Mindy Kaling is setting the record straight once and for all about her real relationship with co-star B.J. Novak.
The Office alum and the actor dated until 2007. She reflected on their friendship after Drew Barrymore expressed during her talk show that she wanted them to end up together.
Drew told Mindy, “I was on a date once ironically and B.J. Novak sat down. I remember thinking, ‘Oh, I wish I was on a date with him. He’s so attractive—why is he not with Mindy Kaling? I want to be with Mindy Kaling! Why are they not together?'”
Mindy joked how the actor would be “so excited” after hearing that Drew finds him attractive. The talk show host explained, “I think I dream of you being the ultimate couple, because you seem like best friends and you’re both so wonderful.”
However, The Mindy Project star explained why she and B.J. work well together by simply being friends. She said, “He is a wonderful friend and he’s godparent of both of my kids and he loves children and they’re so attached to him. He’s really a part of our family. But we’ve known each other for a long, long time.”
Mindy has two children: daughter Katherine, 4, and son Spencer, 2.
She continued, “I think anyone who’s been friends with someone for 18, 19 years and at one point dated and now doesn’t, they maybe understand this.”
B.J. and Mindy’s friendship continues to grow. He’s been a part of her family’s life for years, too. The A Wrinkle in Time actress also shared a photo of the actor stargazing with her daughter during their visit to the Griffith Observatory in Los Angeles last August.
Over the summer, there were internet rumors claiming that B.J. is the father of her children and she immediately shut them down. During an interview with Marie Claire published on August 9, she explained, “He’s the godparent to both my kids—and they have such a great relationship—and so far [the rumors haven’t] affected my happiness at all, it hasn’t affected my kids or BJ. If that’s what is going to be titillating to people, I’ll take it.”
