# Has a celebrity ever "come out" as asexual? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 17, 2014, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-a-celebrity-ever-come-out-as-asexual/681544 "2014-02-17T16:06:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![monstro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@monstro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monstro)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2014, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-a-celebrity-ever-come-out-as-asexual/681544/1 "2014-02-17T16:06:13Z")
If so, what do you think the response would be? ---
**Author:** ![SanVito](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sanvito/32/2805_2.png) [@SanVito](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SanVito)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2014, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-a-celebrity-ever-come-out-as-asexual/681544/2 "2014-02-17T16:21:33Z")
Stephen Fry did years ago (though I’m not sure how serious he was, and he changed his mind and got a boyfriend). No idea what they thought in the US, but in the UK, well, he’s such an eccentric anyway I don’t think anyone thought much of it. ---
**Author:** ![DonLogan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/51bf81/32.png) [@DonLogan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DonLogan)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2014, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-a-celebrity-ever-come-out-as-asexual/681544/3 "2014-02-17T16:22:07Z")
Jeanane Garofalo. Response: People write on their blogs about it. ---
**Author:** ![Esco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9de053/32.png) [@Esco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Esco)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2014, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-a-celebrity-ever-come-out-as-asexual/681544/4 "2014-02-17T16:22:14Z")
There’s rumors Tom Cruise is, but thats probably all bullshit ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2014, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-a-celebrity-ever-come-out-as-asexual/681544/5 "2014-02-17T16:32:02Z")
> [@Esco](#): > > There’s rumors Tom Cruise is, but thats probably all bullshit And since he hasn’t come out as asexual, it doesn’t count. Paula Poundstone has said she was asexual. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2014, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-a-celebrity-ever-come-out-as-asexual/681544/6 "2014-02-17T16:33:43Z")
> [@Esco](#): > > There’s rumors Tom Cruise is, but thats probably all bullshit And that’s the problem. If you say you don’t have any sexual feelings, most people, regardless of their own orientation, will call bullshit. I have a friend who worked for a well-known comedian for years. My friend insists this person is asexual. I don’t know the comedian at all, have no reason to believe my friend is lying, yet STILL don’t believe it. ---
**Author:** ![Wendell\_Wagner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/8491ac/32.png) [@Wendell\_Wagner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wendell_Wagner)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2014, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-a-celebrity-ever-come-out-as-asexual/681544/7 "2014-02-17T16:37:28Z")
Janeane Garofalo claims to be asexual. That’s what it says in her Wikipedia entry. It’s also what she says at 18:15 in this YouTube video: > **[Janeane Garofalo](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Janeane_Garofalo)** > > Janeane Marie Garofalo (/dʒəˈniːn ɡəˈrɒfəloʊ/ jə-NEEN gə-ROF-ə-loh; born September 28, 1964) is an American comedian, actress, and former co-host on the now-defunct Air America Radio's The Majority Report. > Garofalo began her career as a stand-up comedian and became a cast member on The Ben Stiller Show, The Larry Sanders Show, and Saturday Night Live, then appeared in more than 50 movies, with leading or major roles in The Truth About Cats and Dogs, Wet Hot American Summer, The Matchmaker, Real... [![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fcSlwAjgJqU) At 20:25 in the same video, there’s a minute or two about the claim that Morrissey is asexual, as it says in his Wikipedia entry: > **[Morrissey](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morrissey)** > > Steven Patrick Morrissey (/ˈmɒrɪsi/ MORR-iss-ee; born 22 May 1959), known mononymously as Morrissey, is an English singer, songwriter and author. He came to prominence as the frontman and lyricist of rock band the Smiths, who were active from 1982 to 1987. Since then, he has pursued a successful solo career. Morrissey's music is characterised by his baritone voice and distinctive lyrics with recurring themes of emotional isolation, sexual longing, self-deprecating and dark humour, and anti-es... In each case, though, it appears that they weren’t claiming to be asexual their whole life, just some significant proportion of it. ---
**Author:** ![Kimstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecd19e/32.png) [@Kimstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimstu)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2014, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-a-celebrity-ever-come-out-as-asexual/681544/8 "2014-02-17T17:00:31Z")
> [@SanVito](#): > > Stephen Fry did years ago (though I’m not sure how serious he was, and he changed his mind and got a boyfriend). No idea what they thought in the US, but in the UK, well, he’s such an eccentric anyway I don’t think anyone thought much of it. Sorta. Stephen Fry came out as _celibate_, not asexual, in what was essentially a humorous article for _Tatler_ in the mid-80s. Though he has confirmed that he remained celibate for sixteen years straight (heh) during most of his 20’s and 30’s, I don’t think he’s ever claimed to be asexual. Simply not having sex, even for a long time, isn’t the same thing as fundamentally not having any physical desire for sex or attraction towards anyone as a potential sexual partner. I’d make the same distinction for many if not all of the other celebrities named here as “asexual”. Being bisexual, celibate by choice, or just plain too busy or depressed to have a sexual relationship doesn’t automatically equate to asexuality. ---
**Author:** ![LibrarySpy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f9ae1b/32.png) [@LibrarySpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LibrarySpy)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2014, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-a-celebrity-ever-come-out-as-asexual/681544/9 "2014-02-17T17:05:45Z")
Paula Poundstone has long claimed to be asexual. And is on this list of [asexual celebrities](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Asexual_women). I’ve just always assumed she was gay. But she probably would have come out already. Maybe she’s just asexual. ---
