Tyler Blackburn Opens Up About Coming Out and Overcoming Health Struggles

The 'Pretty Little Liars' actor tearfully recounts relying on his family and friends after publicly confirming his bisexuality.

Mar. 11, 2026 at 7:36pm

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Tyler Blackburn, the 39-year-old actor known for his role in 'Pretty Little Liars', has opened up about the personal struggles he faced after publicly coming out as bisexual in 2019. Blackburn tearfully recalled on a podcast how he had to ask his family and friends for help during a tumultuous time that included health issues, body image struggles, and difficulties in his love life.

Why it matters

Blackburn's story highlights the challenges many LGBTQIA+ individuals face when coming to terms with their sexuality, including the impact it can have on mental and physical health. His willingness to be vulnerable and share his experience can help destigmatize these issues and encourage others in the community to seek support.

The details

After coming out, Blackburn said he started 'manifesting physical problems', including gut health issues, vertigo, and a broken spine that required surgery. He also struggled with body image, constantly weighing himself and criticizing his appearance. Blackburn felt alone and 'really cruel' to himself, eventually having to rely on his family and friends in ways he wasn't previously comfortable with.

  • Blackburn publicly confirmed he is bisexual in 2019.
  • In the year prior to coming out, Blackburn said he was treating his body in a 'horrific' way, constantly weighing himself and criticizing his appearance.

The players

Tyler Blackburn

A 39-year-old actor known for his role in the TV series 'Pretty Little Liars', who recently opened up about his personal struggles after coming out as bisexual.

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What they’re saying

“I don't think I could have gotten through that time without my family, my friends, because it was a very scary place to be. I felt like people showed up for me in a really immediate way [and] in a really magical way.”

— Tyler Blackburn, Actor

“After PLL, I did another show called Roswell [New Mexico], and prior to that show, I had kind of opened up this Pandora's box about my love life, my sexuality. It caused problems in my family a bit. It caused problems in the way I viewed myself.”

— Tyler Blackburn, Actor

What’s next

Blackburn is continuing to focus on his health and career, and hopes his story can inspire others in the LGBTQIA+ community who are struggling with similar challenges.

The takeaway

Tyler Blackburn's openness about his journey of self-discovery and the personal challenges he faced after coming out as bisexual underscores the importance of having a strong support system and the need to destigmatize mental and physical health issues within the LGBTQIA+ community.