Why Do Fans Think Jay Leno Is Gay? - More about His Personal Life

Jay Leno once became a subject of speculation when an ad claimed he lived a "modest life" with a "gorgeous husband." It wasn't the first time his sexuality took social media by storm, as his comedic material often included gay jokes about himself and others.

In late 2020, fans of the former "Tonight Show" host, Jay Leno, took to Twitter to share his shock at the breaking news that not only was the comedian gay, but he was also married to a man. This was despite Leno having marked his 40th anniversary with his wife that year.

The news came after a Tumblr ad claiming Leno had been living modestly with his male partner went viral. And while some claimed they weren't surprised, given some of Leno's comedic material, others were utterly dumbfounded.

Speculation That Jay Leno Is Gay

Although the joke began in late 2020, it has yet to fizzle out completely. Using a clever play on words, one Twitter user wrote, in January this year, that Leno was "GAY at 72," and said he would be missed before concluding their tweet with "#GayJay."

When the ad first went viral, another user remarked that they didn't know Leno was gay, but "not that it mattered." However, the speculation dated years before, as someone tweeted in 2013 that Leno was "gay for that one," though it's unclear what they were commenting on.

Then in November 2020, a surge of Twitter users reported the unrelenting ad that invited them to see how Leno had been "living modestly" with his "gorgeous husband." It even included pictures of Leno standing beside other male celebrities, such as Jamie Foxx and Dennis Kucinich.

One person joked that the sponsor, "Travel Patriot," tagged in the online commercial paid Tumblr to tell them Leno was gay. Another reported that it was the only ad that popped up on Tumblr, while another complained about it.

And yet, as they scrolled through over a hundred slides of other celebrity couples, Leno and his supposed husband were nowhere to be found. Leno never responded to the rumors, but they fizzled after netizens concluded they were fake.

Still, Leno's name has long been associated with the word "gay." In 2004, a site called The Spoof published a satirical story where Leno admitted he "used to be Gay," but decided to change. In the story, critics who argued that sexual orientation was inborn said it was impossible.

But, after insisting that he managed to change, Leno later clarified that he meant his name; it used to be Gay Leno, but he changed it to Jay Leno. The joke never landed, but the name Gay Leno still made it into the Urban Dictionary.

Jay Leno's Jokes about Gays Were Disliked

Leno frequently referred to gay people in his comedy specials, but his jokes sometimes rubbed people the wrong way. In 2006, award-winning playwright Jeff Whitty penned an open letter to Leno, criticizing him for using homosexual folks in his material and asking him to stop.

However, another comedian, Jim David, came to Leno's defense. David reflected on whether one group was more deserving of victimization than another, as jabs were often taken at other communities with a history of oppression but without malicious intent. Moreover, they were accepted with a good laugh.

Two years later, while he still hosted the "Tonight Show," Leno came under fire again for telling his friend Ryan Philippe to pretend the camera was his "gay lover," alluding to Philippe's first role as a gay character. However, Leno later apologized for the incident.

Despite the criticisms he has faced regarding his views on the LGBTQ community, Leno said he was supportive of gay people and gay marriage. He added that he had several gay friends and knew many same-sex couples who'd been together for years.

Jay Leno's Personal Life

Leno has been married to Mavis Leno since November 1980. The couple had met at a comedy club in Los Angeles. Though the two had different views about relationships, they still fell in love and even agreed not to have children.