Former Sparkle artist James Graham has opened up about the fear and uncertainty he experienced before publicly embracing his identity as a member of the LGBTQIA+ community, saying it took moving to the United States for him to fully accept himself.
In a video interview released by Sparkle GMA Artist Center, Graham reflected on years of suppressing his true identity out of fear of being judged.
“I’ve always felt like this since I was younger, but I kept on denying it,” he shared.
The 19-year-old actor, who now lives and studies in the United States after leaving the Philippines and stepping away from show business in 2025, said the change in environment helped him see things differently.
“That’s why I came here to the US. Siguro na-acknowledge ko na lang siya nung pagpunta ko dito sa US and I realized that I didn’t have other people that’s gonna judge me—because I always thought that people were going to judge me.”
Graham also revealed that he did not initially intend to publicly come out. However, after posting a TikTok video showcasing a more feminine side of himself, the clip quickly gained attention online.
“When my video on TikTok blew up, it was shocking. I didn’t know how positive the reactions would be.”
The viral video featured Graham in a feminine look while lip-syncing to Ace of Base’s song “The Sign.” It included the on-screen message, “Start the new life you always wanted,” while the caption encouraged people to live authentically without fear of judgment. Many social media users interpreted the post as his official coming out.
Looking back, Graham admitted that he had spent much of his life hiding who he truly was.
“I’ve lived a life very scared… I was living a lie and I was living in fear. And I guess, I just got tired of it.”
He also expressed gratitude to Sparkle GMA Artist Center, saying the talent management company helped him gain the confidence to become his authentic self.
“They taught me a lot. They pushed me to be better.”
Before relocating to the United States, Graham appeared in several Kapuso television dramas, including ‘Widow’s War’, ‘Black Rider’, ‘Makiling’, and ‘Royal Blood’. He is now focused on his studies while beginning a new chapter of his life with greater confidence and self-acceptance.
