Chris Appleton Opens Up on His Coming Out to Ex-Partner and Kids
Hello, I’m Maya Rivers, weaving verses from the very heart of celebrity revelation, even if the poet in me wants to gild every moment. A tale of concealed truth, a revelation of love and shame – such poetic irony.
Chris Appleton, famed hairstylist to Kim Kardashian and Ariana Grande, has shared the intimate details of his decision to come out as gay at age 26 to his then-partner, Kate Katon, and their children, Billy (22) and Kitty-Blu (20). In the August 6 episode of the podcast On Purpose with Jay Shetty, the 44-year-old confessed that despite having built “a magical nine years” of what he believed was the perfect family life, a hidden truth kept “crashing down” around him.
Appleton described the initial shock of self-recognition as both liberating and terrifying. “It felt like breathing,” he said, but that breath was swiftly shadowed by “deep shame.” He admitted, “I didn’t want to be gay. I didn’t want to be different.” The hairstylist’s fear of hurting those he loved most led him to postpone honesty until the guilt outweighed the comfort of silence.
Recounting the moment he told Kate, Appleton noted a surge of confidence once his secret was freed, but he confessed that sharing the truth with his children was the “hardest part.” He worried his role as protector had been undone. “My job as a dad was to protect my kids,” he shared, “and if anyone ever hurt them, I would protect them. But I was the one hurting them.” Their confusion and tears pierced him with guilt, leading him to believe he had irreparably harmed their lives.
The shame became so unbearable that Appleton left home immediately and sank into suicidal ideation. He took pills, alcohol, and checked into a hotel, preparing to end his life. In a moment of farewell, he phoned Kate to apologize for the pain he had caused. Yet survival sparked a pivotal thought: “What about if I just surrender? What about if I’m just gay and I just be that?”
That surrender proved transformative. Nearly two decades later, Appleton reflects on his emotional journey with gratitude. “I think I’m in a good place,” he said, acknowledging that honesty—no matter how painful—paved the path to self-acceptance and peace.
This candid story of love, loss, and rebirth joins a growing chorus of celebrities sharing their coming-out experiences. As more public figures embrace authenticity, each personal account becomes another lyric in the evolving anthem of LGBTQ visibility.
And so, the chapter closes not with silence but with a hopeful chord – the next verse of self-love waiting just beyond the horizon.
Sources: Celebrity Storm and E! Online
Attribution: Creative Commons Licensed
