News November 01, 2021
‘Harold & Kumar’ Star Kal Penn Comes Out as Gay While Announcing Engagement!

Kal Penn — an actor famous for starring in the “Harold & Kumar” film franchise — is revealing LOTS of exciting news in his upcoming book!
In his new book “You Can’t Be Serious” out Tuesday, the “Designated Survivor” star reveals he has been in a relationship with his partner Josh for the past 11 years, and that the two are engaged.
As detailed in the book, the two met and fell in love while Kal was living and working in Washington, D.C. — where he served in the Obama administration as the principal associate editor in the White House Office of Public Engagement.
While writing about their first date, Kal says he was surprised when Josh showed up to his apartment with an 18-pack of Coors Light and switched the TV to watch NASCAR.
“I thought, ‘This obviously is not going to work out,” Kal told People Sunday in an interview about his book. “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?’”
Though news of Kal and Josh’s relationship may be a surprise to many, Kal told People, “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,” Kal said to the magazine. “I’m really excited to share our relationship with readers.”
However, Kal does admit that “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.”
With regard to his sexuality, Kal says he discovered it “relatively late in life compared to many other people.”
“There’s no timeline on this stuff. People figure their ---- out at different times in their lives, so I’m glad I did when I did.”
Overall, Kal feels “very supported by everyone,” including his family.
“That’s a wonderful thing. I know everybody has different experiences with that and so I definitely feel very fortunate.”
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Congratulations to Kal and Josh on your engagement!