Overview

• Hemsley posted on Instagram on Aug. 25 that he has come to understand and accept that he is gay and said he wanted to share the news in his own words.
• The announcement followed days of online speculation, including a viral TikTok by Grant Gibbs, who later apologized for commenting on Hemsley’s sexuality.
• Hours before the post, Robert Sepúlveda Jr. shared a TikTok purporting to show alleged private messages and explicit photos from Hemsley, claims not independently verified in the reports.
• Public response to Hemsley’s statement was largely supportive, with more than 1,000 comments noted by outlets tracking the Instagram post.
• Hemsley co-founded Crumbl in 2017 and serves as chief branding officer at a chain now listing over 1,000 locations and a major social-media following, and a company spokesperson said he is not offering further comment.