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Jameela Jamil has come out as Queer to fans on Twitter after admitting she's spent years hiding her true sexuality.

The TV star, who is currently dating musician James Blake, took to social media this evening to break the news in a post entitled 'Twitter is brutal.'

Jameela said she felt forced to speak out being widely slammed for her casting in a new HBO show about Vogueing, called 'Legendary.'

Her appointment sparked a fierce debate over LGBTQ representation in the media and Jameela has now addressed the backlash and defended her position.

In a furious statement, Jamil told fans that she identifies as Queer - an umbrella term used for those outside of the heterosexual norm that can be used by anyone under the LGBTQ spectrum.

(Image: Christopher Polk/Rolling Stone/REX)

She wrote: "This is why I never officially came out as queer. I added a rainbow to my name when I felt ready a few years ago, as it's not easy withing the south Asian community to be accepted, and I always answered honestly if ever straight up asked about it on Twitter.

"But I kept it low because I was scared of the pain of being accused of performative bandwagon jumping, over something that caused me a lot of confusion, fear and turmoil when I was a kid.

"I didn't come from a family with *anyone* openly out," she said.

A dismayed Jamil went on: "It's also scary as an actor to openly admit your sexuality, especially when you're already a brown female in your thirties. This is absolutely not how I wanted to come out."

(Image: AFP/Getty Images)

The Good Place actress then said she was coming off Twitter for a while because she didn't want to read the replies to her post.

"You can keep your thoughts," she told followers.

Jameela, who started her career as a presenter on Channel 4 youthshow T4 before moving to the US, then posted another lengthy post in defence of her role on the dance show.

She told fans she signed on because she hoped that her star power would bring a wide audience to the programme, even though she had no dance experience.

(Image: David Buchan/Variety/REX/Shutterstock)

The post read: "I know that being queer doesn't qualify me as ballroom. But I have privilege and power and a large following to bring this show (as does the absolutely iconic Megan Thee Stallion) and it's beautiful contestants and ballroom hosts.

"Sometimes it takes those with more power to help a show get off the ground so we can elevate marginalised stars that deserve the limelight and give them a chance."

Slamming rumours she would be hosting the show, Jameela went on: 'I'm ust a lead judge to my 11 years of hosting experience, being fully impartial, a newcomer to ballroom (like much of the audience will be) and therefore a window in for people who are just discovering it now, and being a long time ally of the lgbtq community."

(Image: Twitter)

She followed her statement by telling fans she was excited to start shooting the new HBO this week.

"It's f*****g' hard to be asked to continually be patient after so long of waiting for what you want. I know that. South Asian stories are almost never told without white stars."

She then urged her fanbase to watch the show and support the entire team when the show airs later this year.

(Image: PA)

After finding fame in the UK and in the States, Jameela has become renowned in recent years for her outspoken Twitter posts and advocacy of body confidence.

In the past she has waged war on the Kardashians and other celebs for endorsing weight loss fads. She also praised Prince Harry and Meghan Markle for stepping down from their roles of senior roles.

In one of her more recent beefs, Jameela came to blows with Victoria's Secret star Sara Samaio.

It kicked off when Jamil retweeted a video of women smiling and dancing on a catwalk Saturday.

"Oh my god," she wrote, "this looks like the most fun, and not a long-starved terrified teenager in sight. Beautiful."

Sampaio snapped back: "How about celebrating someone without bringing other people down?" she tweeted. "Calling runway models 'long-starved terrified teenager' is extremely offensive. From someone that is always preaching for body positivity this just screams hypocrisy."

The pair went back and forth for days over social media but Sampaio eventually gave up and said: "This is the last I’ll say on this. Your constant condescending tone is just unnecessary, and makes it impossible to actual have a conversation. Hope you have a nice life. Wish you all the best."