 Karofsky was initially used as an ordinary jock bully , but Adler 's acting impressed show co @-@ creator Ryan Murphy ; he expanded Karofsky 's role in the show 's second season by having him especially target gay glee club member Kurt Hummel ( Chris Colfer ) , only to turn out to be gay himself , though closeted . That revelation sparked a wave of reaction from people who thought it was important for Glee to show " the confusion and the torture one person can put themselves through being closeted " . Reviewers have been impressed with Adler 's portrayal of Karofsky , including Michael Slezak of TVLine , who in the second season characterized it as " surprisingly nuanced " and with a " terrific amount of depth " , and Billboard 's Rae Votta , who wrote in the third season , " As always , Kurt and Karofsky 's scenes shine as the strongest in whichever episode they 're featured . " 
