Is Brian Tyree Henry Gay? Inside the Actor's Personal Life and His Take on Dating

There have been speculations that Brian Tyree Henry is gay, but the talented actor has kept his personal life private. However, in recent interviews, he has shared some insights into his perspective on dating and relationships.

Brian Tyree Henry is a highly talented and versatile actor who has played many roles since the beginning of his career in the late 2000s. However, it was not until 2016 that he gained prominence for playing Alfred "Paper Boi" Miles in "Atlanta."

His performance in the show earned him nominations for an MTV Movie & TV Award, Gold Derby Award, Critics' Choice Television Award, and Screen Actors Guild Award.

In addition to his work on "Atlanta," Henry has appeared in several other popular television shows and films, including "The Book of Mormon," "Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse," "Boardwalk Empire," "If Beale Street Could Talk," "This Is Us," "The Good Fight," "Joker," and more.

He is known for his ability to bring depth and nuance to his performances, and his work has been praised for its emotional honesty and authenticity. In 2021, his fame skyrocketed when he starred in "Eternals."

He played the role of the inventor Phastos alongside Angelina Jolie, Richard Madden, Salma Hayek, Kit Harington, Gemma Chan, and others. The part also allowed him to make history as it was the first time Marvel Cinematic Universe cast same-sex couples with their first gay kiss on screen.

Brian Tyree Henry Played MCU's First Openly Gay Superhero

Henry never officially came out about his sexuality, and after he played MCU's first openly gay superhero in "The Eternals," there were a lot of speculations. The rumors were further fueled when his co-star announced the kiss, which reportedly brought everyone on set to tears.

His onscreen partner, Haaz Sleiman, praised him and remarked that the actor had brought so much beauty to his role. His character has helped to pave the way for greater diversity and representation in superhero movies and beyond.

Despite his role, the actor never revealed anything about his love life. However, in 2018, he remarked in an interview that he was not where he wanted to be, and so could not date. Henry said:

"How can I date anybody when I'm still grieving, man? I'm a mess. I'm a walking mess. I'm not bringing nobody else into that until I know who the (expletive) I am wholly."

Brian Tyree Henry Grieved His Mother's Death

Henry revealed he was a grieving man in 2018 because he had lost his mother on May 12, 2016. Even though years had passed since the traffic accident took her life, the loss was still too hard for him to bear.

He and his mother had a great relationship. Growing up, his parents separated, and he lived with either of them at different times. But when he saw that his mother was never in love with the men she was with after his father, he wanted to ensure she had the world at her feet.

After they wrapped the first season of "Atlanta," he rented a car to take his mother out and show her that she could get anything and any man she wanted. Unfortunately, he could not give her the world as she died soon after he rented the car.

In 2019, he was still grieving as he wished women a Happy Mother's Day, a date which fell on his mother's third death anniversary. Not only was Henry grieving the loss of his mother, but he was also grieving the loss of two best friends who died a year apart. He lost one of them to cancer and the second to lupus.

Brian Tyree Henry Advocates for Queer People

Like gay celebrities such as rapper Lil Nas X, journalist Don Lemon, and others, Henry advocates for the LGBTQ+ community. In an Instagram post in 2020, his t-shirt read: "I'm rooting for everybody Black & trans."

In 2022, while reflecting on his role as Phastos, he revealed that he was honored to have played the part and wanted every queer person to know he would support them and provide leadership actively.