Cassandra Peterson is finally living her truth after nearly two decades, but she says her social media initially look a major hit as a result.

The actor, who is known to her legions of fans as horror icon Elvira, publicly acknowledged being in a 19-year relationship with girlfriend Teresa T Wierson for the first time in her memoir, Yours Cruelly, Elvira .

Appearing on David Yontefs Behind the Velvet Rope podcast last week, Peterson said she lost thousands of social media followers shortly after her same-sex coupling was made public last fall. Still, she wasnt particularly vexed by the dip, and suggested that many of those disenchanted fans represented a very specific demographic.

I knew that there were going to be some horny old men out there who were just not going to like the fact that they didnt have a chance with me anymore, she said. And I hate to tell them they already didnt have a chance with me anyway.

Nobody was ready for that, she continued. People just said, Elvira, you lied to me. I dont respect you anymore. Goodbye.

Though Peterson said she initially lost about 11,000 followers after Yours Cruelly, Elvira hit shelves, shes since gained about 60,000 new ones, and is deeply grateful for their support.