(Screenshot via YouTube)

Actor Johnathon Schaech revealed he served as a cover for Ellen DeGeneres before she publicly came out.

In a Reddit AMA, a fan asked the Maryland native if he had ever dated DeGeneres because he was spotted at events with her often. Schaech replied that there was more to that arrangement than met the eye.

“My manager asked me to accompany her to events. She was scared people would not watch the show, her sitcom ‘Ellen,’ because she was gay. It was an honor. I grew up with two gay aunts and a gay uncle. My aunt died of cancer. She was a proud woman and she didn’t get proper care because she didn’t want to be away from her partner,” Schaech says.

“Hospitals didn’t allow partners the same rights as a spouse. When you have someone you love in your life that is gay or a lesbian it’s very clear that they deserve the same rights as anyone else. It’s not about religion. If you don’t love Ellen now — you don’t watch her show. She’s a great example for the human race,” Schaech continued.

Another fan asked for further clarification if DeGeneres was out at that time and Schaech says she was not, but that he ended up fired from the show and missed the coming out episode.

“She wasn’t out…I was suppose to perform in her coming out episode but I ran the marathon and couldn’t walk the next day, the network fired me cause they thought I was lame. I was lame, don’t run a marathon when your given a great gift,” Schaech says.

Schaech is currently starring in CW’s “Legends of Tomorrow.”