Is Jonathan Groff Gay? Get To Know His Coming Out Story!

Jonathan Groff is an accomplished American actor and singer, renowned for his versatile performances on stage and screen. Born on March 26, 1985, in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, Groff rose to prominence for his Tony-nominated role in the musical “Spring Awakening.” He garnered widespread acclaim for his roles in the hit Broadway musical “Hamilton” and the HBO series “Looking.”

Groff’s compelling performances in “Mindhunter” and “Frozen” further solidified his status as a multifaceted talent. With his charismatic stage presence and exceptional vocal abilities, Groff continues to captivate audiences with his dynamic portrayals and unparalleled artistry.

There have always been rumors surrounding the sexuality of the actor. In this article, we are going to find the answer to the question – Is Jonathan Groff gay? Let’s go.

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Jonathan Groff’s Sexuality: Get To Know His Coming Out Story!

Renowned for his portrayal of unforgettable characters such as Kristoff in Frozen, Jesse St. James in Glee, and King George III in the original Broadway cast of Hamilton, Jonathan Groff has established himself as a notable figure in the entertainment industry. Given the impact he has had on the business, it comes as no surprise that fans are not only captivated by his career but also intrigued by his personal life.

To answer the question of whether Jonathan Groff is gay or not, the answer is yes. He came out in public in 2009 and, in fact, shared his heartwarming coming out story with the world.

The multifaceted actor revealed that in June 2008, after completing his two-year run in Broadway’s Spring Awakening, the 23-year-old at that time embarked on a solo journey across Italy, using Rick Steve’s guidebook as his companion.

On the day prior to his scheduled meeting with his brother in Rome, Groff explored the Accademia Gallery in Florence, where he encountered Michelangelo’s renowned sculptures, including the celebrated nude statue of David.

When you turn the corner, there are rows of other unfinished sculptures by Michelangelo.”
Groff recalled

These figures are so constricted, like they’re straining to be released from the marble and fighting for airI ached just looking at them. But they lead up to this perfect, liberated form.”

I started crying and wondered, ‘What is it about this naked man that makes me so emotional?’ Afterward, I sat in a piazza, journaling, thinking about how nobody here knew or cared about me, and I decided to come out to my brother – who is also named David – the next day.”

I knew that if I didn’t tell him right then, I would never do it. My hands were shaking; my voice was hoarse from talking, because I hadn’t spoken to anyone in seven days.”
Groff shared

However, he mentioned that his brother also shared with him at that moment about the girl he was dating, who later became his wife, a topic they had never really discussed before – relationships.

But David also seemed nervous. He said, ‘Jonathan, there’s something I need to talk to you about.’ He told me all about this girl that he was in love with, who is now his wife. It was like he was coming out to me, because we’d never talked about relationships or sex or love in our entire lives as brothers.”
Groff recalled

He teed it up perfectly, and once he gave me all of the details, he said, ‘This is the first time I’ve ever felt this, and I’m wondering, what about you?’ And I shared everything with him. We just showed all of ourselves to each other. It never could have happened anywhere else.”
he continued

Jonathan Groff came out to the public in 2009 and has always been open about his sexuality since then.

He also talked in a 2022 interview how starring in the HBO series Looking helped him come to terms with his sexuality.

I came out of the closet and I was still feeling quite shameful for many years.”
he told Out magazine in a 2022 interview in 2022

When I did Looking, I was playing a gay character on a set with a lot of gay people. I started to fall in love with who I was for the first time. It was really that experience that really turned the corner for me.”

Jonathan Groff’s Relationships

Jonathan Groff and Lea Michele

One of Jonathan Groff’s most widely recognized relationships was with his long-term friendship with Lea Michele. During an interview for HBO’s 2022 “Spring Awakening: Those You’ve Known” documentary, he opened up about the role Michele had played for him to come to terms with his sexuality.

Lea and I, we were grasping onto each other, we were really in love. Coming from a religious background surrounded by the Amish, I felt . . . ashamed of who I was. I guess I was also afraid that if people knew who I was, they wouldn’t find what I was doing believable.”
he shared

In the documentary, Groff shared how Michele helped him come to terms with his sexuality and find the courage to come out as gay. He did so in 2008, just a month after their respective exits from Spring Awakening.

