 53, after the radio host referenced his apparent non-binary gender identity.
His clarification prompted Kyle to ask, “What, straight?” referring to his own sexuality.
Hugh Sheridan has clarified his sexuality, stating he is ‘straight for now’ and has never been non-binary
To which Hugh replied, “Someone wrote that I’m non-binary, yeah, now I’m straight.”
Jackie, 49, expressed surprise when she asked him again if he was “straight,” to which Hugh replied: “For now, for now.”
However, the Packed to the Rafters star said he is “flexible” and clarified that he has never “associated” himself with any letter under the LGBTQIA+ acronym.
He also insisted that he never said he was non-binary, but was too “afraid” to correct people when he talked about his sexuality and gender identity.
“I was honestly too scared to say, ‘I never said that.’ I was too scared because I thought everyone would attack me,” he said.
‘I never said that, I never associated myself with any letter of the alphabet, I just wanted to be like Kyle and Jackie O.
“I just wanted to be someone who could be himself and make his own decisions in everyday life.”
Hugh added during the candid conversation that it is ‘normal’ to change, as he believes it is all part of being human.
“Jackie O could walk out and see a girl she has a crush on, but she don’t say she’s this or that, she’s just Jackie O. And you’re just Kyle,” he added.
In July 2023, Hugh’s pronouns in his Instagram bio appeared as “he/him” after reports that he had been using “they/them” for two years. Now, Hugh no longer lists pronouns in his Instagram bio.
In June 2021, Hugh identified himself as bisexual and non-binary in an Instagram post.
The 38-year-old Australian actor seemingly came out as bisexual and non-binary in 2021, but has now said he identifies as “straight,” which refers to people who are only attracted to the opposite sex
At the time, the Packed to the Rafters star was set to marry influencer Kurt Roberts, but the couple split eight months after announcing their engagement.
“I am still a human being (non-binary/bi/me/Hughman), but I am in a monogamous relationship with another human being, whom I love,” Hugh wrote at the time.
He also said that labels “limit” him when he talks about his sexuality.
“I don’t accept labels because they limit me… if you want them, take them,” he continued.
‘I haven’t used any labels at all, just because I believe that exclusion, limitation and separation are one deep down.
‘And who knows? Why chosen? Be yourself. Be true. Be free to BE, to JUST BE… you, a human being, just like me.’
Hugh previously spoke candidly about his sexuality in an interview with the gay magazine DNA, saying he didn’t mind being called ‘gay’.
“Now that I’m married to a man, you can call me gay,” Hugh explained to the magazine.
‘Whatever! The point is that we are all human and in my case, labeling put me in a box that felt like a cell.’
Hugh also told Stellar magazine: ‘I believe labels are for clothes, not for people.’
In 2021, Hugh (pictured in November) called himself non-binary and ‘bi’ in an Instagram post, but added that he didn’t want to subscribe to labels around his sexuality
At the time, the Packed to the Rafters star was set to marry influencer Kurt Roberts (both pictured), but the couple split eight months after announcing their engagement
He also shared that he wanted to stand up for people who don’t use labels, while discussing his fluidity.
Hugh’s relationship with TikTok star Kurt first came to light when the pair were spotted passionately kissing in the surf at Bondi Beach in January 2021.
The House Husbands star later revealed that he had introduced Kurt to his family and they were living together in his Bondi home.
After just three months of dating, the couple announced they were planning to get married. Hugh shared the post in which he seemingly called himself non-binary and bisexual.
But after an eight-month engagement, Hugh made a shock announcement in November 2021 that the couple had split and the actor is currently single.
Earlier this year, Hugh was spotted proudly flying the rainbow flag at the 2024 Mardi Gras parade in Sydney, wearing a T-shirt that read ‘seen and believe’.
The Kyle & Jackie O Show airs from 6am to 10am on KIIS 1065 in Sydney and KIIS 101.1 in Melbourne. You can also listen to the show on the iHeartRadio app.