YouTube star Joey Graceffa reveals the "truly traumatizing" off-camera pressure he faced to come out on The Amazing Race.
- April 13, 2026
AceShowbiz - Joey Graceffa recently reflected on his experiences competing in Seasons 22 and 24 of the CBS reality competition series The Amazing Race. Over a decade after participating, the YouTube personality described his time on the show as "truly traumatizing" due to off-camera pressures.
According to Joey Graceffa, a producer from the show urged him to come out as LGBTQ on camera before he felt ready to share that part of his life publicly. He revealed this in an interview with OUT Magazine, emphasizing the emotional difficulty the situation caused.
"The Amazing Race was a lot of fun, but it was truly traumatizing. It's crazy," he said, recounting the unexpected stress he experienced during filming. The push to reveal his sexual orientation on the show added a layer of discomfort to his reality TV journey.
Joey Graceffa's candid admission sheds light on the complexities reality TV contestants may face behind the scenes, especially around sensitive personal topics. Despite the pressure, he maintained his boundaries about when and how he wanted to come out publicly.
This revelation adds to ongoing conversations about the treatment of LGBTQ participants in reality television and the importance of respecting their timing and comfort levels regarding personal disclosures.