Joey Graceffa calls ‘The Amazing Race’ ‘traumatizing’, says producer urged him to ‘come out on show’

Joey Graceffa isn’t holding back about his time on ‘The Amazing Race’. In a recent interview, he called the whole experience “traumatizing,” and said a producer actually tried to push him to come out as gay while the cameras rolled. His story’s got people talking again about how reality shows handle contestants’ personal lives, and just how much pressure gets put on people behind the scenes.

Joey Graceffa on ‘The Amazing Race’ experience: What did he say?

Joey Graceffa, who’s got over 9 million YouTube subscribers and a wild back-catalog of videos, opened up about his time on The Amazing Race. He says it was unforgettable, but honestly, it took a real toll on him.

Talking to Out, Joey explained that filming the show in 2013 hit during a really important and fragile time in his own life. He hadn’t come out publicly yet and didn’t want to do it on TV. “The Amazing Race was a lot of fun, but it was truly traumatizing. It's crazy. They wanted me to come out on the show!” he said. He went on to claim that a producer straight-up told him, “You should come out on the show.” Joey’s response? “I'll come out if you write me that USD 1 million check at the finish line! That didn't happen. I would not have been ready back then.” He didn’t say which producer it was, and The Amazing Race has had plenty over the years.

Joey competed on two seasons of ‘The Amazing Race’ with fellow creator Meghan Camarena. They finished fifth in Season 22 (2013), then came back for Season 24’s All-Stars, but got cut in the third episode.

‘The Amazing Race’: What is it?

For the unversed, ‘The Amazing Race’ is one of the biggest reality competition shows ever. It’s been on TV since 2001. On the show, teams of two race around the globe, doing physical and mental challenges, figuring out clues, and scrambling through airports and foreign cities. Each leg ends at a “Pit Stop,” and the last team to check in usually gets sent home.

And it’s not just about running fast. Contestants have to manage their money, book flights, eat weird stuff, and navigate places where they don’t speak the language. The grand prize? A whopping USD 1 million!

But the show isn’t just about exotic locations and crazy stunts. It’s a massive emotional grind, too. Contestants get filmed non-stop, often while they’re tired, stressed, and missing home. Friendships (and nerves) get tested. Sometimes, people’s deepest insecurities come out under all that pressure, which makes Joey’s story hit even harder.

Who is Joey Graceffa?

Joey Graceffa is way more than just a reality TV alum. He’s one of those early YouTubers who helped shape how people make stuff online today. Born in 1991, he started posting videos as a teenager and now has billions of views across his channels.

His videos cover everything from vlogs, gaming, and storytelling to lifestyle stuff. He’s also jumped into acting and producing, starring in the YouTube Premium series ‘Escape the Night’. Plus, he has written books: he’s got the ‘Children of Eden’ series, a memoir, and his latest release, ‘The Twelve’.

Per People, Joey came out publicly in 2015 with a video called “YES I’M GAY,” where he shared his story and thanked his fans for their support. That video took off with over 8 million views. Later that year, he uploaded “MY COMING OUT STORY!” for National Coming Out Day, opening up even more about his journey and encouraging others who might be struggling. “I was the weirdo nerd kid in high school,” he told Out. “That mentality still lives inside me. I feel like such a loser sometimes. Honestly, having the YouTube audience gave me something to build me up and make me feel special.”