Supernatural actor DJ Qualls is opening up about a deeply personal chapter of his Hollywood journey — and the reason it took him years to come out to his coworkers.
In a candid conversation on Michael Rosenbaum’s Inside of You podcast, Qualls revealed that he had been out since he was just 18 or 19 years old, but chose to stay closeted on movie and TV sets for years due to the toxic environment he encountered behind the scenes.
“I’ve been out since 19 or 18, but not here,” Qualls admitted, referring to Hollywood. “It just wasn’t cool when I got here.”
According to the actor, homophobic comments casually thrown around on sets made it emotionally exhausting to be open about who he was. Rather than constantly defending himself or confronting coworkers, Qualls made the painful decision to stay silent — a silence that lasted until around 2015.
“I just didn’t want to deal with it,” he explained. “But then one day I realized — why should I have to be at craft service and hear a bunch of homophobic sh— wrecking my day?”
That realization marked a turning point. Qualls said he didn’t want to shame anyone publicly, but he also refused to keep absorbing comments that hurt him.
“I wouldn’t correct you in front of a group of people,” he shared, “but I definitely will pull you aside and say, ‘Hey, I’m gay.’”
His story sheds light on the quiet struggles many actors faced behind the scenes, even while appearing confident and carefree on screen. For fans, it’s a powerful reminder that representation and acceptance in Hollywood have come at a real emotional cost.
Today, Qualls’ honesty is being praised by fans across the Supernatural fandom — not just for his talent, but for his courage in finally telling the truth.