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Young Sheldon star Iain Armitage has spoken about speculation surrounding his sexuality and dating life, revealing how he responds when strangers question him about his personal relationships.
The 18-year-old actor discussed the attention in Jessica Radloff's new book, Young Sheldon: The (Juicier-Than-Meemaw's-Brisket) Inside Story of the Hit Comedy, reflecting on how growing up in the public eye has prompted people to make assumptions about his private life.
"As it is, 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," Armitage said.
He explained that some people approach him in public and directly ask about his sexuality or whether he is seeing anyone.
"Sometimes people will come up to me in public and be like, 'Yo, you gay?' or 'Man, you dating anyone?'" he shared.
Armitage said his response depends on who is asking and how they approach the subject. When a man asks whether he is gay, he sometimes responds with humor, telling them, "Not for you," or "I haven't found the right guy yet."
He also described how he handles questions about whether he has a girlfriend or attracts women, explaining that he will often crack a joke to redirect the conversation or make it clear that he does not want to discuss the subject. "Or, 'That's private, dude, don't ask that,'" he said.
The actor rose to fame playing the younger version of Sheldon Cooper in Young Sheldon, the CBS comedy that ran from 2017 to 2024 as a prequel to The Big Bang Theory. The role made him a familiar face to television audiences from a young age.
Despite moving on from the series, Armitage has said he remains proud of his time on the show and would welcome the opportunity to appear in its spin-off, Georgie & Mandy's First Marriage. He has also expressed enthusiasm about taking on different roles and exploring new opportunities as an actor.
