Cat Missal’s biggest post-finale headline had the focus on her life. The ‘Tell Me Lies‘ actor publicly came out as gay right after the show’s finale, and the moment quickly became focused on how fans understand both her and her character.
After the revelations, Bree’s reactions throughout the series felt less like writing choices and more like the perspective of someone who never emotionally connected to the romance at the center of the story.
Cat Missal Explains How Being Queer Changed Her ‘Tell Me Lies’ Performance
In a Teen Vogue profile published shortly after the February 17 finale, Missal publicly confirmed she is gay and uses she/they pronouns. During the interview, she was jokingly asked whether most men are trying to manipulate women. To this, Missal laughed and answered, “Well, I am gay, so thank God.” Her partner, DJ Jess Panneton, who sat beside her, added playfully, “You’re safe with me.”
Related: The Toxic True Story That Inspired Stephen In ‘Tell Me Lies’
The series follows Lucy Albright and her intensely toxic eight-year relationship with Stephen DeMarco, while Missal’s Bree spends much of the story reacting to the damage the relationship causes.
This is the first time the actor has publicly confirmed her sexuality, and why Bree often feels like the only person clearly seeing the dysfunction around her. Rather than forcing concern or disbelief, she naturally played someone who didn’t emotionally buy into the relationship’s logic.
The Real-life Relationship Gave Bree An Authentic Perspective On Toxic Romance
Although the confirmation is new, her relationship with Panneton has existed publicly since 2020. That year, Panneton, co-founder of the sapphic party Futch Night, shared two posts featuring them together. One read “when’s Valentine’s Day?” while another showed a skate-rink date complete with a photobooth strip.
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Missal revealed they first met at a drag show in West Hollywood. Speaking directly to Jess, she recalled, “I just thought you were so cool.” She described it as kismet, laughing about how her sisters noticed immediately and asked who she was flirting with. Now, she says, they are all family. Today, they live together in the San Fernando Valley with their two cats, Chicken and Bunny.
After the revelation, Bree’s reactions throughout the series feel more relatable. While Lucy repeatedly returns to Stephen despite the damage he causes, Bree questions the behavior and worries about her friend instead of romanticizing it. Knowing Missal is gay explains that emotional distance and places her outside the heterosexual dynamic driving the story. So, her reactions come across as observational rather than dramatic.
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