James Haven, the actor and brother of Angelina Jolie, has publicly come out as gay during a livestream discussion with his ex-wife, Romi Imbelli, on her Substack feed. The 53-year-old shared a deeply personal letter detailing his journey toward understanding his sexual orientation, months after he and Imbelli filed to annul their brief marriage.
James Haven Comes Out as Gay in Substack Discussion
During the broadcast with Imbelli, James Haven read a statement reflecting on his life and identity. “Coming out isn’t about becoming someone new, it’s about allowing everyone else to meet the person who has been here all along,” Haven said, according to The New York Daily News.
Haven detailed early memories of gender expression and societal pressure during his youth. “When I was a little boy, I was absolutely obsessed with the Disney princesses. I would sneak glitter onto my cheeks, swipe mascara onto my lashes, and for those moments, I felt like magic,” Haven said, as reported by SoapCentral. He added that he began questioning parts of himself to fit in with the peers around him, noting, “Like so many gay kids, I learned to question parts of myself long before I learned to celebrate them.”
Support From Ex-Wife Romi Imbelli
Haven’s announcement followed the amicable dissolution of his marriage to Romi Imbelli. The pair married for just over two weeks before filing papers to annul their union in 2024, according to People.
“I didn’t want to see it, I didn’t want to believe it,” Imbelli admitted during their shared conversation, noting that she initially feared losing her closeness with Haven if they stopped being romantic. She has since embraced his announcement, stating, “You are my life partner, we will do life together. You are not my close friend, you are my love and you happen to be gay.”
In a separate post reported by SoapCentral, Imbelli reinforced her backing of her ex-husband: “Love doesn’t always fit into the boxes we’re taught it should. Sometimes it transforms. Sometimes it changes shape. Sometimes it asks us to let go of what we imagined so we can embrace what is true. I’ll always love him. Just not as his wife, but as my family, my best friend, and one of the greatest loves of my life.” The former couple continues to collaborate professionally on a television show adaptation of Imbelli’s book.
Jon Voight Reacts to Son’s Announcement
Following the public coming-out announcement, actor Jon Voight reached out to his son, according to TMZ. Sources close to Haven indicated that upon seeing news reports of the announcement, Voight contacted him and reportedly told him, “I now know who you are,” accompanied by a light chuckle that brought relief to Haven.
Voight also stated to TMZ that he shares a very close relationship with his son and loves him very much. Haven is the son of Voight and Marcheline Bertrand, and the older brother of actress Angelina Jolie. Haven previously appeared in several films between 1998 and 2014, including the 1998 film Gia alongside his sister.