Comedian Corey O’Brien is opening up about his journey to sobriety, his comedy tour, and his relationship with the NFL’s first out bisexual player.
O’Brien, 34, has over 2 million followers on TikTok and Instagram and is taking his comedy show on a tour through conservative states on the Red Tour.
“There are people that are queer living in these red states – people that won’t or can’t leave,” he tells People. “I’m really doing it for them, because I feel like going into these places and being my authentic self is a sign of resistance and rebellion.”
In the interview, O’Brien also opens up about what it’s been like dating Ryan Russell, a former NFL player, who in 2019 became the first player in the league to come out as bisexual.
The couple initially met on Tinder. At the time, Russell was recovering from an injury and looking to sign with a new team.
O’Brien says that as they got to know each other better, they “both knew early on that it was going to be something.” However, he didn’t quite understand what Russell did for a living.
“When he told me he played football, I was like, ‘Cute.’ I thought it was the league on Sundays here in West Hollywood, where all of the gay people get together and they throw. I didn’t know sh*t,” he says.
O’Brien feared that if Russell did sign with a new team, that would mean the end of their relationship. “I bawled my eyes out,” he says.
Instead, Russell didn’t make a team and decided to come out publicly.
“I had to be really strategic with staying off my phone – and not reading comments,” he says. “It felt like unnecessary pressure.”
Thankfully, the “whirlwind” settled down, and now, the couple has been attending NFL events together.
Now, O’Brien is ready to continue to bring his comedy to red states.
“I don’t see this tour ending anytime soon,” he says. “And I see a special in the near future.”
This article originally appeared on Out: Corey O’Brien spills details about dating bisexual NFL star Ryan Russell
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