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Tim Gunn, the former mentor of Project Runway, recently opened up about why he has chosen celibacy for over 40 years. Speaking candidly on Chelsea Handler’s “Dear Chelsea” podcast, Gunn, aged 72, shared that a painful breakup led him to this personal decision.
During the podcast episode aired on February 19, Gunn recounted his experience following the end of a significant relationship in Washington, D.C. “I was deeply in love with this person and would have done anything for him,” Gunn revealed to Handler, 50. “I vividly remember the night it ended. We were watching M*A*S*H in bed when he told me he had no patience for me anymore and wanted me to leave. Although I had my own apartment, I had been living with him for years. I left that night, and on my way home, I had to pull over because I was hyperventilating from the shock and self-recrimination. It was a terrible experience.”
Gunn, who served as an executive producer for Project Runway from its launch in 2004 until 2017, explained that his ex-partner was a colleague. “It wasn’t as if I would never see him again,” he stated. Gunn also disclosed that his former partner admitted to being unfaithful, saying, “He had been with just about everyone who came along, while I remained loyal and faithful. He was the only person I’d ever been with.”
In another interview with People, Tim Gunn, now 71, delved into the origins of his iconic Project Runway catchphrase, “make it work.” He explained that the phrase emerged during his time teaching a class spanning 30 weeks, demonstrating his knack for encouragement and problem-solving.
Barbara Nitke / ©Lifetime / courtesy Everett Collection Tim Gunn has revealed the true story behind his unforgettable Project Runway catchphrase “make it work.” “I’ll tell you the catalyst for [‘make it work’],” Gunn, 71, told People in an interview published on February 20. “I was teaching a two-semester-long class – 30 weeks – with […]
He continued, “The self pity then turned to completely unbridled anger because I thought he may have given me a death sentence. Of course, and I was tested every six months for ten years for HIV and thankfully I had a clean slate. But 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, who currently produces and stars alongside former Project Runway host Heidi Klum in the reality fashion series Making the Cut, added that remaining celebate wasn’t easy.
“I have to say, being celibate and being someone who lives alone was a bit of an adjustment, but now I wouldn’t have it any other way,” he said. Gunn is currently single and typically keeps details regarding his private life close to his chest.
Over the years, many celebrities have opened up about their personal choice to abstain from sex, whether it’s for a few months or until marriage. In October 2021, Nick Cannon made headlines when he announced his decision to stay celibate after welcoming his seventh child earlier that year. “I’m going to see if I could […]
After Handler expressed sympathy over Gunn’s former relationship breakdown, he offered further perspective into his mindset around celibacy. “Things happen for a reason, and sometimes the reason isn’t revealed at the moment,” he began. “It may not be revealed for days, weeks, or months, or sometimes even years. But had this relationship not fallen apart, I would never have moved to New York. It would never have happened.”
Gunn was not part of July 2025’s Project Runway reboot, telling People five months prior to the show’s premiere that he was not asked back. “Heidi [Klum] and I were texting and texting, and several months later, she sent me a text asking, ‘Are you happy with your contract?’ I’m a truth-teller. I don’t even mince words,” Gunn told the outlet at the time. “I said, ‘Well, I haven’t seen a contract.’ And she said, ‘You haven’t?’ No.”
Klum, 52, told Us Weekly at the time that fans weren’t happy with Gunn’s omission from the new-look show. “Our fans are upset, you know, because we have a great audience,” the host said last year. “People loved us for 16 years. I guess they were maybe upset that they’ll never see us again, but Tim and I are sticking together.”