NEED TO KNOW
Mindy Kaling shared that B.J. Novak is “such a huge part” of her family
Kaling reflected on her decision to have kids as a single mom despite not considering herself a “kid person”
The comedian is mom to daughters Kit and Anne, as well as son Spencer
Mindy Kaling is opening up about the role her good friend B.J. Novak plays in her kids’ lives.
While speaking with Bustle for a new interview, the actress, 46, shared that her ex-boyfriend and longtime friend Novak “really is in our family” to her and her three kids — Katherine “Kit,” 8, Spencer, 5, and Anne, 2.
“He really is in our family, and I love talking about him because my kids adore him, and he’s such a huge part of our life,” said Kaling. “But I also know that it gives people a lot of ideas.”
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Mindy Kaling for Bustle
Credit: Christian Soria
“If I was watching it from the outside, I would have the same questions and the same reactions,” she admitted.
Kaling and Novak dated on and off from 2004 to 2007 while working on The Office together. He is also the godfather to her three kids.
The Running Point creator later commented on her decision to have kids as a single mom, saying that the choice felt “really crazy” and that she never considered herself a “kid person.”
“It’s one of the biggest mysteries in my life, this fervent knowledge that I knew I had to have kids that was not based on any real love of children,” shared Kaling. “B.J., for instance, he’s always been a kid person.”
Mindy Kaling for Bustle
Credit: Christian Soria
“He has a brother who’s 13 years younger than him, and he loved his little brother and just always has been a kid person,” she continued. “It’s such a deep mystery why I needed to do it.”
In April, Novak spoke on an episode of Watch What Happens Live, revealing that Kaling’s daughter Kit has a special nickname for him — and it comes from a cartoon character.
“Kit nicknamed me Fofo, which is based on a Duolingo for Kids character — the bear Fofo,” he said. “So, I got her a Fofo stuffed animal for her collection, and that hit the spot.”
“I have to say B.J. [is] very present with children. He’s very— he gets on their level. He talks to them,” host Andy Cohen responded, before jokingly adding, “I bet you’re still making a mint out of that children’s book, aren’t you?”
Mindy Kaling for Bustle
Credit: Christian Soria
“Yeah, but it’s out of love,” the actor replied. “… That’s a lesson for all of us, right? You do what you love, and you get more out of that.”
Kaling first revealed that Novak was the godfather to her daughter Katherine in an interview with Good Housekeeping in 2019.
“The truth is that B.J. is so much more like family now than a platonic friend. He’s the godfather to my daughter,” Kaling said at the time.
“He comes over once a week. Sometimes he’ll come over just to hang out with her,” she added.
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