NEW YORK — Fashion mentor and Emmy Award-winning television personality Tim Gunn is making headlines this week after opening up about his deeply personal life, revealing the “devastating” reasons behind his four-decade-long celibacy and his recent departure from the franchise that made him a household name.
During a candid appearance on the February 19 episode of the Dear Chelsea podcast with Chelsea Handler, the 72-year-old Project Runway alum shared that he has been celibate for 43 years. Gunn traced the decision back to a traumatic breakup in the early 1980s involving a partner of nine years who had been unfaithful.
“I had a very serious nine-year relationship,” Gunn explained, noting that the betrayal was so profound it changed his outlook on intimacy entirely. He described the emotional fallout as “devastating,” adding that subsequent health scares during the height of the AIDS crisis further cemented his choice to abstain from sexual relationships. Despite the long period of solitude, Gunn told Handler he has “no complaints” and has found fulfillment in his academic and professional pursuits.
“I Wasn’t Invited to the Party”: Project Runway Snub
The revelation comes as Gunn also addresses his future with Project Runway. Fans were shocked to learn that the beloved mentor will not be returning for the upcoming Season 22. Gunn admitted that the news was difficult to process initially, revealing that producers essentially told his agent, “We don’t want him.”
“I wasn’t invited back to the party,” Gunn said during the podcast. “It was devastating at first.” However, the fashion guru, known for his catchphrase “Make it work,” appears to be taking his own advice. He noted that while the transition was an adjustment, he is now at peace with the decision and is looking forward to new chapters in his storied career.
A Legacy of Style and Mentorship
Born in Washington, D.C., in 1953, Tim Gunn has been a pillar of the American fashion industry for over 40 years. He joined the faculty of Parsons School of Design in 1982—the same year his long-term relationship ended—and eventually rose to become the chair of the fashion department.
Gunn’s transition to television in 2004 as the mentor on Project Runway earned him critical acclaim and a 2013 Primetime Emmy Award. Beyond the screen, he is a New York Times bestselling author and a respected academic who has shaped the careers of countless designers. While his absence from the next season of Project Runway marks the end of an era, Gunn remains an influential figure in fashion, continuing to advocate for quality, taste, and “making it work” in all aspects of life.