Why Project Runway’s Tim Gunn Has Been Celibate for 43 Years

Tim Gunn loves his life exactly the way it is.

As a lifestyle expert, I’ve always been fascinated by the stories behind the people we see in the public eye. It turns out some of the choices made by that former Project Runway mentor actually stemmed from really personal struggles. For instance, he chose to remain celibate for 43 years, and that deeply impacted how he approached things. It just goes to show you never truly know what someone is going through, and it can definitely influence their decisions.

Tim recently shared a story with Chelsea Handler on her podcast, Dear Chelsea, about a nine-year relationship he had in Washington, D.C. He described loving his partner very much and being completely devoted to him. He recalled the painful night the relationship ended: they were watching the original broadcast of MASH* in bed when his partner abruptly told him he’d had enough and asked him to move out. Although Tim had his own place, he’d been living with his partner for years and left immediately.

Because they used to work together, he knew he’d continue to see his ex even after their breakup, and that made the pain even worse.

She explained that he confessed to having many sexual partners. She was shocked, as she had been completely faithful to him throughout their relationship and he was her only partner. This was happening in 1982, around the time AIDS was first becoming known.

He explained that his initial sadness quickly transformed into intense rage, as he feared the encounter might have been fatal. For ten years, he underwent HIV testing every six months, but thankfully, the results were always negative.

Even though he was in good health, the co-host of Marking the Cut shared that a previous relationship had altered his perspective on future relationships.

He explained that whenever he felt even a little attracted to someone, memories of this past experience would flood back, overwhelming any romantic interest and stopping him from pursuing a relationship.

Although it wasn’t an easy change, Tim is grateful for how his life looks now.

He admitted it took some getting used to being both celibate and living on his own. However, he now says he wouldn’t change it for the world.

Sex wasn’t a major focus for the TV personality, though it had caused problems in a previous relationship.

He explained to People magazine in 2010 that a lot of his ex-boyfriend’s claims of being ‘over it’ really centered around sex. He shared that he’s always been somewhat asexual, and that breakup was a major wake-up call. He even joked that people often wonder if he has sex, given he hasn’t been in a relationship since 1982, and confirmed that, yes, that’s true!

Tim isn’t the only celebrity who’s been open about their intimate life. Here’s more from other stars who’ve shared similar stories.

The well-known fashion mentor, formerly on Project Runway, revealed in February 2026 that he hasn’t been in a relationship for over forty years, following a painful split.

He confessed to Chelsea Handler on her podcast, Dear Chelsea, that he’d been having many casual encounters. He explained this happened around 1982, at the beginning of the AIDS epidemic, and revealed he had been exclusively with me, having never been with anyone else.

He explained that his initial sadness quickly transformed into intense anger, as he feared the encounter might have been fatal. For ten years, he was regularly tested for HIV every six months, but thankfully, the results were always negative.

Whenever he started to connect with someone, he was immediately reminded of a deeply painful experience from his past.

He explained that whenever he felt even a little attracted to someone, memories of this past experience would flood back, overwhelming any romantic feelings and stopping him from pursuing a relationship.

In December 2025, the country singer revealed that his relationship with his wife, Bunnie Xo, had suffered due to intimacy issues before he lost 200 pounds.

He explained on the Joe Rogan Experience podcast that it wasn’t his wife’s fault, saying, “I married a stunning blonde woman, and I knew what I was getting into.”

Jelly Roll, whose real name is Jason Bradley DeFord, described how difficult intimacy became after gaining weight. He explained to Joe that his wife is incredibly supportive and always knows how to make him smile, even when he’s upset. However, he admitted that his weight gain made sex physically challenging, joking that it felt like ‘playing Twister’ just to connect, and he’d have to ask his wife if she could feel anything. He said the situation was really tough.

Okay, so I’ve been following everything about Brooks and his girlfriend, and let me tell you, it’s insane! Apparently, his sister, Grace Ann Nader, let slip that things got way more than just dancing between her and Gleb Savchenko from ‘Dancing With the Stars’. Like, they weren’t just practicing their routines, if you know what I mean! I knew there was something special happening, and now it’s confirmed! I’m totally obsessed with them!

In a May 2025 appearance on the Chicks In the Office podcast, Grace Ann shared that whenever she went to Brooks’s trailer, it would visibly shake. She admitted she was hesitant to enter, always knocking first.

After recently ending her relationship with Billy Haire, Brooks playfully suggested that their living situation – staying in a trailer – might have been the reason they didn’t win.

In her 2025 memoir, Brooke Shields Is Not Allowed to Get Old, Brooke Shields openly discussed her intimate life with her husband, Chris Henchy.

She described the natural changes women experience with age, including hair thinning, unwanted facial hair, weight gain, vaginal dryness, and decreased libido. She also expressed feeling less attractive to her partner as a result of these changes, even when she’s not trying to impress him, as reported by People magazine.

Furthermore, she said being intimate can be painful for her now.

Brooke explained that to really enjoy intimacy now, she needs a few things: her favorite lotions, comfortable clothes for bed (though she joked they might be part of the issue!), a special pillow, and sometimes a little tequila to help her unwind.

