LOS ANGELES — Personal trainer Bob Harper of NBC’s “The Biggest Loser” opened up about his personal life and came out as gay publicly for the first time on Tuesday night’s episode of the weight loss reality show.
Harper, 48, said he came out in an effort to encourage contestant Bobby Saleem, who had come on the show, but was still struggling to tell his father.
“I haven’t talked about my sexuality on this show ever,” Harper explained in a confessional. “And now, meeting Bobby, I really do believe this is the right time. I want to show Bobby that he doesn’t have to live in shame.”
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“I’m gay. I knew I very long time ago that I was gay,” said Harper. “When I came out — when I was 17 years old — it was one of those things where I realized that there was going to be so many obstacles, but being gay doesn’t mean being weak. And being gay doesn’t mean that you are less than anybody else. It’s just who you are.”
After the show aired, Harper took to Twitter to thank fans for supporting his decision to come out in an effort to help Saleem.
