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A drift has emerged between actor Dylan O'Brien and his trans sibling Julz, highlighting a significant disconnect between the actor's public statements and his private actions according to Julz's recent comments.
During the January 2024 Sundance Film Festival, while promoting his queer thriller "Ponyboi," O'Brien told Vulture: "I have a trans, non-binary sibling and I know people in my personal life as well who are queer. I am so grateful for how much it deepens my experience in this world." These comments were initially well-received, with his "Ponyboi" co-star River Gallo praising him as "literally an example of what so many men should be."
The situation took an unexpected turn on May 1, 2025, when Gay Times shared these comments on Instagram. Julz O'Brien responded directly in the comments section, presenting a starkly different perspective on their relationship.
"I'm actually trans masc and go by he/they pronouns," Julz clarified, correcting the publication's characterization of them as non-binary. More pointedly, they added: "He hasn't spoken to me in over a year. He didn't check in when I had top surgery. He didn't even wish me a happy bday last week!"
Julz's comments suggest a significant disconnect between O'Brien's public persona and his private actions. "But glad I could deepen his experience in this world and make the world live him that much more," they wrote, adding a smirking emoji that underscored their frustration.
The 35-year-old Julz also expressed disappointment about being discussed without consultation, stating: "Kinda funny that this article didn't ask me for a single thing about myself? It's about me and uses my photo. I'm not even tagged."
This public dispute comes as a surprise to many fans who had previously seen social media evidence of a close relationship between the siblings. Julz had shared birthday tributes to O'Brien as recently as August 2022, writing: "Happy Birthday, Dyl!! Love you so much." In 2019, they described the "Teen Wolf" star as their "very first best friend."
O'Brien, 33, who stars in "Ponyboi" as Vinnie, the secret lover and pimp of a young intersex worker, had previously acknowledged his limited understanding of certain communities. "Going in, I was extremely uneducated on intersex and the intersex community," he told Adobe last year, describing the film experience as "enlightening."
As of publication, O'Brien's representatives have not responded to requests for comment regarding Julz's statements. The actor, who does not maintain public social media accounts, has remained silent on the matter.
The situation highlights the complex nature of family relationships, particularly those involving transgender individuals, and raises questions about the alignment between public advocacy and private support. "Ponyboi," which premiered at Sundance in January 2024, is scheduled for theatrical release in June 2025.
