Kal Penn comes out as gay and reveals he is engaged to partner of 11 years

1 November 2021, 12:26 | Updated: 1 November 2021, 17:11

Kal Penn in 2020
Kal Penn has confirmed his sexuality in his autobiography. Picture: Taylor Hill/FilmMagic/Getty

By Jenny Mensah

The Harold & Kumar star has detailed his relationship with now-fiance Josh in his memoir entitled, You Can't Be Serious.

Listen to this article

Loading audio...

Kal Penn has come out as gay and revealed he is engaged to his partner of 11 years.

The Harold & Kumar and How I Met Your Mother star has detailed his secret relationship with his now-fiance in his new autobiography.

Speaking to People about the memoir, which is titled You Can't Be Serious, the Big Bang Theory star said: "I’ve always been very public with everybody I’ve personally interacted with. Whether it’s somebody that I meet at a bar, if Josh and I are out or we’re talking to friends.

"I’m really excited to share our relationship with readers. But Josh, my partner, my parents, and my brother, four people who I’m closest to in the family, are fairly quiet.

"They don’t love attention and shy away from the limelight."

Penn's blossoming romance with his partner, who is just named Josh in the book, and admitted he didn't see them going the distance after their first date, which saw Josh come over with an 18-pack of Coors Light to watch NASCAR on TV.

READ MORE: Elliot Page shares joyful milestone with shirtless pool photo of "first pool trunks"

The 44-year-old actor has revealed how he was on a break from acting and was working in the Barack Obama administration at the White House when he met his future husband.

Though Penn is only coming out to the world now, the actor has revealed already told his Indian parents and close friends and insisted it was "super easy" telling his loved ones, having already dropped the acting career bombshell on them.

He said: “I shared things with my parents and close friends first.

"I know this sounds jokey, but it’s true: When you’ve already told your Indian parents and the South Asian community that you intend to be an actor for a living, really any conversations that come after that are super easy.

"They’re just like, ‘Yeah, okay.’ I felt very supported by everyone. That’s a wonderful thing. I know everybody has different experiences with that and so I definitely feel very fortunate."

He continued: “I discovered my own sexuality relatively late in life compared to many other people. There’s no timeline on this stuff.

"People figure their s*** out at different times in their lives, so I’m glad I did when I did."

The book details the pair's blossoming romance, but Kal admitted he didn't see them going the distance after their first date, which saw Josh come over with an 18-pack of Coors Light to watch NASCAR on TV.

READ MORE: Pray Away - The harrowing true story of the "ex-gay" community in the Netflix film

TRENDING ON RADIO X

Liam and Noel Gallagher have triumphed in Radio X's biggest ever poll.

Live Forever by Oasis named winner of Radio X Best Of British 500 with B&Q

Classic Rock comeback albums from the likes of AC/DC, Aerosmith, David Bowie, Fleetwood Mac and more...

The 25 best Classic Rock comeback albums

Paul McCartney would have been "28 IF" he'd kept his shoes on crossing Abbey Road... or something.

The most famous musical conspiracy theories and hoaxes

Ian Curtis in 1980 and New Order in 1984

Why Joy Division changed their name to New Order

Music has been a form of protest for hundreds of years

From Lennon to Green Day: The 50 Greatest Protest Songs Uncovered