‘I’ve always been straight’: Modern Family Star Julie Bowen Says She’s Straight Because The Woman She Was in Love With Didn’t Love Her Back
American actress Julie Bowen, 52, is best known for playing Claire Dunphy in the ABC sitcom Modern Family, for which she won two Primetime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series. Despite describing herself as heterosexual, Julie Bowen claimed to have fallen in love with a woman once, yet the relationship didn’t work out.
During her Quitters podcast interview with Becca Tilley on Monday, Julie Bowen openly discussed her sexuality. On September 9, 2004, she married Scott Phillips, a real estate investor, and software developer. The couple has three sons, Oliver McLanahan Phillips, 15, born in 2007, and two twins, Gustav Phillips, 13, and John Phillips, 13, born in 2009. When shooting the pilot for Modern Family, she appeared visibly pregnant. As a self-described “low Protestant,” she filed for divorce from Phillips in February 2018, which was finalized on September 13, 2018.
Julie Bowen Opened Up About Her Sexuality
Modern Family actress Julie Bowen revealed in the most recent episode of her podcast Quitters, “I’m straight. I’ve always been straight. I was in love with a woman for a while, but she didn’t love me back,” while she was interviewing Becca Tilley.
Bowen continued, “She liked women, but she didn’t like me in that way. It never took off, so I never really had to challenge my concept of my sexuality.”
Bowen’s confession came after guest The Bachelor alum Becca Tilley admitted that coming out had been ‘stressful‘ for her after appearing on the ABC show for two seasons. Reality TV star Becca Tilley, 34, told in the podcast, “What does it mean or what is my label? I’m just attracted to people.”
She continued,
“I hope that one day people don’t have to come out because it causes a lot of stress and weight added. Life is already hard; falling in love should be a natural, beautiful thing people shouldn’t have to explain to anybody.”
The Bachelor alum Tilley went public with her relationship with singer Hayley Kiyoko in May. However, she told Bowen that when it came to her sexuality, she “never thought about a label.” According to Bowen, when people ask others to “identify themselves,” they are often asked about their sexual preference and what they do “in the bedroom.”
She told Tilley,
“What you do with your body should not be the first thing we know about people or care about; it’s your business; as you said, I hope people don’t always have to come out.”
Since her divorce, Bowen has kept her dating life under wraps. Earlier, she joked in a TV interview about coming out of her dating retirement just to date Harry Styles.
Fans’ Reactions To Julie Bowen’s Concept Of Sexuality
Julie Bowen is one of America’s most beloved actresses. She has had notable roles, such as Claire Dunphy – in Modern Family, Sarah Shephard – in Lost, Denise Bauer – in Boston Legal, Aunt Gwen – in Dawson’s Creek, and Carol Vessey – in Ed. People with a sense of humor will quickly fall in love with her personality.
However, the Quitters podcast’s Bowen confessed in a recent episode that she’s ‘straight‘ even though she once fell in love with a woman. Immediately following the podcast episode, a Twitter handle called Pop Crave tweeted the following:
Julie Bowen tells Quitters Podcast that she once fell in love with a woman:
“I’m straight. I’ve always been straight… I was in love with a woman for a while but she didn’t love me back […] It never really took off so I never really had to challenge my concept of my sexuality.” pic.twitter.com/Z2mvcadx14
— Pop Crave (@PopCrave) November 2, 2022
Immediately after Pop Crave’s tweet, people started reacting and sharing their opinions about her statement about sexuality. Let’s have a look at what they have to say:
Y’all talk about lesbians who have been attracted to only one man in a life time and that doesn’t make them bi they’re lesbian and that’s okay but this isn’t okay? Make it make sense.
— ⭐️ 𝕟𝕖𝕡𝕥𝕦𝕟𝕖 ⭐️ (@onagovwatchlist) November 2, 2022
Honestly whatever works for her it’s good. I’m so tired of people trying to define other peoples sexuality or force them to say something when/if they’re not ready
— jessi.🪸 (@pinarsjareau) November 2, 2022
Bisexual people always want attention. So annoying just say you're bi
— JAYA ✨️ (@thegyaljaya) November 2, 2022
https://twitter.com/cupjdism/status/1587925979418136576
https://twitter.com/luciclowns/status/1587887640883638273
All Dunphy family were bisexual.
— Tortured Heart (@itsbryan22) November 2, 2022
As part of the divorce settlement, Scott Phillips also applied to Julie Bowen for spousal support and joint physical and legal custody of their three children. They reportedly maintained an amicable relationship and are co-parenting their sons together.
Also Read: 30 Small Roles Actors Did Way Before They Were Famous
Source: Twitter