Kal Penn claimed that his former manager tried to set him up with a pimp after he came out of as gay.
The 45-year-old Harold & Kumar star spoke about how a simple request to his manager turned into an awkward encounter during an appearance on Kelly Ripa's Let’s Talk Off Camera podcast.
Penn confirmed to Ripa: “You know, I shared my story with my brother and my parents first, and I was like, ‘Hey, super gay. Just FYI.'
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“But then I called my manager, and I said, ‘Hey, I don’t know if this is ever gonna impact anything in work, but I’m just curious: How do actors meet nice people to date?
"Like how do you know that somebody that you’re dating wants to date you for you? Like what are the ground rules here, and is it any different?'”
Penn said his manager, who wasn't gay, set him up for a sushi dinner with a gay producer.
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He did not identify the manager on the podcast.
Talking about the meeting, the Designated Survivor star recalled the producer saying to him: “So, I understand you’ve got some things that you want to talk about.
“He goes, ‘So, listen, the first thing I just want you to know is, like, just don’t worry.'
“I was like, ‘Well I’m not worried, I’m just curious, but thank you, I appreciate that.'”
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The man said that he was going to send Penn a 'list of some guys and their photos'.
Penn continued: “I’m like, ‘Whoa, that’s so cool! Playing matchmaker already.’ And he goes, ‘Yeah, and, you know, they’re not that expensive, and they’re never gonna say anything.'”
The penny dropped and Penn realised they were on different pages.
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He said: “I was like, ‘Sorry, I think you don’t understand. No disrespect to sex workers, but that’s not what I’m looking for.
"My question to you is, 'How do I meet a nice guy, and go on a couple of dates?’ And he goes, ‘I don’t know anything about all that.'”
The story has a happy ending though, as Kal Penn went on to meet his fiancé Josh while working at the White House for the Barack Obama administration.
Penn was the principal associate director in the White House Office of Public Engagement between 2009 and 2011.
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Penn talked about his family's reaction to coming out as gay during an interview with People magazine.
He joked: “When you’ve already told your Indian parents and the South Asian community that you intend to be an actor for a living, really any conversations that come after that are super easy.”
Lately, Penn completed a guest-hosting stint on The Daily Show as Comedy Central execs continue their search to name a permanent host after comedian Trevor Noah left in December.
Topics: Celebrity, Los Angeles
Rashi Agarwal