Taylor Lautner 'Out & Proud'? Not So Fast
Teen girls are breathing a sigh of relief: Taylor Lautner is not coming out of the closet.
A fake People magazine cover featuring Lautner claims that he is "Out & Proud" exploded across the web Monday night.
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"Tired of rumors, the 'Twilight' star opens up about his decision to finally come out," reads a blurb on the phony cover. " 'I'm more liberated, and happier than I've ever been."
The image immediately went viral. Some -- including hip-hop mogul Russell Simmons -- believed it was real.
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"Proud of Taylor Lautner for his bravery and his courage," Simmons tweeted.
After finding out that the cover was a fake, he tweeted, "Disappointed that people would joke about someone coming out about their sexuality. Let Taylor Lautner be whoever he wants to be."
The fake cover is dated "January 7, 2012," but its sidebar -- which features Brad Pitt and Carnie Wilson -- is recycled from a 2006 People mag cover.
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In mid-October, GQ Australia apologized to Lautner after a reporter asked him in an interview whether "Milk" director Gus Van Sant and writer Dustin Lance Black hit on Lautner during a meeting.
"No, definitely not," Lautner said of the openly gay director and writer. "I think they know I'm straight. But they're great guys. They're a lot of fun."
"The point we were actually trying to push was that Taylor is irresistible to virtually everyone -- regardless of sexuality or gender," GQ Australia said in a later statement. "Hence the film crew cheering at his shirtless scenes while shooting 'Twilight,' and Mark Wahlberg deeming him better looking than Leonardo DiCaprio."
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