American actor and producer James Haven, the brother of actress Angelina Jolie, has publicly announced that he is gay.
The 53-year-old son of actors Jon Voight and Marcheline Bertrand shared the news during a live broadcast on the Substack account of his ex-wife, Romi Imbelli, following the announcement of their separation.
The former couple also shared details of their conversation on Instagram, where they discussed the evolution of their relationship after their divorce. Although their marriage ended shortly after their 2024 wedding, they explained that they remain close friends and continue to work together on creative projects.
During the live stream, Haven read a letter explaining his decision to speak openly about his sexual orientation after years of keeping it private. He stated that he was tired of hiding, explaining that coming out was not about becoming someone new, but about allowing others to see the person who had always been there.
Reflecting on his childhood, Haven recalled episodes from his youth when he felt forced to conceal a portion of his identity to fit in. He emphasized that he was never trying to pretend to be someone else, but rather trying to let a part of himself shine that had been present all along.
Support from ex-wife Romi Imbelli
Romi Imbelli, an American reality television personality, stylist, and producer, explained that her intention in sharing her former husband's story was never to expose him, but rather to support him through his personal journey.
Writing in a message published alongside the release of the final episode of her project Breathe Mija, Imbelli stated that she did not intend to out someone she loved. Instead, she explained that her goal was to help set someone free, adding that in return, Haven had freed her as well.
Imbelli affirmed that although the bond between them had transformed, it remained intact. She expressed that she would always love Haven, not only as a former spouse, but as family, her best friend, and one of the greatest loves of her life, while asking for respect and understanding for him during this new chapter.
Career and family relationships
Haven has developed a career in entertainment as an actor and producer, though he has maintained a significantly lower public profile than his sister, who starred in Maleficent. Over the years, he remained very close to Jolie and assisted her in raising her children with actor Brad Pitt.
Throughout his life, Haven has also been in the media spotlight due to a complex family dynamic with his father, veteran actor Jon Voight. Both Haven and Jolie experienced long periods of estrangement from Voight before reconciling in later years.
The siblings suffered a major personal loss in 2007 when their mother, actress Marcheline Bertrand, passed away following a battle with cancer.
