Comedian Corey O’Brien has opened up about dating his partner of six years, former NFL star Ryan Russell.
Speaking to People, O’Brien recalled how he matched with the bisexual Buffalo Bills defensive end on Tinder, not even knowing Russell was famous.
“We were getting to know each other, spending time together,” O’Brien said. “I feel we both knew early on that it was going to be something. 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 the gay people get together and they throw [a ball]. I didn’t know sh*t.”
O’Brien also talked about the hateful rhetoric members of the LGBTQ+ community are facing at the moment. “I’m trying to spread caring, and fighting for marginalised communities. I want to put my money where my mouth is in everything I do,” he said.
@pinknews Corey O’Brien opens up about dating bisexual NFL star Ryan Russell. Speaking to People, O’Brien recalled the two matching on Tinder without knowing what Russell did for a living. “We were getting to know each other. We were spending time together. I feel like we both knew early on that it was going to be something,” remembers O’Brien of the early days of their relationship. “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.” In 2019, Russell made history by becoming the first NFL player to come out as openly bisexual. To manage the "unnecessary pressure," O'Brien avoided reading online comments. The couple now frequently attend NFL events together.