Barry Manilow Says Coming Out As Gay Would Have ‘Killed His Career’

Barry Manilow has opened up about his decision to hide his sexuality for so long, saying that coming out as gay would have “killed his career.”

During an appearance on Who’s Talking to Chris Wallace? on Max, Manilow explained why, after spending 39 years with his husband, Garry Kief, he chose to come out in 2017 at the age of 73.

“In the 1970s, you know, you didn’t [come out],” he told Wallace. “It wasn’t the same as it is today. Now being gay is no big deal. But back in the 1970s, it would have killed a career.”

“The public was not ready for anybody to come out. And, frankly, it was just too personal,” he continued. “I just didn’t want to talk about my personal life anyway. I never did that. I was happy talking about music. But talking about my personal life was just kind of creepy to me. So I never did.”

When asked if he felt the need to hide who he was, Manilow said that he “never thought about it.”

“Honestly, Chris, it was a non-event,” he replied. “And when we came out, it was — I think everybody knew that Garry and I were a couple all those years.”

Manilow met Kief in 1978, and Kief eventually became the singer’s manager. They married in 2014.

“Garry actually kind of saved my life,” Manilow said. “Because as my career exploded, as I said, it was crazy, and going back to an empty hotel room, you could get in a lot of trouble if you’re alone night after night.”

“But I met Garry right when everything was exploding, and I didn’t have to go back to those empty hotel rooms. I had somebody to cry with or celebrate with.”