Cara Delevingne recalled how Harvey Weinstein forced her to hide her sexual orientation.

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1. Cara Delevingne has spoken out about the practice of hiding one's sexual orientation and "camouflaging" in Hollywood: the 33-year-old star was forced to find a public boyfriend when rumors about her sexual orientation began to spread.

2. In case you weren't aware, a "strawman" is someone who poses as a romantic partner to conceal another person's true sexual orientation. Strawmanship involves using someone else's role as a cover for this purpose.

3. It's worth noting that Kara has been linked to women for much of her career, with her first notable public relationship being with St. Vincent from 2015 to 2016. She then dated Ashley Benson from 2018 to 2020, and the same year they broke up, she came out as pansexual.

4. In June 2022, Kara began dating her former classmate Minke, and they've been happily together ever since. Last month, Kara clarified that she now identifies as a lesbian.

5. This week, during an appearance on Call Her Daddy, Cara spoke candidly about her coming out experience, admitting it took her some time to come to terms with her sexuality. She said, "I didn't want to be a lesbian. I really wanted to fit in; I didn't know any gay people. I was definitely not straight.".

6. She also claimed the "industry" didn't want her "to be a lesbian." She recalled, "There was a time when I first started acting, and Harvey Weinstein called me and said, 'You can't be a lesbian.' It was just that kind of thing; there weren't any real gay models back then.".

7. Cara began acting seriously in 2014 with her role in Angel Face. However, her breakthrough role is generally considered to be her role in 2015's Paper Towns. This occurred two years before influential film mogul Harvey Weinstein was publicly exposed for sexual harassment and assault.

8. Host Alex Cooper asked her to elaborate on her conversation with Harvey, and Kara shared, "I was filming a movie in Italy called Angel Face, and he called me and said, 'There are pictures of you,' and he named a few famous women I'd been seen with. And he said, 'I don't need to know,' and he asked, 'Are you sleeping with them?' I said, 'I don't know if that has anything to do with you.'".

9. «"And he said, 'Well, you can't be with women,'" she continued. "'You'll never be an actress, you'll never get hired, people don't want… You know, we're going to have to find you a boyfriend. At least if you're going to do it, do it behind closed doors.'".

10. «"And I was like, 'What the hell is this?'" Kara recalls. "But at that moment, my reaction was different. I was like, 'Oh, shit, I've always wanted to be an actress, this is really important to me.' He really is.".

11. When asked how she reacted at the time, Kara said, "I don't know, I just said, 'I'm not a lesbian, I swear I'm not. I'm just not dating right now, I love my friends so much.' I was really scared.".

12. «"I don't regret anything, but every role I'd played at that point was heterosexual. I was the lead character and I had a boyfriend, you know, I was playing this woman," Kara added. "But at that point, what else could I do?"»

13. Thankfully, Kara is now proudly out and happier than ever, saying of her girlfriend back in 2024: "I'm so lucky to have found the perfect person to share all the ups and downs of life with. I can't imagine life without you. I've been searching for my soulmate for so long, and I never imagined it would be the one I went to school with (and had a crush on as a kid). Over the years together..."«

14. Looking for more LGBTQ+ or Pride-related content? Check out all of BuzzFeed's coverage of Pride 2026.

15. If you or someone you know has experienced violence or harassment against the LGBTQ community, you can call the National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs hotline at 1-212-714-1141.

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16.1. Interesting to know

Cara Delevingne has spoken out about the practice of hiding one's sexual orientation and "camouflaging" in Hollywood: the 33-year-old star was forced to find a public boyfriend when rumors about her sexual orientation began to spread.

Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images

In case you weren't aware, a "strawman" is someone who poses as a romantic partner to conceal another person's true sexual orientation. Strawmanship involves using someone else's role as a cover for this purpose.

Mega / Getty Images

It's worth noting that Kara has been linked to women for much of her career, with her first notable public relationship being with St. Vincent from 2015 to 2016. She then dated Ashley Benson from 2018 to 2020, and the same year they broke up, she came out as pansexual.

Gotham / Getty Images

See also: "My Husband Is a Grown Man": 37 Celebrities Who Shockingly Candidly Shared Their Sex Lives with Other Famous People.

In June 2022, Kara began dating her former classmate Minke, and they've been happily together ever since. Last month, Kara clarified that she now identifies as a lesbian.

Karwai Tang / Getty Images

This week, during an appearance on Call Her Daddy, Cara spoke candidly about her coming out experience, admitting it took her some time to come to terms with her sexuality. She said, "I didn't want to be a lesbian. I really wanted to fit in; I didn't know any gay people. I was definitely not straight.".

Call Her, Daddy / Via youtube.com

She also claimed the "industry" didn't want her "to be a lesbian." She recalled, "There was a time when I first started acting, and Harvey Weinstein called me and said, 'You can't be a lesbian.' It was just that kind of thing; there weren't any real gay models back then.".

