TikTok star Grant Gibbs has issued an apology for “outing” Crumbl Cookies co-founder Sawyer Hemsley.

Hemsley came out publicly as gay on Monday (25 August) after rampant online speculation about his sexuality. “Instead of letting others write my story, I want to share it in my own words,” the entrepreneur said.

Following Hemsley’s announcement, Gibbs, known as one half of the musician and influencer duo “A Twink and a Redhead”, took to TikTok on Tuesday (26 August) to address the string of videos he had previously posted speculating on Hemsley’s sexuality. 

The TikToker captioned the post, “I’m genuinely sorry I clocked your tea in such a massive way, but I am really happy and proud of you sister @SawyerHemsley.”

He began in the video, “This was not my intention to ever out somebody in this way, but girl, I am so happy for you and so proud of you.

“You are hot and you’re going to live your best out gay open life, mama… But you guys, I did not mean for this to happen the way it did. I’m so sorry, Sawyer.”

Gibbs continued, drawing on Hemsley’s material and financial success. “I think you’ll be fine, girl.” 

He did “admit” that speculating about his sexuality to his 218,000 followers was “nasty of me” and alleged that he “didn’t mean for it to end up like this”. 

Did Grant Gibbs out Sawyer Hemsley?

Gibbs maintains that he was commenting on “public information” and was simply “joining a conversation already being had” online. He did add that he felt “bad my video went so viral”.

Before Hemsley’s coming-out statement, Gibbs had posted two videos discussing the co-founder’s sexuality in what was intended to be a comedic bit. 

In a 22 August post, Gibbs expressed surprise that Hemsley was presenting as heterosexual. “That’s a gay man, and I’ll say it to his face,” he said.