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Jim Parsons is gay. You heard it here first. Sort of. Back in 2010, we covered a story from The National Enquirer about Jim Parsons and his live-in boyfriend named Todd Spiewak and how Jim had proposed to Todd. Last year, The Enquirer also claimed that the engagement was “off” because Jim found out that Todd wanted kids, and Jim was all “Meh.” Anyway, Jim never really confirmed or denied his sexuality in interviews, and I think most people kind of just thought, “Eh. So what if he’s gay? He’s pretty funny.” Well… Jim just came out of the closet. And he did it in such an old-school way! During the course of a New York Times interview, the Times casually outs him. It’s so quaint and old-media! You can read the full NYT piece here (Jim is promoting his lead role in a Broadway production of Harvey) and here’s the blink-and-you’ll-miss-it reference to his sexuality:
By the winter of 2011 Mr. Parsons had won his first Emmy for “Big Bang” and was midway through Season 4 when he felt he was “spinning my wheels” as an actor, and began looking to do a play again. He landed the role of Tommy Boatwright, a young gay activist in “The Normal Heart” who bucks up the main characters in their fight against AIDS. The humanity and intensity of the play appealed to him, he said, just as Beckett and Büchner once did; in graduate school, too, his thesis project was a 15-minute performance piece about a mentally disabled death-row inmate, a psychiatrist and a murder victim’s father — all played by Mr. Parsons.
“The Normal Heart” resonated with him on a few levels: Mr. Parsons is gay and in a 10-year relationship, and working with an ensemble again onstage was like nourishment, he said. As the production was ending last summer, he heard that the Roundabout Theater Company was considering a revival of “Harvey” — initially with John C. Reilly under consideration for Elwood — and last November the play’s director, Scott Ellis, asked him and Ms. Hecht to do a private reading of the work in Los Angeles.
[From The New York Times]
Now, Parsons isn’t the one saying “I’m gay and I’ve been in a relationship with a man for ten years.” The NYT says it for him. If this was People Magazine, I would say that Parsons definitely approved that line and his publicist cosigned it. But this is the New York Times – did they just casually “out” an actor without his consent? Without directly quoting him? Weird.
I’m pretty sure the other dude in these photos is Todd Spiewak, Jim’s boyfriend/fiancé of 10 years.
Photos courtesy of Fame/Flynet and WENN.
Written by Kaiser
Posted in Gay Issues, Jim Parsons
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Where’s the news? He thanked Tod during his acceptance speech of the Golden Globe.
I don’t think he was in the closet, he lived his life without making his personal life public.
But I agree with Michael K. I can’t believe he is 39 years old!
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Yeah, he never hid his sexuality or relationship.
Cute boyfriend
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Agree w/ both your sentences.
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Right! Who cares if he’s gay. What is his skincare routine he looks amazing to be 39 years old!
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Oh my heck! Talking about his sexuality is old hat by now, so his age is the true surprise. I knew he was in his thirties, but I no IDEA he’s looking 40 in the face. In its face, because his face certainly doesn’t betray it. Necromancy, I’ll bet. Necromancy, holy water, goat placenta and a suit made of fresh papaya.
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They’re adorable!!
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i know! the guy looks 16! i was totally shocked. i mean, i would have given him 25 at the very most.
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I want to know his skin care routine too!
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I know! It’s the skinniness, too, that made me think he was younger.
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He’s gay. Bazinga!
Double bazinga!
You are absolutely right, he did thank his partner on his speech. No news there. I love the big bang theory!
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Bazinga, I don’t care! LOL. Saw that episode recently. Love it!
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That’s exactly what I thought when I read all the headlines yesterday too: He’s thanked his partner before so how is this news? Plus, I think I also remember him talking on Letterman (maybe?) once about marrying his partner.
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I read this bit of ‘news’ yesterday and realized that people obviously don’t pay any attention at all at the acceptance speeches people make when they win awards. This is not news.
And really, its not surprising anyways. And really, who cares!
Love me some BBT!
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Sheldon always did ping my gaydar. That and the fact that he found girls “icky”.
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I’m not one of those people who can tell by looking at someone if they’re gay or not buuuuut I thought he’d already mentioned it before or something? *Shrugs* I love Jim, he’s hilarious.
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Not that it really matters, but he didn’t exactly hide it did he? Anywho, next to Amy Farrah Fowler, Sheldon is my favorite character, he’s amazingly good and I could care less what Jim does in his private life.
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I thought he was already out. I’ve seen pictures of him in the past with Spiewak and the captions would say “Jim Parsons and his boyfriend” or something to that effect.
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I’m fairly convinced he was never “in” the closet.
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IMO, Sheldon and Amy or Shamy are the definition of getting there is half the fun. These two are so socially arrested, although Amy is further along in her development, it makes for some funny and surprisingly sweet moments.
