Joseph Klenn Herbert, also known as Jo Koy, is a stand-up comedian who was born in the United States and raised in the Philippines. Because of his numerous lauded stand-up specials, Jo Koy has become one of the most well-known comedians currently performing on the touring circuit.
Jo Koy provides entertainment for his fans all over the world. But in addition to just getting entertained by him, Jo Koy’s fans are also curious about his personal life.
There have been many inquiries about the well-known comedian, but one of the most intriguing is this: Is Jo Koy gay? In this article, we’ll look at the sources of such speculations, as well as Jo Koy’s actual sexual preferences. Let’s get right into it.
Jo Koy’s Background
Jo Koy was born on June 2, 1971, in Tacoma, Washington to a Filipino mother and an American father. His real name is Joseph Glenn Herbert.
His parents had met when Koy’s father, a member of the US Air Force, had been stationed in the Philippines. At that time, his Filipino mother had been managing a Filipino rock band.
Unfortunately, Jo Koy’s parents divorced when he was 13 years old, leaving his mother to raise him and his three siblings by herself. The family moved to Tacoma, Washington, and subsequently to Las Vegas not long after he finished High School in Tacoma.
Jo Koy’s grandmother was ill at the time, so the family decided to move to Las Vegas to be with her.
Before moving to Las Vegas, Nevada, Koy attended Spanaway Lake High School. He was later transferred to Foss High School in Tacoma, where he graduated.
Jo Koy traces his acting and comedic skills to his mother, and he frequently tells anecdotes about her while performing stand-up comedy. At a young age, he began participating in school talent contests and doing impromptu performances for his family and friends.
His mother’s unwavering support encouraged him. As a result, Jo Koy decided to quit school to focus solely on his career as a stand-up comedian.
Career
Jo Koy makes most of his income from his comedy specials, as well as from the tours and shows that went along with them.
In the course of his career, he has appeared in numerous television projects, series, and movies, all of which have contributed to his good income.
He’s been on The Joy Behar Show, The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, @Midnight with Chris Hardwick, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, VH1, Last Call with Carson Daly, World’s Funniest Fails, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, and Jamie Foxx: Laffapalooza.
In addition to all these, Jo Koy is also a podcast host.
Jo Koy earns about half a million dollars a year. Jo Koy has an estimated net worth of 7 million dollars as of 2023. He has received a lot of attention and respect for his charitable work and other acts of community service.
He held his first charitable event on August 4th, 2009, with his very own The Jo Koy Foundation. Hilarity for Charity, a charity stand-up show, was the occasion, and it featured several comedy guests.
Jo Koy’s Sexuality: Why People Assume He is Gay
Jo Koy is a handsome man with an interesting personality. His physical attractiveness and wittiness makes him stand out and endears him to most women and even men.
The Comedian has been single for a long time, and this has birthed speculations about him.
Maybe nobody might query Jo’s sexuality if it weren’t for Chelsea Handler, the host of the late-night E! show, Chelsea. Koy was a frequent guest in Handler’s E! late-night series.
Jo Koy became the most teased guest on Chelsea because the Handler continuously insinuated that Jo Koy had become gay. She kept telling him to pop out of the closet.
Handler’s bogus claims and Koy’s single status had many wondering if he in fact was a homosexual male. Jo Koy’s silence on the matter of his sexuality and his relationship with Chelsea also fueled the curiosity of many.
Because of this, the comedian provided the ideal chance for critics to portray him as gay.
Is the Rumor True?
Despite the many speculations and theories, Jo Koy’s homosexuality has not been established. The comedian has never publicly admitted to being gay.
Also, he was previously married to Angie King, who is a singer and they both have a son together.
Jo Koy also dated Chelsea Handlers, who he had known for nearly 20 years before they started dating. They dated for almost a year before their romance ended.
Ahead of their first anniversary in July 2022, Handler confirmed that they had split and were no longer a couple.
Joy Koy’s Previous Relationships
Dating rumors about Jo Koy and his longtime friend, Chelsea Handler, first sparked after the duo was spotted at a Los Angeles Dodgers game. The pair donned matching Dodgers outfits and were seen cuddling during the event.
More rumors came days after, when media outlets reported that the pair were publicly displaying affection for each other in California.
However, the comedian denied the dating rumors and insisted that they are just “best friends”. The stand-up comedian was a frequent guest on the late-night E! show hosted by Chelsea Handler.
Before those rumors, Handler had been linked to other A-listers, including 50 Cent, Andre Balazs, Dave Salmoni, and Ted Harbert.
Meanwhile, Jo Koy had been previously married to Angie King, but the couple divorced in the mid-2000s.
Jo Koy and Angie King started dating at the beginning of his profession, and soon after, they got married. Throughout the highs and lows of their lives, the two were said to have been there for one another.
In 2003, they welcomed their son, Joseph J. Herbert Jr., into the world. Unfortunately, the union did not last, and they divorced in 2013.
The ex-spouses agreed to co-parent their son while remaining close friends. Jo Koy’s stand-up comedy performances frequently feature references to Angie, who continues to support his professional ambitions.
The two also started a clothing line together, called the Mexican U.F.O. Additionally, Angie King has moved in romantically and is now dating Gino Perez, a skateboarder and artist.
Conclusion
As a public figure, many speculations will abound about different aspects of your life. Therefore one would have to take a firm stand so as not to confuse their fans.
Perhaps the rumors about his being gay would not exist if Jo Koy had clearly stated his sexual orientation and his relationship status.
