François Arnaud Reflects on 2020 Bisexual Coming Out in Recent SiriusXM Interview

Canadian actor François Arnaud, star of the HBO Max/Crave series Heated Rivalry, opened up about his journey of publicly coming out as bisexual during a recent SiriusXM interview with Andy Cohen.

Arnaud first publicly identified as bisexual in September 2020 via an Instagram Story posted ahead of Bisexual Visibility Day. In that post, he described his sexuality as existing in a "gray area, "noting attractions to both men and women throughout his life. He reflected on workplace conversations where mentioning an ex-girlfriend felt incomplete, leading him to challenge assumptions of straightness.

Arnaud addressed bisexual stereotypes in the 2020 statement, including perceptions of indecisiveness, infidelity, deception, and trendiness. "Silence has the perverse effect of perpetuating those stereotypes, making bi guys invisible, and leading people to doubt that we even exist, "he wrote, emphasizing that labels are imperfect but necessary for visibility. He affirmed, "I’ve always considered myself bisexual, not confused or trying to look edgy, not disloyal, not ashamed and not invisible."

In the SiriusXM clip, Arnaud explained his 2020 decision stemmed from a shift in priorities. "I had just come to a point where I didn’t care about the reaction, and that’s why I did it, "he said. He described lying by omission as conveying unearned shame: "I feel like lying by omission, I guess, it tells the story of a shame that I didn’t feel about myself. And that’s where I wasn’t comfortable anymore."

Regarding professional repercussions, Arnaud stated openness was essential despite uncertainties. "I don’t know if it affected my career path or not, "he noted. "It comes to a point where I love being an actor, it’s my favourite thing in the world. .. But I also learned, growing up, that I love my life and that’s really important to me, and I want to live it." This reflects a broader tension for LGBTQ+ individuals in entertainment, where authenticity intersects with industry demands.

The interview lightened when Cohen asked if Arnaud's direct messages were "double the fun. "Arnaud replied cheekily, "If only, "adding he limits social media engagement: "I’ve actually blocked Twitter access from my phone. I don’t wanna be able to know what people are thinking."

Arnaud's reflections coincide with promotion for Heated Rivalry, a queer hockey romance series where he plays Scott Hunter, a character involved in a rivals-to-lovers arc with emotional vulnerability. In a separate SiriusXM Hits 1 interview with The Morning Mash Up on January 14, 2026, Arnaud praised his character's "epic"jumbotron moment in episode 5, likening it to real-life stakes. He attributed the show's success to depictions of male emotional openness rather than surface appeal: "I think it’s … seeing men being emotionally vulnerable, which we just don’t get to see very often."

Arnaud's career spans global projects, including Cesare Borgia in Showtime's The Borgias , NBC's Blindspot , and films like I Killed My Mother. His 2020 coming out was supported by fans and the LGBTQ+ community, positioning him as an advocate for bisexual representation. These recent interviews underscore persistent bisexual invisibility, amplified by Arnaud's platform in queer-affirming projects like Heated Rivalry, which has inspired real-world coming outs, such as a hockey player identifying as gay.

The full Andy Cohen interview airs January 15 on SiriusXM, offering further insights into bisexual experiences for transgender people, gay men, lesbians, and others in the community seeking authentic narratives.