As long as an actor has chemistry with the person he/she is paired with on-screen, it doesn’t matter. And Jim and Mayim have chemistry. And for that matter, he has chemistry with Kaley as well, albeit it’s more like a brother-sister relationship.
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The official coming out of Jim Parsons will in no way hinder my undying love for Shamy. Nor my embarrassing desire to finally see them do it. OUTSIDE of the lab people!
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ha, I have a feeling that it will be all kinds of awkward-and I’ll love every minute of it
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What if Sheldon is as good at sex, as much as he is good at ballroom dancing, physics, singing, etc. etc.
!!!!???
Can you imagine Amy afterwards? Squealing and giving uncomfortable details to her besty??? ROFL.
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marie, I thought her name was Amy Ferafowler. Didn’t realize Farrah was her middle name. I feel stupid.
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A total non issue wether he’s gay or not. I enjoy watching him in The Big Bang Theory. What he does in his private life should not be a concern to others.
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I agree and disagree. I agree that it’s a non-issue, as in ‘whatever consenting adults do, yada yada’. I agree that it *should* not be a concern to others.
However, there’s still enough homophobia out there that everyone who’s famous and popular and out can help sway things so that homophobia becomes less and less socially acceptable.
Once society is at a point that there aren’t campaigns to boycott a major department store because they hire a spokesperson who is gay, and when we’re at a point where all the heterosexuals casually mention their partners and homosexuals don’t have to be silent, and when people aren’t actually being beaten to death for being gay, then I think we can say it’s truly a non-issue.
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Couldn’t have said it better myself!
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What about the people who are being beaten to death for just being annoying?
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Co-sign.
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They’re such a cute couple. I love him.
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No shit! Tell me something I don’t know.
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How is this a news headline?… he wasn’t in the closet.
He’s awesome.
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There have been more than one time he has indicated he is gay. So what? It’s not like it was a secret. It doesn’t take away from his ability to act.
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I thought everyone knew…
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So did I. I was bewildered by the imdb headline yesterday and mentioned it to friends. Every single one of them said something along the lines of “I know, why is this news?”
Also, damn you and your youthful looks Jim, DAMN YOU!
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Right! “Jim Parsons is gay!!” And? The sky is blue, the grass is green and the global economy is screwed…NEXT.
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Love him.
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shocker.
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Yeah Matt Bomer 2.0.
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Who cares?! As long as he’s happy.
BTW CUTE CUTE CUTE couple!!
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I love BBT and Jim Parsons makes the show! He has good taste, his boyfriend is really cute.
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i used to believe that sheldon cooper was closeted to himself and that he would discover his own gayness eventually. but then i stopped watching at season 3 i read somewhere that he does find love later on, but with a woman. so that was a disappointment. aside from studying 3po’s walk and such, i read some people saying parson’s wasn’t such a good actor after all, he was just playing an exaggarated version of himself basically. and those suspicions were confirmed when i saw his speech at the emmies where he sounded exactly like sheldon. so where is the acting? i wish somebody else got the award… so many brilliant actors are never even nominated. the mafioso characters in boardwalk empire and sam in true blood come to mind. juan in the borgias and alfie allen in game of thrones are really great too they catch the eye recently.
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I’m sorry to say I agree with you, that his acting isn’t exactly a metamorphosis. I can’t believe they’ve given him ‘Best Lead Actor in a Comedy’ Emmys 2 years in a row!
(I think the last Emmys, it was Steve Carrell’s last chance too, which pissed me off.)
I don’t dislike Jim Parsons, he seems wonderfully nice. I just don’t agree that he’s best actor the last two years.
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^^This a hundred times.
Plus Sheldon is an example of really really lazy writing. Hes the kind of character Seinfeld was mocking with Kramer. The guy whos so wierd that we should laugh as soon as he walks in. Lowest common denominator nonsense.
But yeah, this “coming out” if you can even call it that was obviously planned. They are going for the low key approach like Matt Bomer. Whatever. Who didnt know?
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Agreed!! And just think, John C McGinley has never won an Emmy!! That man is absolutely amazing and the sheer amount of superb television roles he has had boggles my mind. I can’t believe he never won during the 8 years Scrubs was on.
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I was pretty sure this was common knowledge. If not, the trendy button fly jeans are a total giveaway. He is a-dor-a-ble.
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They look alike.
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Button fly jeans are trendy again? AWESOME! My 1980s self feels vindicated. Eat-it friends who think flare legs are fashionable! It’s gonna be a long coupla decades for you.
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Bazinga!!!
I love him so much, the best character ever, and such a good actor. i could never remember those lines not even if i was a real physicist!
Best of luck Jim!
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No sh-t, Sherlock….Not that is matters, he happens to be an AMAZING actor. And terribly hilarious…I love him, I love him, I love him!!
