Filipino Actor Alex Diaz Comes Out as Bi After Being Outed Online

After being outed online, Filipino-Scottish actor Alex Diaz just confirmed his bisexuality in an emotional Instagram post on Tuesday. 

The Insta post comes in the midst of controversy that Diaz allegedly direct messaged a fitness coach on Instagram asking him for an "indecent proposal," reports ABC-CBN news. According to screenshots posted by Filipino entertainment news/gossip website PEP, Diaz sent sexual messages to online fitness personality Miguel Chanco. Chanco later posted about the interaction in a now-deleted Facebook post, which drew ire from Diaz's supporters and the LGBTQ+ community in the Philippines who accuse the personal trainer of trying to out Diaz.

"Never again will I be shackled by the fear of what might be said about who I am for fear of losing my career and instead, I will seek help, heal, and champion change, acceptance, and representation for the bisexual community and/or anyone who is met with prejudice in our society," Diaz wrote in his caption.  

"I ask forgiveness from my management, the brands, supporters, friends, my family and everyone else I let down by what I did and/or who I am," he also wrote. "I'm sorry, I was wrong in my actions and failed to uphold the values I so strongly try to convey online. It was not my intention to hurt anyone or elude the truth of who I am for all these years but rather a showbiz decisions based on the state of our nation in regards to acceptance and representation of who I am."

We don't condone or make excuses for trying to elicit "indecent proposals" from people online, but it's worth noting that Diaz lives, works, and is from a country with a conservative culture that made him feel like he had to hide his sexuality in the first place. Outing is still an awful, awful thing to do to someone who is in the closet, especially in places like the Philippines. While the Southeast Asian country doesn't criminalize homosexuality and was actually ranked one of the most "gay-friendly" places in Asia (and the world), the Philippines is a largely Catholic nation with a culture where queerness is "tolerated, but not accepted." Just earlier this year, Philippine congress failed to pass an anti-discrimination bill that would have protected people from discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity, or expression, reports CNN Philippines. 

"I sincerely thank everyone for not failing to remind me that I am human and that I too am loved," Diaz also said.

He concluded: 

"My passion is performing, making people happy & making people smile. My only hope is that I can continue to use this platform to do such in whatever new path this universe-given experience has opened up for me. For now, I will rest, reevaluate and come back stronger and better than ever. I love you all, I have learned and I am growing. Thank you."