Lea Michele also shared how she had fallen in love with the actor.

I was so in love with him. Finally, I cornered him at a party, and I said to him, ‘Why don’t you love me? Just love me. Why can’t you love me? Date me. Love me.’ And I just saw this look in his eyes, and in that moment, I knew. I realized in that moment, ‘This is the end.’ And I need to protect this. This is intense.”
Lea Michele recalled

And I never asked him again about his sexuality, and it was sort of this . . . I think he felt safe with me because he knew that I knew and that we could be best friends. And our relationship just grew and grew to the point that we would do the show and then we would go home together. That’s why Jonathan and I became so close. We were so intertwined.”
she added

Despite never having dated in real life, the two had maintained a close friendship for a significant period, and fans adore their relationship.

The First Long-Term Boyfriend of Jonathan Groff

There is not much information available regarding Jonathan Groff’s first long-term boyfriend, as he has not disclosed the individual’s identity. Nevertheless, in an interview with FourTwoNine in May 2018, Groff spoke candidly about their relationship. His boyfriend was also his roommate during that period, and they had concealed their relationship from everyone for three years due to his undisclosed sexuality.

I was sitting in Florence journaling, and I realized I had never once journaled about my boyfriend, and I had been in a relationship with him for three and half years. I wouldn’t even write about it in my journal because I was afraid somebody might read it. But then in Florence, I started one day just journaling about him and realized I never had before, and I started wondering, ‘What is happening?’ I knew in that moment I was going to come out of the closet.”
the actor shared

I came back home and came out to my family first. And then my friends. Then I broke up with that boyfriend and moved out of the apartment we were sharing as ‘roommates.'”
he added

Jonathan Groff and Gavin Creel (2009 – 2010)

In October 2009, Jonathan Groff publicly revealed his relationship with Gavin Creel while attending the National Equality March in Washington, DC, together. In a 2017 interview with Broadway.com, the actor opened up about the significant impact Creel had on his life, expressing that Creel had changed his life in numerous ways.

He changed my life in so many ways, that being one of them. I was in love, and we were in DC, and it just made sense. A reporter from Broadway.com asked me: ‘Are you gay?’ She asked me, and I kind of took a moment. And she said, ‘Oh my god! I don’t want to make you feel weird. Forget I said that.'”
Groff said

I was just looking around at the crowd and at Gavin who was just like speaking into a megaphone. I felt so wrong to just be standing there. I always knew that I would come out. To me, love is more important than career. And so I walked over to her again, and I said, ‘Hey, I know you wanted to ask me a question. I’m sorry to walk over here again after you just asked me that. But yeah, I’m gay.’ And she was like, ‘On the record?’ And I said, ‘Yes.'”
he added

Jonathan Groff and Zachary Quinto (2010 – 2013)

Jonathan Groff was also previously involved in a relationship with actor Zachary Quinto. The two reportedly confirmed their relationship in 2012. However, according to Us Weekly, their romantic involvement lasted only a year due to their hectic schedules.

Zach being away and filming was not easy on them. Now he’s going to be in New York with his new play [“The Glass Menagerie”]. They really loved each other, so it wasn’t an easy split.”
a source told Us Weekly

It just ran its course. Zach has been out and about, and he seems fine.”
the insider also added

The two seemed to be on amicable terms when they reunited at Groff’s Broadway show “Hamilton” in 2015 and once more two years later at the 2017 GQ Men of the Year party.

In an interview with FourTwoNine, Groff expressed that there isn’t much of a difference between dating non-actors and actors. He mentioned that he values people for who they are, not just as actors. Nevertheless, he acknowledged that dating actors has a slight advantage because they tend to understand his schedule better.

I don’t think one is easier than the other. I feel like in dating actors, the nice thing about it is they understand the schedules involved or having to leave for three months to shoot something and all of that. But when I was dating Gavin and dating Zach, it was more about the people they were instead of the actors they were, which is the same about the people who aren’t actors that I’ve dated. It’s about them as people and not about any careers or jobs they have.”
he told FourTwoNine

Jonathan Groff and Corey Baker (2018)

As reported by The Sun, the pair is believed to have crossed paths in 2018 while both were teaching at the Christchurch International Music Theatre Summer School in New Zealand. There is limited information available about their relationship, and it remains unclear if they are still together.