Joey Graceffa reveals 'truly traumatizing' experience on “The Amazing Race”, says he felt pressured by producer to come out
Joey Graceffa reveals 'truly traumatizing' experience on “The Amazing Race”, says he felt pressured by producer to come out
Mekishana PierreMon, March 30, 2026 at 4:31 PM UTC
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Joey Graceffa on 'The Amazing Race'Credit: Monty Brinton/CBS via Getty
YouTube creator Joey Graceffa is opening up about his experience on The Amazing Race, which he says was both "a lot of fun and truly traumatizing."
In a recent interview with Out, Graceffa reflected on competing on two seasons of The Amazing Race alongside fellow influencer Meghan Camarena. The pair placed fifth during season 22 in 2013 and later returned for the all-stars season 24, in which they were eliminated in the third episode. But Graceffa says his time on the show wasn't only difficult because of the competition; the media personality claims things took a turn when he was subject to what he saw as pressure about his personal life.
Joey Graceffa in 2025Credit: Phillip Faraone/Getty
"The Amazing Race was a lot of fun, but it was truly traumatizing. It's crazy. They wanted me to come out on the show!" Graceffa claimed to the outlet.
He alleged that an unnamed producer "was like, 'You should come out on the show.' I was like, 'I'll come out if you write me that $1 million check at the finish line!' That didn't happen. I would not have been ready back then."
Entertainment Weekly has reached out for comment from Amazing Race's production studios, CBS Studios and 20th Television.
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Graceffa eventually came out of his own volition in a 2015 YouTube video. The video, in which Graceffa shares his story and reflects on the overwhelming support he's received from his audience, has since amassed more than 8.5 million views.
Joey Graceffa and Meghan Camarena on 'The Amazing Race'Credit: Sonja Flemming/CBS via Getty
Several months later, in honor of National Coming Out Day, the influencer shared another video in which he shared his coming out story in hopes of encouraging others who are navigating similar experiences.
Graceffa credits his passionate fanbase for offering him the courage to come out on his own terms. "I was the weirdo nerd kid in high school. That mentality still lives inside me. I feel like such a loser sometimes," he told the outlet. "Honestly, having the YouTube audience gave me something to build me up and make me feel special."
"The kids come up to me in the line of the meet-and-greet and whisper in my ear that they're gay. I was the first one that they feel comfortable enough to tell that to," he added of his younger fans. "It's so heartwarming to see them, see their journey, and see them all grown up. They are my children, literally."
on Entertainment Weekly
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
