Taylor Lautner: Victim of a Big Gay Hoax

When you're as pretty as "The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn" Taylor Lautner, there will always be rumors that you're gay. Not that there's anything wrong with that (unless it's entirely untrue).

Pranksters recently circulated a mocked-up cover of the supposed January 7th issue of People, claiming Lautner had come out of the closet and was now "Out and Proud."

The only problem? People Magazine says it's "absolutely fake."

"Tired of rumors, the 'Twilight' star opens up about his decision to finally come out. 'I'm more liberated, and happier than I've ever been,'" screamed the hoax cover, as if People had quoted Lautner.

While several sources, including GossipCop and The New York Daily News were quick to debunk the cover, pointing out that some of the other photos from the alleged cover had already run in previous issues of People, the fake was good enough to catch some notable attention.

Hip-hop icon Russell Simmons, for example, reportedly saw the cover and said via Twitter that he was "proud of Taylor Lautner for his bravery and his courage."

When he found out the cover was a hoax, Simmons Tweeted: "Disappointed that people would joke about someone coming out about their sexuality. Let Taylor Lautner be whoever he wants to be..."