Photo: BACKGRID
In August, NFL free agentRyan Russellcame out as bisexual in an emotional first-person essayfor ESPNand he soon began celebrating his relationship with boyfriendCorey O’Brien. The two even recently went on a loved-up trip to London.
Russell, 27, previously played for the Dallas Cowboys and Tampa Bay Buccaneers and opened up to ESPN about being “a talented football player, a damn good writer, a loving son, an overbearing brother, a caring friend, a loyal lover, and a bisexual man.”
Alongside the piece, he launcheda joint YouTube channelwith O’Brien to share their story with the world. (Earlier this month, they posted a video of Russellmeeting O’Brien’s family.)
“Love is faithful, Love is kind, It doesn’t brag or boast,” Russell wrote of O’Brienon Instagramin August, “But when I tell the world you’re mine, I tend to brag the most.”
The couple attended theGay TimesHonours 500 event on Thursday. Russell received theSporting Hero awardfor coming out earlier this year and giving more LGBTQ representation in sports.
Here’s what you need to know about Russell’s boyfriend.
O’Brien Is a Professional Dancer
According tohis website, O’Brien has danced almost all of his life, having spent his childhood training at the Rock School for Dance Education and the Rock School West.
After high school, he ventured to New York City and was accepted into Broadway Dance Center’s first “Professional Semester” before going out to sea for six months after securing a gig as a dancer and acrobat with Royal Caribbean.
He’s performed alongside P. Diddy and more
O’Brien wrote on his website that he has performed with artists such asP. Diddy,French Montana, Nas, Ne-Yo and others.
Corey O’Brien.Corey O’Brien/ Instagram
And he teaches
In addition to his professional gigs, O’Brien hosts workshops around the country to teach contemporary, jazz-funk, technique and more.
“I had the pleasure of watching Corey teach students all day at the Dance Master of America Convention,” wrote one review of O’Brien’s classes on his website. “Corey O’Brien is not only extremely talented and kind, but he is one of the most caring and challenging teachers I have ever encountered.”
He’s a social media influencer
O’Brien has more than 41,000 followers onInstagram, which he uses to regularly show off smoldering portraits (captioning onerecent shirtless shot, simply, “Wednesday”) and his outings with Russell.
He’s seriously working on his fitness
Also apparent on O’Brien’s Instagram is his love for fitness, and he routinely posts photoswearing workoutapparel orwhile pumping some iron.
He’s active off the dance floor, too
According to his résumé, O’Brien — a jacked jack-of-all-trades — has done zip-lining, horseback riding and rifle, bungee and harness work.
source: people.com
