If you’ve spent more than five minutes on TikTok or X (formerly Twitter) lately, you’ve probably seen the "Joe Keery gay" searches spiking. It happens every time he does an interview. One minute he’s talking about his music as Djo, and the next, the internet is convinced he’s dropped a major hint about his sexuality.
The fascination makes sense. He’s got that effortless, "cool older brother" charm that made Steve Harrington the heart of Stranger Things. But honestly, the distance between internet theories and actual reality is usually pretty wide.
The Interview That Set the Internet on Fire
So, what actually happened? Most of the recent buzz traces back to a 2025 interview where Joe and his co-stars were reminiscing about childhood crushes.
When asked about his first fictional crushes, Joe didn't hesitate. He mentioned both Robin Hood and Maid Marian from the animated Disney classic. When the interviewer or a co-star (it was a bit of a cross-talk mess) asked for clarification, Joe simply said, "Both of them."
Queue the chaos.
Fans immediately took this as a "soft launch" of bisexuality. To be fair, saying you had a crush on a male fox and a female fox is a very specific kind of energy. For a lot of queer fans, that ambiguity felt familiar. It felt like a nod. But Joe didn't follow it up with a "coming out" post or a label. He just kept talking about Space Jam and Lola Bunny.
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Joe Keery’s Real Dating History
Despite the theories, Joe’s public romantic life has been pretty consistently heterosexual.
His most significant relationship was with actress Maika Monroe. They were together for a long time—about five years, from 2017 to 2022. They were the "it" couple of indie red carpets. They wore matching Saint Laurent. She photographed him for Interview Magazine. They seemed solid until they just… weren't.
In a 2024 chat with Variety, Joe finally acknowledged a "big breakup" that happened right as he was heading to Calgary to film Fargo. He didn't name names, but the timeline matched up with his split from Maika.
After that, things got a bit murkier:
- He was spotted walking arm-in-arm with Chase Sui Wonders in NYC in late 2023 and early 2024.
- There was that viral moment with Sabrina Carpenter during her Short n' Sweet tour where she "arrested" him. It was a joke. They aren't dating.
- Some people on TikTok claim he's on Raya, the exclusive dating app, which is basically the celebrity version of "I'm single and looking."
Why Everyone Is Obsessed With His Sexuality
It isn't just the "Robin Hood" comment. Joe has always been a massive supporter of the LGBTQ+ community. He’s been known to donate a portion of his concert ticket sales to organizations like The Trevor Project.
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There's also his vibe. In an industry that often demands rigid masculinity from its leading men, Joe is comfortable being "silly" and "nerdy." He told ELLE in early 2026 that he was a "nerdy theater kid" and that people are often surprised by how he actually acts in person.
That lack of "macho" posturing often leads people to project different identities onto him. Plus, his Stranger Things character, Steve, is essentially the world's best "mom," which has its own subset of queer-coded fan theories.
What Joe Has Actually Said
Honestly? Not much.
Joe Keery is notoriously private. He doesn't have a personal Instagram (only the Djo account for his music). He doesn't do "get ready with me" videos or house tours. When he talks about romance, he keeps it vague. He told ELLE he likes someone who is "quick-witted" and has "immediate back-and-forth."
He hasn't confirmed he's gay. He hasn't confirmed he's bisexual. He also hasn't gone out of his way to aggressively shut down the rumors with a "I'm 100% straight" statement. He just exists in the middle.
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The Bottom Line
Is Joe Keery gay? Based on everything we actually know—his long-term relationship with Maika Monroe and his more recent links to Chase Sui Wonders—there is no evidence to suggest he identifies as gay.
The "bisexual" speculation is more common, fueled by his "both of them" comment regarding Disney characters. But even then, Joe hasn't claimed the label. He seems content to let his art speak for itself and keep his private life exactly that: private.
If you're looking for the truth, look at the facts: Joe is currently single (as far as anyone can tell), he's coming off a massive heartbreak from a five-year relationship with a woman, and he's more focused on finishing Stranger Things and touring as Djo than labeling his personal life for the internet.
What to do next
If you want to stay updated on what’s actually true versus what’s just fan theory, stop following "tea" accounts on TikTok. Stick to verified interviews from outlets like Variety, GQ, or ELLE. You can also follow the official @djomusic account on Instagram—while it’s mostly about his music, it’s the only direct line of communication he maintains with the public.