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Ohhh he is so adorable, look at his smile!
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They make a cute couple.
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He thanked his partner on stage during one of those award shows on TV (Emmys or GG). Then everyone reported it the next day so the Times wasn’t the one to out him. He outed himself by choice.
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Can we please, please, PLEASE leave this whole sexuality issue alone?! I don’t care how people live their lives, just as long as both people in the relationship are happy. Why are stories like this still considered news?
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Love him, don’t care if he’s gay.
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Parsons is such a really great guest on talk shows. Especially on Craig Ferguson. He is just so funny and willing to talk about anything.
But yea, I don’t believe he is “coming out” since he has always been out.
I am curious if anyone else is wondering what has been up with Sheldon’s hair this year on BBT. It looks like he is wearing a dang toupee!
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I was going to comment to specifically point out how he acts on talk shows and such. Those who say he is exactly like Sheldon…yes and no. He is a little awkward, but he is totally adorable on awards shows. He is funny, doesn’t mind making fun of himself, and is totally down to Earth. I just love Jim Parsons and I love that he has such a hot boyfriend!
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This is hardly news, he has always been pretty open about it at least I thought he has been.
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Gah, such a cute couple. Love him!
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This really made my day, they look so happy 2gether!
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Hasn’t he been out for forever? I’m pretty sure I read an interview featuring him when big bang first started (in 2007, 2008?) where he touched on the subject. I think people didn’t really pick up on it then because it was still a fledgling show and it’s completely irrelevant. He’s a gay actor. That’s like saying there’s cars on the highway. I fail to see the hoopla.
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I am happy for Jim Parsons. He and Todd are adorable together.
Big Bang Theory is one of my favorite shows, and Sheldon is an unforgettable character.
And, I want to know how Jim Parsons manages to look so darned young? Of only he’d share that secret with me!!
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Yeah this is kinda like when magazines started outing Rosie Odonnell and there were three old people in the Midwest who were shocked and horrified.
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Duh!!
Shocker would have been if he was straight, like that Mark Owen from Take That!
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Cosign.I’ve always assumed he was gay just by looking at him.
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i do not follow all news about him but i was always sure he talked openly about it. dont know why.
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“duh”, said everyone , ever.
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Really? Oh wow – big surprise! Why is this being commented on? It’s his business, his deal. It’s not like we ever thought he was anything else….or cared or even thought about it.
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jim parsons, pride of houston, tx
he looks young ’cause of southern humidity!
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I can’t wait for the day when it’s no longer *gasp* news if someone is gay or not. It’s seriously f*cking insulting.
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Now, after all the comments about his not so closed sexuality,let’s talk about something serious Mr. Parson can you pleas tell us YOUR BEAUTY ROUTINE??? How can this man be 39???
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39??????? holly jesus! what´s the secret???
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he def looks a decade younger than he is… lucky guy!
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I just LOVE him!! I only got into BBT this year but am hooked. I always new he was gay even w/o looking it up but he’s still one of my celebrity crushes.
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From the comments I read, people seemed more surprised to learn that the guy that plays Howard on TBBT was married and his wife just had a baby (rather than Jim being gay).
Whatever, the whole cast on that show is adorable and seem so sweet and kind. I wish the best to them all…
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As if we didn’t already know he was gay.. It’s just something you can pick up on.
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The headline for this post should have read, ‘Jim Pearson-that Bitch is 40!!!’
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Oh it so should’ve.
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Why is this brought up and who cares? He is brilliant in BBT. Love ya, Jim!
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he is adorable, but i still think that show is lame.
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one of my favorite programs on television..remember the episode when Penny gives Sheldon a Christmas gift? When I’m facing an unkind world, I slip it into the DVD and laugh and laugh and then I face the crap with a smile on my face. Who really cares about his sexual orientation, he is simply a delight.
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And he gave her ALL his gift baskets ! Even my so above it SO laughed
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She gave him Leonard Nimoy’s DNA on a napkin!!!
Of course she deserved all those gift baskets. It wasn’t even enough, oh but for the hug!
Live long and prosper. Gay or straight.
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I agree that it’s pretty weird that the New York Times just casually printed that… but it’s also kind of amazing. No fanfare (unless they’re promoting that detail to other media outlets; are they?) and no huge cover story, just stating a fact that has been known but never officially confirmed.
I imagine it’d be the same way for a heterosexual, longtime couple that had yet to give an interview about each other. Gives me hope that my grandchildren (I’m 24) will live in a world that has no concept of being “outed.”
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Love Love Love Jim Parsons! So great that he’s had a 10 year relationship with a guy who makes him happy.
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He IS the Big Bang in the Big Bang Theory.He is so funny.And he looks sooo young.
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I knew he was gay since Garden State. The whole movie, though he was acting I still called it. I just knew.
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