**Author:** ![Esco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9de053/32.png) [@Esco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Esco)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2014, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-a-celebrity-ever-come-out-as-asexual/681544/10 "2014-02-17T17:09:17Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > Paula Poundstone has said she was asexual Didnt she get caught with an underage girl or boy?? Or was she just emotionally and not sexually attracted to the child?? ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2014, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-a-celebrity-ever-come-out-as-asexual/681544/11 "2014-02-17T17:16:07Z")
> [@Esco](#): > > Didnt she get caught with an underage girl or boy?? > > Or was she just emotionally and not sexually attracted to the child?? she was charged with committing a lewd act with a 14 year old girl, but the prosecution asked that the charges be dropped. ---
**Author:** ![gytalf2000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ac91a4/32.png) [@gytalf2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gytalf2000)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2014, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-a-celebrity-ever-come-out-as-asexual/681544/12 "2014-02-17T17:18:34Z")
The horror writer H. P. Lovecraft (1890-1937), while not completely asexual (he was married briefly), had very little interest in sex. ---
**Author:** ![Esco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9de053/32.png) [@Esco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Esco)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2014, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-a-celebrity-ever-come-out-as-asexual/681544/13 "2014-02-17T17:23:21Z")
Man, I couldnt even fathom being asexual. I’m one of the horniest guys in the world, wind blows too hard and I have an erection 😃 ---
**Author:** ![boozilu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4da419/32.png) [@boozilu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/boozilu)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2014, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-a-celebrity-ever-come-out-as-asexual/681544/14 "2014-02-17T17:57:16Z")
Richard Simmons ---
**Author:** ![Malacandra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Malacandra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malacandra)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2014, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-a-celebrity-ever-come-out-as-asexual/681544/15 "2014-02-17T18:07:54Z")
> [@Kimstu](#): > > Sorta. Stephen Fry came out as _celibate_, not asexual, in what was essentially a humorous article for _Tatler_ in the mid-80s. > > Though he has confirmed that he remained celibate for sixteen years straight (heh) during most of his 20’s and 30’s, I don’t think he’s ever claimed to be asexual. Simply not having sex, even for a long time, isn’t the same thing as fundamentally not having any physical desire for sex or attraction towards anyone as a potential sexual partner. But I remember that essay, which was in an anthology of his stuff that I read probably 20 years ago and don’t have to hand, and IIRC some of the key points that he was making was that it was a fundamentally silly thing to be doing with someone else’s private parts, and wasn’t it more trouble than it was worth in a relationship because sometimes one of you would want to do it when the other one didn’t, and besides, he thought he wouldn’t be any good at it. Admittedly with Fry it’s not always easy to get through all the intellectual pretentiousness and discuss whatever he might be saying with detachment, but I would have thought that the preceding paragraph would put him firmly in the asexual camp, as might quotes such as these: > [@Stephen Fry](#): > > I would be greatly in the debt of the man who could tell me what could ever be appealing about those damp, dark, foul-smelling and revoltingly tufted areas of the body that constitute the main dishes in the banquet of love. > [@Stephen Fry](#): > > It’s probably easier to come out as a member of a satanic abuse ritual than to come out as celibate. People seem to think that there’s something wrong with you if you don’t indulge in these frothy, squelchy activities. Of course, that was then. ---
**Author:** ![stpauler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9d8465/32.png) [@stpauler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stpauler)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2014, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-a-celebrity-ever-come-out-as-asexual/681544/16 "2014-02-17T18:12:35Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > she was charged with committing a lewd act with a 14 year old girl, but the prosecution asked that the charges be dropped. The lewd act was being intoxicated around a minor to be specific. ---
**Author:** ![Wendell\_Wagner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/8491ac/32.png) [@Wendell\_Wagner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wendell_Wagner)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2014, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-a-celebrity-ever-come-out-as-asexual/681544/17 "2014-02-17T18:17:10Z")
And besides the Wikipedia entry that LibrarySpy links to, there’s this entry: > **[Category:Asexual men](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Asexual_men)** > > This category is for men who have publicly come out as asexual. > The following 15 pages are in this category, out of 15 total. This list may not reflect recent changes. ---
**Author:** ![LibrarySpy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f9ae1b/32.png) [@LibrarySpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LibrarySpy)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2014, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-a-celebrity-ever-come-out-as-asexual/681544/18 "2014-02-17T18:21:41Z")
> [@stpauler](#): > > The lewd act was being intoxicated around a minor to be specific. That. The minor was her adopted daughter, with whom she was caught drunk driving. ---
**Author:** ![buddha\_david](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ee7513/32.png) [@buddha\_david](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/buddha_david)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2014, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-a-celebrity-ever-come-out-as-asexual/681544/19 "2014-02-17T18:23:45Z")
Morrissey has for a long time claimed to be “[asexual & celibate](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morissey#Personal_life).” Which probably means he’s in the closet, not that it’s anybody’s business. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2014, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-a-celebrity-ever-come-out-as-asexual/681544/20 "2014-02-17T18:24:25Z")
> [@stpauler](#): > > The lewd act was being intoxicated around a minor to be specific. Two separate incidents. She was arrested for driving while intoxicated with her adopted/foster children in the car, and was convicted. Around the same time, she was also accused by her foster daughter of sexual abuse, but the accusation wasn’t credible (or possibly recanted), and all charges were dropped. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-a-celebrity-ever-come-out-as-asexual/681544.md?page=2)