Mindy Kaling has no time for baseless rumors about her close — albeit unconventional — relationship with ex-boyfriend B.J. Novak, who is the godfather of her children.
Over the weekend, Kaling responded to Deux Moi’s podcast claims that the Office alums had a “falling out” due to an alleged transgression by Novak.
According to a Deux Moi source, Kaling “apparently initiated [the step back from their friendship], thinking he would reengage and apologize or make amends for whatever it was. And apparently, she was shocked when he was instead, like, ‘We need some distance, and this isn’t a good thing anymore.'”
Kaling tackled the rumors head-on in the comments section of Deux Moi’s Instagram upload, quipping, “Omg I haaate him so much,” much to the relief of fans. However, it’s not just the public who is invested in their friendship — stars like Candace Cameron Bure are, too.
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“Why do I love this friendship so much?!!!!” the Full House alum replied in the comments of the Comments by Celebs Instagram account, which screenshot Kaling’s response.
Still, Novak, who dated Kaling from 2004 to 2007, understands the confusion their unusually close relationship can cause.
“Whenever we date anyone else, I think there’s a period where the person is very skeptical of our friendship. ‘Everyone seems to think you two might be a couple, and I don’t mean to get in the way. Are you sure you’re not dating? Are you sure you’re not going to end up dating?'” he told Entertainment Weekly in 2013. “It’s such a common thing to have that platonic best friend that becomes a little weird when you start dating someone.”
After the births of her daughter Katherine, 6, and son Sebastian, 3, Kaling named Novak their godfather. Because she hasn’t revealed the identity of her children’s dad, fans have speculated that Novak is their father — something that hasn’t “affected my happiness at all, it hasn’t affected my kids or B.J.,” Kaling told Marie Claire in 2022, noting that the rumors don’t “bother me.”
“If that’s what is going to be titillating to people, I’ll take it,” she added.
As for how her ex is with her kids, “It comes very innately to him, you know, like being with children,” she told Entertainment Tonight that same year. “So he’s a great godfather.”
Uncommon Knowledge
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Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.