Former 'N Sync star Joey Fatone knew pal Lance Bass was gay before their bandmates after he stumbled in on him kissing another guy. Fatone reveals he agreed to keep Bass' secret, but advised him his family would be upset.

Bass recalls the encounter with his bandmate in his new book Out Of Sync, and Fatone feels the revelation gives him the chance to publicly recall the moment he realized his pal was gay.

Fatone tells Parade.com, "I was one of the first to find out that Lance was gay when I saw him with another guy. Lance wrote something like, 'Joey knew right then and there I was gay, but he really didn't care one way or the other.' I think I said to him, 'I still love you like a brother,' but I also said, 'If your mother finds out, she's going to kill you.'"

Bass eventually 'came out' as a homosexual last year after months of internet speculation.

(This news article provided by World Entertainment News Network)