Justice Smith recently shared his thoughts on how he wants his sexuality to be understood, revealing that straight people don’t have the perspective to accurately label him.
In a conversation on the TikTok show Gaydar, hosted by actor and drag queen Anania, Smith discussed a variety of topics before the show’s usual wrap-up question: “If I had to guess if you were gay, straight, or a homophobe…”
Instead of directly answering, Anania asked, “Would you just say you’re queer? What’s the tea?” Smith responded firmly, saying, “I don’t let straight people call me gay.” He then elaborated on why, explaining that straight people’s understanding of what it means to be gay is often limited.
Smith gave an example to illustrate his point: when he talks about having had a girlfriend in the past, people often react by saying, “But I thought you were gay!” His response to such reactions is blunt: “You’re boring, and you’re basic.”
He also pointed out that the misunderstanding doesn’t only come from straight people. Even among the LGBTQ+ community, some individuals struggle to understand that attraction isn’t always confined to one gender.
Smith, who starred alongside his boyfriend Nic Ashe in a 2022 Calvin Klein campaign, embraces a fluid approach to his own sexuality. His perspective aligns with his role as Owen/Isabel in I Saw the TV Glow, where he portrays a character whose identity is more complex than traditional labels.
Justice Smith’s Career Highlights
When asked about the “gayest” moments he experienced on set, Smith joked, “Everything was gay,” reflecting on the diversity of the crew, which included trans and nonbinary people.
Smith, who trained at the Orange County School of the Arts, gained recognition for his role as Ezekiel “Zeke” Figuero in Netflix’s The Get Down. His film credits include Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom, Detective Pikachu, All the Bright Places, and Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves.
This insight into his thoughts on identity and sexuality reflects Smith’s commitment to defining himself on his own terms, not allowing others to place him in a box based on their limited understanding.
