Tim Gunn is opening up about one of the most personal decisions of his life.
During the Feb. 19 episode of Chelsea Handler’s podcast “Dear Chelsea,” the former “Project Runway” judge revealed that he has been celibate for 43 years following the end of a devastating nine-year relationship. Gunn, 72, shared that the breakup and its aftermath shaped the course of his romantic life in ways he never expected.
Gunn said he was deeply in love with his former partner, whom he lived with in Washington, D.C. He recalled the night the relationship ended while the two were in bed watching “MAS*H.” His partner told him, “I have no patience for you any longer. I want you to leave.” Gunn said he drove back to his apartment in distress, describing feelings of overwhelming self-pity and heartbreak.
The Betrayal That Changed Everything
The emotional toll intensified when his former partner admitted to repeated infidelity during their relationship. Gunn explained on the podcast that his ex told him he had been “sleeping with just about everything that walked by,” while Gunn had remained loyal. He also revealed that his ex was the only person he had ever been with.
Because the breakup took place in the early 1980s during the height of the AIDS crisis, Gunn said he feared he may have contracted HIV. He was tested every six months for a decade and ultimately received negative results. However, the experience left a lasting impact.
He told Handler that whenever he felt tempted to pursue something serious with someone new, the memories of betrayal and fear would resurface and “take the desire away.” Over time, Gunn said he adjusted to living alone and ultimately chose celibacy.
“I wouldn’t have it any other way,” he said.
A Second Chance at Love And Regret
Gunn’s recent comments also echo a 2011 essay he wrote for Newsweek about what he called his “last great love affair.” In that piece, he reflected on meeting a flight attendant named Daniel years after his initial heartbreak. He described the relationship as easy and promising but said he ended it after a close friend disapproved. Looking back, Gunn admitted he regretted that decision and ultimately lost both the romance and the friendship.
Elsewhere on “Dear Chelsea,” Gunn also addressed not being asked back for the 2025 reboot of “Project Runway.” While he said the rejection was “devastating at first,” he added that he feels grateful for his 19 seasons on the show and the experiences he had alongside Heidi Klum.
For Gunn, the conversation was less about regret and more about reflection. After decades of living on his own terms, he summed up his choice simply: “Now, I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
