'Project Runway' Judge Tim Gunn, 72, Reveals Why He Remained Celibate for 43 Years

For decades, the beloved fashion mentor quietly avoided physical intimacy, leaving many to wonder why. The answer goes back to one shocking confession, a terrifying moment in 1982, that he never truly forgot.

On February 19, 2026, Tim Gunn, 72, addressed the deeply personal topic of his celibacy during an appearance on the "Dear Chelsea" podcast.

After some banter with the host, Chelsea Handler, he explained the personal wound that led to the life-altering decision he kept for over four decades.

A Joke About Romance Takes a Turn

The podcast began with some light introductions and chit-chat, but Handler quickly launched into this heavy topic in her typical humorous fashion.

"First of all, I want to talk to you about your celibacy. Let's talk about that," she said, adding that his celibacy was one of the reasons she thought they could make it as a couple.

She joked that there would be no pressure between them. They could enjoy each other's company, tell the other person to get out of their space when needed, and never worry about getting intimate.

Gunn played along. "I'll leave you alone," he joked.

Handler continued the bit, insisting it sounded ideal.

"Exactly. It's perfect," Gunn replied.

Then she asked directly, "How long have you been celibate, Tim?"

"I've been in New York for 42 years. 43 years," he answered.

Handler reacted with surprise. "Wow. So this was a choice that you made. Tell me about that choice."

Gunn paused before replying, "Well, I would keep a psychiatrist very busy."

Handler laughed and responded, "That's great because I'm also a psychiatrist."

"You're a good one," Gunn shot back, before explaining where it all began.

An Abrupt Ending

Before becoming a steady presence on "Project Runway," Gunn was living in Washington, D.C., in a serious relationship that lasted nine years.

"I loved this person deeply and would have done anything for him," he said.

This moment remains crystal clear in his memory.

"We were in bed watching 'M*A*S*H.' It was a first run," Gunn recalled and revealed that his partner suddenly turned to him and said, "I have no patience for you any longer. I want you to leave."

Gunn had his own apartment, but he had been living with that person for years. Still, he packed up and left that night.

He drove to his apartment along Rock Creek Parkway but had to pull over because he couldn't breathe properly. He was drowning in his emotions, feeling worthless.

This was also someone he worked with, so it was not a clean break where he could simply disappear. But there's something even worse.

A Confession That Sparked Terror

Gunn said one of the things his former boyfriend told him was that he had been "sleeping with just about everything that walked by."

Gunn had been completely loyal. In fact, that man was the only one he had ever been with.

But the timing made the betrayal far more frightening. It was 1982, during the early and deadly days of the AIDS crisis.

"The self-pity then turned to completely unbridled anger because I thought he may have given me a death sentence," Gunn admitted.

For 10 years afterward, he was tested for HIV every six months.

"Thankfully, I had a clean slate," he said.

Handler responded with relief. But Gunn's life still changed significantly.

Why He Never Went Back

Although he remained HIV negative, the emotional fallout lingered.

"Whenever I was even tempted to engage in something that could become serious with someone, all this would come back like Niagara Falls, and it would just take the desire away," Gunn explained.

Over time, celibacy became his way of protecting himself.

He acknowledged that living alone and abstaining from intimacy took adjustment. But eventually, it felt natural.

He even admitted that during COVID and the pandemic lockdowns, when many struggled with isolation, he found comfort in it.

"We had to stay home, and I'm probably one of the few people who really loved it," Gunn shared before moving on to other topics of conversation.

A Life Focused on Fashion and Mentorship

While his personal life remained private, Gunn built an extraordinary professional career.

Born in Washington, D.C., he began working at Parsons The New School for Design in the early 1980s and eventually became chair of the department of fashion design. During summer hiatuses, he joined the hit series "Project Runway," which premiered in 2004.

According to his IMDb, Gunn served as a mentor for 16 seasons and became a producer from 2011 to 2017. He also executive-produced "Project Runway Junior" from 2015 to 2017 and worked alongside Heidi Klum again on "Making the Cut" from 2020 to 2022.

Though he left "Project Runway" in 2017, his influence remains undeniable.

Reflecting on the Runway Years

In 2025, Gunn looked back on his time with the franchise in an exclusive interview with People.

"In many ways, season 1 will always be my favorite because it was the first. It's like your first child," he said, noting that after 32 years of teaching, he feels like a parent to many designers.

When it comes to talent, however, he singled out season 13, which aired in 2023 and crowned Sean Kelly as the winner.

"There were so many extraordinarily talented designers," Gunn said. "It was always so difficult for the judges to choose a winner, and that's exactly what you want."

He added that the finale still makes him tear up. But not every season impressed him.

"I'm not a fan," he said of season 14. "I thought the work was very lackluster."

He remembered hitting the table in the workroom because he wanted the designers to do better. Their work back then looked too boring. In his eyes, people could buy those same clothes at any store, so he did not think anyone would like their designs.

Still, Gunn never took credit for anyone's success, and he was only there to give feedback. But he would also warn designers not to create looks based on what they think judges want.

"If you're not confident in what you're presenting, it doesn't matter," he said.

And once contestants leave the show, he keeps a boundary. He does not initiate contact.

More than four decades after that painful night in 1982, Gunn has no regrets.

The heartbreak, the fear, and the decade of medical testing shaped him. But they did not define him. Instead, they led him to a life centered on independence, mentorship, and personal peace.