Remember back in 2017 when Gus Kenworthy casually dropped the fact that he once made out with Miley Cyrus, and the internet collectively short-circuited? At the time, it felt like a fun, chaotic pop-culture footnote—Olympic athlete kisses pop queen, gays cheer, straight Twitter panics. But years later, Kenworthy is looking back at that moment with fresh clarity, and the story has quietly evolved into something much more relatable… and honestly, very gay.
In recent interviews, Kenworthy has opened up about how watching Heated Rivalry—the steamy sports romance centered on closeted elite athletes—unexpectedly mirrored his own early career. And right at the center of that realization? Yep. Miley Cyrus.
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When a Pop Star Becomes a Very Convenient Distraction
Back in the mid-2010s, Kenworthy was one of the most visible young athletes in the world. He was successful, charming, media-trained, and deeply aware that his personal life was under constant scrutiny. So when he was asked about his “dream date” around Valentine’s Day during the 2014 Olympics, panic did what panic does best: it improvised.
Enter Miley.
Saying her name didn’t just deflect suspicion—it launched a mini pop culture moment. Miley tweeted. She followed him. Rumors flew. Suddenly, Kenworthy was publicly linked to a wildly famous, wildly desirable woman, and the narrative wrote itself.
Looking back, Kenworthy has described how surreal—and oddly effective—that moment was. The attention gave him cover. It let people stop asking questions. And while there was genuine friendliness (and yes, a real make-out session during her Bangerz era), the situation also became a kind of shield.
For queer readers, that feeling lands immediately. Sometimes the “perfect” straight-adjacent scenario isn’t about desire—it’s about safety.
Heated Rivalry, But Make It Olympic
When Kenworthy first heard about Heated Rivalry, he didn’t expect much. Another sports romance? Fun, sure—but nothing life-altering. And then it happened: recognition.
The show’s story of elite athletes navigating secret relationships, public expectations, and the constant pressure to appear straight started to feel uncomfortably familiar. Kenworthy has since said he saw himself reflected onscreen in a way he hadn’t before—not as a stereotype, but as a full person caught between truth and circumstance.
In that context, Miley Cyrus became his real-life equivalent of a fictional “cover romance”—the famous, glamorous woman everyone assumed you’d want to be with if you were straight. The optics made sense. The world nodded along. And the questions stopped.
Except, internally, they didn’t.
Looking Back With Affection (and Zero Regret)
What makes Kenworthy’s reflections so refreshing is the tone: there’s no bitterness here. No shame. Just honesty and a little humor. He’s spoken warmly about Miley, describing her as kind, supportive, and very much a gay icon—even then.
Their connection wasn’t fake. It just wasn’t the whole story.
And for Kenworthy, acknowledging that now feels less like a confession and more like a cultural wink. It’s him saying: yes, that happened—and yes, it made sense at the time.
For LGBTQ audiences, it’s deeply validating to hear a public figure articulate something many queer people have lived: the era of strategic crushes, convenient assumptions, and relationships that existed partly to keep other doors closed.
When Kenworthy came out, Cyrus even posted a message of support for her friend on Facebook, writing:
“Never have I ever been prouder to call Gus Kenworthy my friend! ( and he’s a bad ass fucking Olympic athlete) He is showing all of us what it means to be courageous and PROUD of who we are! You have won so much more than any medal …. You have won FREEDOM! I can’t wait to see what you and I can do with The Happy Hippie Foundation together! You are making it possible to shine light on the LGBTQ community in front of a whole new world! So much respect for you. I looooove looooove looooove you! Ughhhhhhhhh heart is fluttering, feels like a million little cocoons just busted open and I am filled up with butterflies “
Why This Story Still Resonates
The reason the Kenworthy–Miley moment still fascinates isn’t because it was scandalous—it wasn’t. It’s because it captures a very specific queer experience in a very public way.
It’s about being successful but not free. Visible but not known. Safe but not whole.
By connecting his own life to Heated Rivalry, Kenworthy isn’t dramatizing his past—he’s contextualizing it. He’s giving language to something that, for years, was just survival.
And now? He’s out, relaxed, self-aware, and clearly at peace with that chapter. The story isn’t heavy. It’s affectionate. It’s reflective. It’s the kind of hindsight that comes with growth.
The Vibe Now? Fully Unbothered
Today, Gus Kenworthy talks about that Miley Cyrus moment the way many of us talk about our pre-coming-out eras: with fondness, a little cringe, and zero desire to relive it.
It was part of the journey. A plot twist. A pop star assist.
And honestly? Iconic behavior.
Because if you’re going to survive your closeted athlete era, you might as well do it with Miley Cyrus on your arm—and later, the self-awareness to laugh about it.
Very Kenworthy behavior, if you ask us.
REFERENCES: The New Yorker, Allegedly