After Social Media Break, Gus Kenworthy Returns & Offers Update to Fans

Gus Kenworthy has been noticeably absent from social media but the openly gay athlete returned with an Instagram post this week, sharing a lengthy note to fans about how he has been, noting that the coronavirus pandemic "has been really hard on me."

Sharing a photo of himself laying with his dog, Birdie, Kenworthy opened up with his struggles with depression during his social media break.

"I know has been a struggle for most everyone. One thing I've learned is that just because we're in isolation it does NOT mean that we're alone," Kenworthy wrote. "We really are in this together! If you're struggling w/ depression and you've been feeling down and worthless know that I have been too."

The "American Horror Story: 1984" actor goes on to say that he struggled with asking for help in school and while playing sports because he "wanted to seem strong, brave, tough, self-assured, etc but I've realized that sometimes you just need help and when you do you need to ask for it."

"It's literally what friends are for. Swallow your pride and text a friend saying 'I'm feeling really down, can you talk?' It will help," he wrote. "I'm thankful for my friends and all of you for being my support system; I'm thankful for the people who have used this time to create fun, funny content that has made me laugh and offered levity amidst the darkness; I'm thankful for my health and, most especially, I'm thankful for my family."

Kenworthy then explains that he's faced "some serious scares this past month" and "it's put into perspective, more than ever before, the importance of family."

"My 9-month-old nephew, Bodhi, had a bad cough/ fever and started having trouble breathing," he wrote. "He ended up being flight for life'd to Denver Children's Hospital to be put on a respirator and spent a week in the ICU.

"Shortly after he returned home my 4-year-old niece, Bobbie, fell ill and had to be rushed to the same hospital to undergo two emergency surgeries," the athlete explained. "They're both finally home again and recovering! I'm incredibly thankful and forever grateful to our healthcare workers on the front line of this pandemic. I can't show my gratitude enough but, in an effort to help out, I've decided to join Cameo to make personalized videos for anybody who wants one w/ 100% of my proceeds going to #FirstRespondersFirst to raise money for the doctors & nurses risking their lives to save others.

"If you wanna buy a video there's a link in my bio and I'll match whatever we raise up to $10,000! Thank you all for staying home to help flatten the curve and also for reading my unsolicited novel of a caption. Let's #BeatTheVirus," he concluded.

Check out his post below.

Kenworthy seems to be in better spirits – a few days after his post, he shared a Photoshopped pic of himself inserted into the artwork for Sam Smith and Demi Lovato's new song "I'm Ready," which draws its visual inspiration from the Olympics.