Iain Armitage knows that growing up in the public eye means people think they know everything about you. But the Young Sheldon star has a pretty hilarious way of reminding everyone that being a fan doesn’t automatically give you access to his dating life.
Armitage played the younger version of Sheldon Cooper, originally portrayed by Jim Parsons in The Big Bang Theory, from 2017 to 2024. Now 18, the actor has practically grown up in front of viewers, which might explain why some people feel a little too comfortable asking him personal questions.
In the newly-released book Young Sheldon: The (Juicier-Than-Meemaw’s-Brisket) Inside Story of the Hit Comedy, author Jessica Radloff gets Armitage talking about the assumptions people make about his relationships and sexuality.
“In real life I’ve also gotten everything from people thinking I’m dating specific people, like Mckenna [Grace], or people thinking I’m gay,” he shared.
Apparently, some people skip the small talk entirely, too. Armitage recalled strangers approaching him with questions like, “Yo, you gay?” or “Man, you dating anyone?”
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Thankfully, Armitage knows how to handle the awkwardness without turning every random encounter into a press conference.
“If it’s a guy asking if I’m gay, I’ll say, ‘Not for you.’ Or ‘I haven’t found the right guy yet,’” he explained.
Okay, the delivery! The mystery! The ability to leave someone with more questions than answers!
When people ask whether he has a girlfriend or whether he gets a lot of girls, Armitage said he usually cracks a joke to redirect the conversation. Sometimes, he simply reminds them, “That’s private, dude, don’t ask that.”
Honestly, that’s a pretty solid lesson in boundaries, with a little comedy thrown in for good measure.
There’s nothing wrong with being curious about a celebrity, but curiosity doesn’t mean we’re entitled to know every detail of their personal lives. And no, someone’s sexuality isn’t a guessing game for strangers to solve.
Whether Armitage is dating someone or keeping things to himself, he doesn’t owe the public an explanation. Besides, if someone asks an overly personal question, “Not for you” is a perfectly good exit line.