Jo Koy, whose real name is Joseph Glenn Herbert Sr., is a world-famous American stand-up comedian and actor. This 51-year-old comedian had a humble beginning. His career in comedy began in 1989 wherein he would organize his own shows. But the comedian has come a long way now — from doing shows in a Las Vegas coffee house to selling out arenas and theaters across the globe.
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He had his big break when he performed on “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno” in 2005. He was among the very few comedians who received a standing ovation on the show. One of the highlights of his career was when Netflix released his comedy special titled “Jo Koy: In His Elements” on June 12, 2020, wherein he would feature Filipino-American comedians, DJs, and B-boys.
But success always comes with its downsides. And in the case of the world-renowned comedian, it’s getting his sexuality questioned. So, is Jo Koy gay?
VOTE: What is Jo Koy’s Sexuality?
Jo Koy’s Relationships
Jo Koy was in a relationship with another comedian, Chelsea Handler, who used to date celebrity chef Bobby Flay in 2016.
Jo Koy and Chelsea were friends for a long time before they started dating in 2021. However, the romance didn’t last long as the pair called it quits in July 2022, 11 months after they got together.
Now, let’s take a look at their short-lived romance.
The couple was introduced by actor John Lovitz in 2007. They started working on several projects together. Jo Koy also appeared as a guest on Chelsea’s late-night show, “Chelsea Lately,” for several episodes.
They only sparked dating rumors sometime in 2021 with Chelsea’s frequent appearance on Jo Koy’s Instagram account. They would also take shopping trips together which Jo Koy would document on his socials, fueling the dating rumors even more. They later confirmed their romance during an interview with The Hollywood Reporter.
During the said interview, Jo Koy revealed that it was Chelsea who made the first move. It was August 2021, he revealed, when she asked him to kiss her.
She basically asked me to kiss her. I said, ‘I think you have a crush on me, and if you do, you should do something about it and see what happens.”
Jo Koy shared
The couple made their relationship Instagram official in September 2021 through a couple of Instagram photos shared by Chelsea where they were being lovey-dovey. She captioned it with:
He’s on tour, I’m on tour, sometimes we tour together.”
The couple also shared some details about their relationship on her podcast.
I was just not in touch with myself to understand, I knew I liked talking with you and having you in my life because you’re positive and upbeat.”
she told him during the podcast
They also made their red carpet debut as a couple during the People’s Choice Awards in December 2021. They attended the 2022 Grammy Awards together, as well.
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Things seem to be going really well with the comedian couple, however, they made their breakup announcement in July 2022. During Chelsea’s guest appearance on Brooke Shields’ podcast, she revealed that they were no longer friends after the split.
I mean, there has to be some accountability, you know what I mean? Like, from him about what happened, because it was just ridiculous. I don’t think we can have a friendship.”
On the real reason behind the breakup, she said:
There was just some behaviours that we couldn’t agree on. And it felt to me like I would have to abandon myself, which maybe I would have been OK to do if I were 20 or 25. But I wasn’t willing to do that. I was like, ‘I’m not going to change the way that I behave in order to make you feel more comfortable. I’m not doing that.”
It’s just sad that she shared that at one point, she considered it a “forever relationship.”
Chelsea also made a lengthy post on Instagram to officially inform her followers about the breakup.
I know many of you were invested in our love, and I wanted to express to you how much that meant to both of us. How much it still means. And how much I now believe in love for each one of us. This is not an ending. It’s another beginning, and it’s a comfort to know that I am still loved and love this man the way the sun loves the moon and the moon loves the sun. YOUR PERSON IS COMING. So, please continue to root for both of us.”
But before his much-talked-about relationship with the co-comedian, Jo Koy was married to Angie King, a Filipino American singer-songwriter who was also known by her stage name Nura Luca. The couple met in the mid-1990s when Jo Koy was only starting his career as a stand-up comedian.
The couple remained friends for a long time before they started dating. They tied the knot in February 2003. They were married for 10 years and had a son together, Joseph Herbert Jr., who was born on April 21, 2003.
However, the couple had a divorce which was finalized in 2013. They remained as friends even after the breakup and were doing fine as co-parents to their now 19-year-old son.
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Is Jo Koy Gay?
No, the comedian doesn’t identify himself as gay. Although he never really talked about his sexuality, neither confirming nor denying all the gay rumors that surrounded him, none of his past relationships suggest that he was into same-sex relationships. Thus, as far as the public knows, Jo Koy is straight.