'Family Ties' mom: 'Yes, I'm a lesbian'

(CNN) – "Family Ties" actress Meredith Baxter made the media rounds Wednesday confirming the rumors that she is a lesbian.

"It was a later in life recognition," the actress explained to Matt Lauer on the "Today" show Wednesday.

The National Enquirer recently ran a story about Baxter being spotted on a lesbian cruise through the Caribbean with a "female friend," which was then picked up by celebrity blogs. As a result, the 62-year-old decided to tell her fans herself.

"I didn't want some tabloid to take the story and make it up," Baxter said in the interview. "I wanted it to be in my own words."

Baxter was also interviewed on Sirius XM Radio's "The Frank DeCaro Show."

Coming out was a difficult thing for the quiet actress to do. She told Lauer on "Today" that she's always "lived a very private life. To come out and disclose stuff is very antithetical" to who she is.

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