Chris Appleton Shares Emotional Journey of Coming Out to His Kids

A Journey of Courage and Self-Discovery

Chris Appleton, a well-known celebrity hairstylist, shared his deeply personal story about coming out as gay on the August 6 episode of "On Purpose with Jay Shetty." His journey to self-acceptance was long and challenging, but it ultimately led to a sense of freedom and peace.

Appleton, now 42, described how he felt like he could "finally exhale" after coming out to his children and former partner. He emphasized that being a good father was always his top priority, which made the decision to come out even more difficult. For years, he carried the weight of shame not just for himself, but for his family as well.

The process of coming out began when he told his former partner of nine years, Kate Katon. He explained that it was a difficult conversation, and he respected her need to grieve. "I loved her, I really loved her," he said. "And I didn't want to be gay, I didn't want to be different."

After telling his partner, Appleton moved on to telling his family. But the most painful part of his journey was revealing his true identity to his two children, Billy and Kitty-blu. He feared that they would face bullying or judgment because of his sexuality. "My childhood was a lot of memories are not great ones, so the idea of bringing that to my kids was really painful," he said.

When he finally sat down with his former partner to tell his children, he found it hard to say the words. "I actually didn't say it. Kate's mom actually said it," he recalled. The children, who were 6 and 8 at the time, were upset and confused. Appleton felt like he had failed as a father, believing that his revelation would hurt them.

In the aftermath, Appleton shut down and went on a drive. He even considered the unthinkable, thinking that it would be better for his children to have a dead father than a gay one. He ended up in a hotel room with painkillers and alcohol, eventually calling his former partner to apologize for the pain he had caused. He later woke up in a hospital, realizing that he could no longer hate himself or deny his true identity.

That moment marked a turning point for Appleton. "I just remember thinking, 'What about if I just surrender?'" he said. "What about if I’m just gay and I just be that?" From that point on, he decided to live authentically, embracing who he truly was.

Appleton reflected on how this experience brought him back to the 8-year-old boy who used to stand in the window, longing to be seen. "That was the beginning of it all," he said. Although it was one of the darkest nights of his life, it also became a pivotal moment in his journey toward self-acceptance.

He hopes that others watching his story can feel heard and supported, especially those struggling to understand their own identity or that of their children. "Even maybe it's a parent that is struggling understanding their child, to understand how dark it can be when you're left in silence and when you don't get to express who you truly are," he said.

Today, Appleton is in a much better place. He plans to share more about his life in his upcoming book, "Your Roots Don't Define You," set to publish in 2026. His story is a powerful reminder of the strength it takes to be true to oneself, even in the face of fear and uncertainty.