Looks like someone had a little too much time on their hands this holiday weekend. The internet exploded on Monday when a fake copy of People magazine's January 7, 2012 cover story started circulating the web, featuring the hunky Taylor Lautner announcing that he's "out and proud." The Photoshopped image shows the Twilight star boldly staring into the camera while big text surrounds him, announcing that he's gay and "tired of the rumors." Additionally, the fake cover goes on to fake quote Lautner as saying his decision to come out has left him feeling, "more liberated, and happier than I've ever been."
While we know the cover to be a fake now, it was apparently so convincing that it fooled some Hollywood stars. Russell Simmons fell pray to the hoax and took to Twitter to congratulate Lautner on the announcement by posting, "proud of Taylor Lautner for his bravery and his courage." Upon realizing the story was fabricated, Simmons wrote a follow up tweet, writing, "disappointed that people would joke about someone coming out about their sexuality. Let Taylor Lautner be whoever he wants to be..."
A rep for People magazine further confirmed the cover to be a hoax to Gossip Cop, saying the cover is "absolutely fake." I guess it just goes to show, you can't believe everything you read. But at least the female population can rest easy once again.
Click on the image below for more photos of Taylor Lautner!
Source: E!, Twitter