The one thing that scares Robbie Rogers more than acting is Coulrophobia

When Robbie Rogers got the offer to appear in Tuesday’s episode of ABC’s The Real O’Neals, he knew he had to take it. Having conquered his fear of being openly gay in a soccer world he once believed was the most homophobic place on earth, acting was next on the list.

Rogers told me a main reason he said “yes” to appearing on the episode in a scripted role was because of his burning fear of acting.

“I said yes because I thought I would have fun. I knew I would have been upset at myself if I didn't do it, and also I knew I would be nervous and scared to do it. So I wanted to overcome that fear.”

It didn’t hurt that he had his boyfriend, successful TV producer Greg Berlanti, to give him some tips. Berlanti is the producer of a few shows you may have heard of before, like Brothers & Sisters, Arrow and The Flash.

While his fear of acting is very real, it takes a backseat to one other fear: Coulrophobia. What is coulrophobia?

“I hate acting,” Rogers said. “It's the scariest thing in the world to me next to clowns.”

Him and half of America.

You can catch Rogers on ABC’s The Real O’Neals, Dec. 6, 9:30/8:30.