Ten years later, Walters said publicly, “Unless someone is openly gay and happy to talk about it, it’s nobody’s business-including mine.” In a recent interview with Out magazine, Jack Falahee, an actor from How To Get Away With Murder, was asked if he’s gay. The awkward moment when Barbara Walters once pushed Ricky Martin to say he’s gay is best left back in 2000.

Should you care if your celebrity crush is gay? When a journalist inquires about someone’s sexual preference, the question can seem intrusive. We’re working on a new article that reflects those updates. Editors note: In the five years since this piece was published, journalism has continued to evolve in its approach to covering sexuality and gender.