Mark Piasecki/Getty Images

See also: 14 Actors Who Said "No, I Won't Do That" About a Movie's Plot.

Cara began acting seriously in 2014 with her role in Angel Face. However, her breakthrough role is generally considered to be her role in 2015's Paper Towns. This occurred two years before influential film mogul Harvey Weinstein was publicly exposed for sexual harassment and assault.

Host Alex Cooper asked her to elaborate on her conversation with Harvey, and Kara shared, "I was filming a movie in Italy called Angel Face, and he called me and said, 'There are pictures of you,' and he named a few famous women I'd been seen with. And he said, 'I don't need to know,' and he asked, 'Are you sleeping with them?' I said, 'I don't know if that has anything to do with you.'".

Courtesy of the Everett Collection / Everett Collection / Everett Collection

«"And he said, 'Well, you can't be with women,'" she continued. "'You'll never be an actress, you'll never get hired, people don't want… You know, we're going to have to find you a boyfriend. At least if you're going to do it, do it behind closed doors.'".

Photos by Rabbani and Solimena / Getty Images

On the topic: 21 times celebrities hid inappropriate or simply revealing details in their red carpet looks.

«"And I was like, 'What the hell is this?'" Kara recalls. "But at that moment, my reaction was different. I was like, 'Oh, shit, I've always wanted to be an actress, this is really important to me.' He really is.".

Call Her, Daddy / Via youtube.com

When asked how she reacted at the time, Kara said, "I don't know, I just said, 'I'm not a lesbian, I swear I'm not. I'm just not dating right now, I love my friends so much.' I was really scared.".

Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images

«"I don't regret anything, but every role I'd played at that point was heterosexual. I was the lead character and I had a boyfriend, you know, I was playing this woman," Kara added. "But at that point, what else could I do?"»

Call Her, Daddy / Via youtube.com

Thankfully, Kara is now proudly out and happier than ever, saying of her girlfriend back in 2024: "I'm so lucky to have found the perfect person to share all the ups and downs of life with. I can't imagine life without you. I've been searching for my soulmate for so long, and I never imagined it would be the one I went to school with (and had a crush on as a kid). Over the years together..."«

On topic: I'd bet that only people over 45 could name these forgotten 80s TV stars.

Looking for more LGBTQ+ or Pride-related content? Check out all of BuzzFeed's coverage of Pride 2026.

If you or someone you know has experienced violence or harassment against the LGBTQ community, you can call the National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs hotline at 1-212-714-1141.

Cara Delevingne has spoken out about the practice of hiding one's sexual orientation and "camouflaging" in Hollywood: the 33-year-old star was forced to find a public boyfriend when rumors about her sexual orientation began to spread.

In case you weren't aware, a "strawman" is someone who poses as a romantic partner to conceal another person's true sexual orientation. Strawmanship involves using someone else's role as a cover for this purpose.

It's worth noting that Kara has been linked to women for much of her career, with her first notable public relationship being with St. Vincent from 2015 to 2016. She then dated Ashley Benson from 2018 to 2020, and the same year they broke up, she came out as pansexual.

In June 2022, Kara began dating her former classmate Minke, and they've been happily together ever since. Last month, Kara clarified that she now identifies as a lesbian.

She also claimed the "industry" didn't want her "to be a lesbian." She recalled, "There was a time when I first started acting, and Harvey Weinstein called me and said, 'You can't be a lesbian.' It was just that kind of thing; there weren't any real gay models back then.".

Cara began acting seriously in 2014 with her role in Angel Face. However, her breakthrough role is generally considered to be her role in 2015's Paper Towns. This occurred two years before influential film mogul Harvey Weinstein was publicly exposed for sexual harassment and assault.

«"And he said, 'Well, you can't be with women,'" she continued. "'You'll never be an actress, you'll never get hired, people don't want… You know, we're going to have to find you a boyfriend. At least if you're going to do it, do it behind closed doors.'".

«"And I was like, 'What the hell is this?'" Kara recalls. "But at that moment, my reaction was different. I was like, 'Oh, shit, I've always wanted to be an actress, this is really important to me.' He really is.".

When asked how she reacted at the time, Kara said, "I don't know, I just said, 'I'm not a lesbian, I swear I'm not. I'm just not dating right now, I love my friends so much.' I was really scared.".

«"I don't regret anything, but every role I'd played at that point was heterosexual. I was the lead character and I had a boyfriend, you know, I was playing this woman," Kara added. "But at that point, what else could I do?"»

Looking for more LGBTQ+ or Pride-related content? Check out all of BuzzFeed's coverage of Pride 2026.

If you or someone you know has experienced violence or harassment against the LGBTQ community, you can call the National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs hotline at 1-212-714-1141.

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