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Entertainment

01st Nov 2021

Harold and Kumar actor Kal Penn comes out and announces engagement

Kieran Galpin

Kal Penn

Kal Penn gets candid

Kal Penn, perhaps best known for his appearance in the Harold and Kumar comedies, has come out as gay while also revealing he is engaged to his boyfriend of 11 years.

In his new memoir You Can’t Be Serious, which covers everything from his personal life to his career, Penn explains why he didn’t feel the need to tell anyone sooner.

He 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.”

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He also revealed that he met his partner whilst working for the Obama administration as Principal Associate Director for the Office of Public Engagement. For their first date, he says that Josh brought an 18-can pack of beer to watch NASCAR.

He explained in his book: “I thought, ‘This obviously is not going to work out’.

“I have one day off from The White House and this dude is unironically watching cars go around and make left turns? Next thing you know, it’s been a couple months and we’re watching NASCAR every Sunday. I’m like, ‘What is happening?'”

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He also touched on the idea of coming out, saying that there is no right time, nor should anyone rush to make such an admission.

“There’s no timeline on this stuff. People figure their s**t out at different times in their lives, so I’m glad I did when I did.

“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.”

Josh and Kal are currently planning their wedding.

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