Fans Worry about Joshua Bassett, but He Says He's 'Better than Ever'
"High School Musical: The Musical" star Joshua Bassett had a message for fans worried his posts about religious experiences might signal that something was wrong. Billboard detailed that Bassett, 22, took to Instagram Stories on Jan. 29 to reassure his fans.
"For those concerned about me be sure of this: i'm better than i have ever been," Bassett wrote. "The peace i feel is far beyond what i thought possible."
Fans' worries were sparked when Bennett began posting about experiences he described as religious in nature. The singer talked about asking God for signs, Distractify relayed.
"Although he's always been somewhat religious, his recent Instagram post suggests that he now has a deeper relationship with God," Distractify explained.
In one post, Bassett recounted how "A few months ago, I asked God to 'send me a sign when I write the truth.'"
"I typed 'Jesus is the way,'" Bassett went on to say. "Nothing happened, then I added, 'Jesus is the only way,' and the light turned on in my living room."
In another brush with the divine, Bassett talked about how he was praying in a church when he asked God to provide a sign by inspiring someone to touch him on the back. Two people did so, and they said they had felt an urge to join him in prayer.
"The experiences were richer and more vivid than anything in my entire life," Bassett testified to his followers.
Bassett made his comments as fans debated what his posts might mean, given that they seemed to come out of the blue. Some shared concerns around Bassett's upbringing in a "cultlike Christian theater group," while others maintained that his posts did not necessarily indicate an abrupt transition in the actor's life.
Some seemed also to imply that Bassett's zealous language could pose a danger to LGBTQ+ youth, given that Bassett came out in 2021.
Bassett himself noted in an Instagram post from May 11, 2021, that "my entire life people have told me my sexuality. people have shamed me for things they know nothing about."
Added Bassett in that post: "I want to say thank you to those of you who stand for love and acceptance."
Later on, looking back on an interview in which he expressed appreciation for Harry Styles, Bassett confirmed his status to People Magazine, saying, "They kept asking me questions about Harry Styles, and I was like, 'This is pretty much my coming out video.'"
"I wasn't intending on saying that," Bassett added, "but I also wasn't kidding."
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