James Haven Comes Out as Gay in Livestream, Months After 2024 Marriage Ended

Q: After hiding his true identity for 53 years, what finally pushed James Haven to step out of the shadows?

What pushed James Haven to come out, by his own account, was that he was no longer willing to keep hiding. In the livestream letter, he said he had spent years “dimming” his light to fit in, but had reached a point where he was “tired of hiding” and ready to live honestly. He framed the decision not as a sudden change, but as acceptance of who he had always been. Reflecting on childhood memories of feeling most like himself when he embraced feminine expression, he said he eventually understood that those feelings were not confusion or shame, but part of being gay. His message was that coming out meant allowing others to finally meet the person who had been there all along. The timing also appears tied to the emotional support around him. Reports say he revealed his truth after reconnecting with ex-wife Romi Imbelli, who later said she hoped to help “set someone free.” Their continued closeness, and the forgiveness and unconditional love she described, seem to have provided a safe setting for him to speak publicly. So the immediate trigger was a personal breaking point: after 53 years of suppression, Haven decided honesty was less painful than secrecy, and he stepped forward in an environment where he felt supported enough to do it.

3 articles · Updated · Yahoo! Voices · Aug 6

James Haven revealed he is gay during a livestream, reading a personal letter that said he no longer wanted to hide "the person who has been here all along."
In the letter, Haven described childhood memories of wearing glitter and mascara, saying years of self-doubt gave way to a decision to live openly and seek compassion from his family.
Romi Imbelli, Haven's ex-wife, appeared with him on her Substack livestream and later said on Instagram she wanted to help "set someone free," calling him her best friend and family.
The disclosure came months after Haven and Imbelli ended a marriage that began in 2024 and lasted only days; they have remained close and are now developing her book for television, with Haven set to direct.