Colton Haynes: I was told I 'could not be gay' in Hollywood

June 14 (UPI) -- Colton Haynes says he was told he "could not be gay" and a successful actor in Hollywood.

The 28-year-old star said on Monday's episode of Radio Andy with Andy Cohen that he pretended to date famous women, including The Hills star Lauren Conrad, to hide his sexuality during his early career.

"I was literally told from the day that I moved to Los Angeles that I could not be gay because I wouldn't work," Haynes told Cohen. "Then I was with my management team and a team of people that just literally told me I couldn't be this way."

"They tried to set me up with girls," he recalled. "I was rumored to date Lauren Conrad for six months because they were kind of angling a story. And then I dated every other young person, which of course I didn't date."

Haynes publicly came out as gay in May 2016 after months of speculation. He later said in the September issue of Out magazine that people in the industry took "advantage" of his desire to become an actor.

"I really feel bad that I had to lie for so long," the actor told the publication. "But I was told that was the only way I was going to be successful."

"When you're young in this industry, people take advantage of you, and they literally tell you that your dreams are going to come true," he explained. "If you believe that, you'll do anything."

Haynes got engaged to boyfriend and celebrity floral designer Jeff Leatham in March. Leatham proposed the Teen Wolf and Arrow alum with the help of a special video message from Cher.