Katy Perry shared a surprising story about how she showed her appreciation to ex-boyfriend Orlando Bloom – she didn’t just say ‘thank you’ when he did the dishes!

During a September 2024 episode of the Call Her Daddy podcast, Katy told Alex Cooper that if she comes downstairs to a spotless kitchen – dishes done, pantry doors closed, the works – she’ll be very appreciative… and ready for intimacy.

Chelsea is known for openly discussing her intimate experiences. She famously revealed that a threesome with her and her then-partner’s masseuse contributed to the end of her relationship with Ted Harbert in 2010.

After getting a discouraging text from her ex, she felt she needed to clarify things.

Chelsea explained on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon in October 2023 that she wanted to make it clear that the reason for her breakup was not what people thought.

I’ve been open about having multiple sexual partners with my husband, and that information is already public. I want to be clear that we didn’t split up because I had an affair with our masseuse – that simply isn’t true.

The America’s Got Talent judge doesn’t have any hidden secrets, though some of their fashion choices might raise a few eyebrows.

She jokingly refers to a large closet as her “sex closet.” Speaking on The Skinny Confidential Him & Her Show podcast in September 2024, she explained it’s filled with a variety of items. “It’s just a space where I keep a lot of things,” she said, mentioning things like outfits, wigs, shoes, and boots.

She even revealed that her daughter Leni Klum accidentally encountered the space.

In a January 2024 episode of the Call Her Daddy podcast, Heidi revealed that someone discovered her “sex closet.” She explained that the person immediately understood what it was, and even filmed it with a friend, which left Heidi feeling mortified. She said, “Oh my God,” in response to the situation.

John shared a behind-the-scenes look into what filming a sex scene is really like.

He explained on the August 2024 episode of Club Shay Shay that the situation wasn’t personal at all, and he found it quite embarrassing.

He recently reflected on his experience in the 2015 film Trainwreck, admitting he hadn’t anticipated the nature of the scenes he’d be filming with Amy Schumer.

He described Amy as wonderful, saying she created a really comfortable atmosphere. Then, after he got the role, he was surprised to learn it involved extensive and complicated sex scenes with stunts. They also told him most of his lines wouldn’t be used, as they were focusing on these scenes.

Shailene Woodley, who describes herself as comfortable with sexuality, has expressed strong disapproval of pornography, comparing it to unhealthy, empty indulgence.

In a September 2024 appearance on the She MD podcast, she explained that the way sex is typically portrayed in this country feels artificial and performative, lacking genuine intimacy, vulnerability, and connection.

It’s crucial for people to experience pleasure, but we often prevent each other from doing so, maybe because we don’t realize what’s truly possible. I think porn is a prime example – it offers a basic, fast-food experience when it could be so much more fulfilling and imaginative.

Goldie Hawn, after being with Kurt Russell for four years, shared her key to making a relationship last.

In a September 2024 interview with TopMob News, she emphasized the importance of a satisfying sex life, explaining that it fosters connection and strengthens relationships. She believes healthy sexual intimacy contributes to long-lasting bonds, not just through the physical act itself, but through the emotional warmth and closeness it builds.

As a longtime fan, I was so interested to hear Ice-T share what he believes keeps his marriage with Coco Austin strong after all these years – and it turns out intimacy plays a big part! It’s refreshing to hear him be so open about what works for them.

“Jungle sex,” he told TopMob News in January 2024. “That flame has to stay lit.”

He explained that once the initial spark fades and you lose that emotional or physical connection, it’s important to deal with it right away, because addressing it is essential for the relationship’s health.

For Demi, there’s nothing wrong with feeling confident in the bedroom.

Okay, so I was listening to the LadyGang podcast, and she said something that just resonated with me, honestly. She was talking about feeling her most confident during sex, and it totally makes sense! She explained that you’re just so in the moment, completely present, that all the usual worries and anxieties that cloud your thinking all day just… disappear. It’s like a mental reset. She was quick to say it’s not the same for everyone, but for me, as a huge fan who overthinks everything, it just clicked. It’s like, finally, someone gets it!

Lisa Rinna recently opened up about how getting older has changed things in the bedroom with her husband, Harry Hamlin, after many years of marriage.

The actress recently told Cosmopolitan that men’s levels of desire naturally change over time. She explained that it’s important for women to understand this as a normal part of life and not take it personally. She believes relationships evolve to be more about companionship and accepting the natural fluctuations in sexual desire.

She explained that their sex life was still good, though it wasn’t as frequent as it had been when they were younger – something she considered perfectly normal.

Zoe and her husband Marco have created a code word to talk about sex around their kids.

During an April 2024 appearance on The Drew Barrymore Show, Marco jokingly said they “play Legos naked.” Zoe quickly explained he meant they’re intimate with each other.

But the couple worried that their older twin boys were catching onto the lingo.

Zoe remembered people asking if they were kissing or planning to play without clothes, even mentioning Legos. She said they quickly replied that wasn’t going to happen.

2026-02-23 17:51

Read More