According to Entertainment Weekly, Aubrey Anderson-Emmons, who played Lily on Modern Family, came out as bisexual during Pride Month. Lily is the adopted daughter of Mitchell, played by Jesse Tyler Ferguson, and Cam, played by Eric Stonestreet.
Anderson-Emmons shared an Instagram video where she mouthed a well-known line from the popular ABC sitcom. The clip referenced a restaurant scene in which other characters try to explain to Lily that she is Vietnamese. However, Lily does not understand and instead uses the only identity she knows, declaring to her family, “I’m gay!”
In the video caption, Anderson-Emmons wrote, “People keep joking so much [about] me being gay when I literally am (I’m bi).” She added, “Happy Pride Month to all and to all a goodnight hehehe #modernfamily #lily #pridemonth #bi #pride.”
Fans quickly responded in the comments, congratulating Anderson-Emmons and sharing their own Modern Family references. One fan wrote, “Omgggg Cam and Mitch would be so happy.” Another quoted Mitchell’s line to Lily after her declaration: “Honey, you are not gay, you are just confused.”
Anderson-Emmons played Lily for nine seasons, debuting in Season 3. She took over the role from Ella and Jaden Hiller, who portrayed Lily as a baby. Her performance was one of many factors that helped make Modern Family a beloved show.
In a 2024 interview with Trisha Paytas (via People), Anderson-Emmons reflected on the challenges of childhood fame. She said, “Modern Family has brought me so many blessings into my life, and I’m forever grateful. But I think kids need to have a normal experience and I don’t know if that’s the way to do it.”
She added, “I definitely was more troubled when I became older because of the show. I felt I didn’t really know what I wanted to do after the show. Figuring out your hobbies and experiences for yourself is important, not having your parents choose for you. How do you choose what you want to do for eight years when you’re four years old?”
Her comments echo those made by co-star Ariel Winter, who also spoke about the difficulties of being a child star. However, since Modern Family ended, Anderson-Emmons has built a strong online following and seems comfortable with her current path. Coming out as bisexual on social media is a part of her ongoing journey.
Trisha Paytas responded to Anderson-Emmons’ Instagram post with the simple praise, “Queen!”
