Danny expressed his want for “some form of closure” with ex-boyfriend Paul shortly after reliving a few of their most memorable Actual World: New Orleans moments and opening up about their life after leaving the MTV present. And through this week’s Homecoming episode, Danny reunited with the previous captain within the Airborne Rangers, and so they had a non-confrontational dialogue given their sophisticated previous. However did the duo obtain an amicable decision?
Earlier than Danny and Paul’s sitdown, Danny had revealed the 2 broke up after seven or eight years; he admitted he’d had an awesome worry of ending their romance as a result of the connection was “held on a pedestal,” together with a deep fear of disappointing homosexual America. Nonetheless, as Danny instructed Jamie and Julie, one thing finally broke his “bizarre sense of obligation” to stick with Paul.
“Lengthy story brief, that motherf*cker began relationship our mutual greatest good friend behind my again,” Danny instructed the visibly stunned duo. “We’ve got actually not spoken or seen one another since 2006.”
Danny admitted Paul tried to reconnect by the years, however Danny rejected these gives. However this distinctive expertise felt like the suitable time for Danny to lastly shut this chapter and invite Paul to talk face-to-face — the backdrop of their early relationship days, surrounded by the identical individuals and acquainted MTV cameras in a well-recognized metropolis.
Danny texted Paul, and Paul answered that he would go to the following day. Not like Paul’s previous journeys to NOLA on Actual World, this installment featured Paul’s face unedited (the “Incoming Message” clips weren’t blurred both, however the collection protected Paul’s id within the early 2000s). Julie initially greeted Paul, after which Danny embraced him with a heat welcome. Danny remarked that Paul appeared completely different bodily (extra of a “conservative dresser” again in Y2K occasions), whereas Paul acknowledged Danny seemed the identical.
They proceeded to talk privately with none of the roommates, and Danny reduce proper to the chase. He requested why Paul determined to come back, and Paul defined that he wanted to see that Danny was “good.” Danny responded that Paul had ample alternative — years — to speak. Danny additionally insisted Paul would at all times “sweep issues below the rug.” Then, Danny addressed the infidelity.
“When a extremely shut good friend of yours and your companion each betray you, it actually rocks your full religion in individuals,” he stated as Paul listened intently. “I spent years having nightmares and flashbacks about the whole lot that went down as a result of it broken my belief in individuals basically in enormous, enormous methods. It turned my world the other way up.”
Danny didn’t wish to revisit this time in his life; nonetheless, he did inform Paul he had PTSD as he recounted the pressures that got here with being out in addition to “proudly owning” Paul’s security.
“Being within the navy and being with you was like carrying the rainbow flag in your brow,” Paul acknowledged, whereas Danny stated he believed they have been making an attempt to pressure two worlds collectively that “made life harmful.” The notoriety that got here with being on The Actual World accelerated Danny’s anxiousness after they went out in public when filming wrapped.
Paul recommended his ex for being courageous sufficient to place himself on the market as a homosexual man for the world to see throughout that point and the way, in present-day, the selection to seem on TV like this is able to be “nothing.” Danny addressed the subject he had beforehand raised together with his roommates: the necessity to keep within the relationship to stop letting individuals down. Paul understood Danny’s sentiment and acknowledged he was not anticipating forgiveness for his previous habits. Nonetheless, Paul wished to “take possession” of how he handled Danny. However Danny had already forgiven Paul for himself.
“That took years; it wasn’t all in useless,” Danny added, whereas Paul claimed Danny was a “main half” of his life.
Danny thanked Paul for making an effort to see him in individual and expressed the way it made Danny’s participation on this distinctive reunion extra significant. Danny concluded that it was an sudden however nice “some form of closure.” Paul departed after the dialog — and the lads hugged goodbye.
“I want Paul nothing however constructive will, however it’s good that I can now know — no less than in my thoughts — that we have closed that chapter totally,” Danny concluded in a confessional.
What did you consider Danny and Paul’s Homecoming reunion? Give your ideas within the feedback, and maintain watching The Actual World Homecoming: New Orleans streaming on Paramount+, with new episodes dropping each Wednesday.
