Fashion mentor and television personality Tim Gunn has opened up with striking candor about his private life, specifically his long-standing commitment to celibacy. During a recent appearance on Chelsea Handler's "Dear Chelsea" podcast, the former "Project Runway" star revealed he has remained celibate for an astonishing 43 years, a decision rooted in profound heartbreak.
A Devastating Breakup That Changed Everything
Gunn, now 72, recounted a deeply serious nine-year relationship in Washington, D.C., that ended abruptly in 1982. "I loved this person deeply and would have done anything for him," Gunn shared, describing a partner he believed was his sole romantic connection. The relationship's conclusion was brutal and unexpected, occurring as the couple watched an episode of "M*A*S*H" together in bed.
"He said to me, 'I have no patience for you any longer. I want you to leave,'" Gunn explained. The fashion expert, who had been living with his partner for years despite having his own apartment, left immediately. "I had to pull off because I was hyperventilating. I was beside myself with self-flagellation and self-pity, and it was awful," he recalled, painting a vivid picture of the emotional turmoil.
The Revelation of Infidelity and Its Lasting Impact
Gunn did not name his ex-partner but noted they were coworkers, ensuring unavoidable future encounters. The night of the breakup, his ex disclosed a shocking truth: "He'd been sleeping with just about everything that walked by, and I had been loyal and faithful to him. He was the only person I'd ever been with."
This confession, coupled with the emerging HIV/AIDS crisis of the early 1980s, filled Gunn with "unbridled anger" and fear. "I thought he may have given me a death sentence," he admitted. Although he never tested positive for HIV, the trauma fundamentally altered his approach to relationships. "Whenever I was even tempted to engage in something that could become serious with someone, all this would come back like Niagara Falls, and it would just take the desire away," Gunn stated, explaining his sustained celibacy.
Celibacy as a Conscious Lifestyle Choice
Gunn has addressed his celibacy publicly before, including in his 2010 book, "Gunn's Golden Rules," and on ABC's now-defunct "The Revolution" in 2012. He emphasized it is a deliberate, personal decision. "Do I feel like less of a person because of it? No, not even remotely," he asserted. "It's not as though I'm some barren forest."
The fashion icon, who recently reunited with Heidi Klum for Amazon Prime Video's "Making the Cut," reflected on the adjustments of living alone and celibate. "It was a bit of an adjustment," he conceded, but added, "I wouldn't have it any other way." In fact, Gunn believes this lifestyle prepared him uniquely for the COVID-19 pandemic's isolation in 2020. "I'm probably one of the few people who really loved it," he quipped.
Celibacy in the Celebrity Sphere
Tim Gunn is not alone among public figures discussing celibacy. Musician Lenny Kravitz revealed in 2024 that he hadn't had sex in nine years, while actor Julia Fox cited the Supreme Court's 2022 abortion rights rollback as her motivation to abstain. Fox also clarified that her high-profile 2022 romance with rapper Ye, formerly Kanye West, involved no sexual activity, telling The New York Times there "wasn't any."
Gunn's heartfelt podcast interview offers a rare glimpse into the personal struggles behind his public persona, highlighting how past betrayal can shape lifelong choices. His story underscores celibacy as a valid, conscious path for some, even in the glamorous world of entertainment.
