So, are Mindy Kaling and B.J. Novak dating? That is the question that has plagued internet stalkers, fans of The Office, and gossip columnists for what feels like at least a decade. Honestly, their relationship has more twists than a soap opera written by someone who forgot what a plot twist is.
Here's the thing: nobody actually knows. The pair have been dancing around the "are we or aren't we" line with the precision of two people who apparently never learned how to just pick a lane. And we, the audience, keep tumbling after them like golden retrievers chasing a tennis ball that keeps changing direction.
Let's rewind to the early days. Mindy and B.J. met on the set of The Office, where they played on-again, off-again love interests Kelly Kapoor and Ryan Howard. The chemistry was so palpable that even people filming their scenes probably needed a break to catch their breath.
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Rumor has it they were involved during the show's run, back around 2005 to 2007. Both have described the relationship with vague, noncommittal language — think "it's complicated" but powered by a team of lawyers. B.J. once said they were "like an old married couple", which is either romantic or deeply concerning depending on your tolerance for chaos.
In 2014, Mindy revealed to Vanity Fair that they were together more often than not but "couldn't figure out what shape our relationship was." They were basically building IKEA furniture with no instructions — everything looked like it could work, but something was definitely missing.
Mindy Kaling and BJ Novak's Relationship - Mindy Kaling Husband
Fast forward to 2017, and they were spotted at a vacation together in the Caribbean. Then she named her daughter Katherine after his mother, or at least she hinted at it. The internet lost its collective mind, and conspiracy theorists were born by the thousands.
In 2020, she shared a photo of B.J. at her home parenting her daughter, and everyone started filling out mental wedding invitations. Meanwhile, B.J. joked during an interview that they are "best friends" and that he is the "divorced dad" who watches her daughter while she works. Classic.
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In her memoir Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me?, Mindy dubbed B.J. her "most important plot twist" — which sounds incredibly romantic until you remember plot twists in horror movies also ruin everything. He, in turn, wrote her a lavish, wildly specific cover blurb for her second book that practically screamed "I still have feelings."
Here's a surprising fact: B.J. helped her write the show The Mindy Project, and they never once publicly confirmed being an official couple. Fourteen years of media appearances, red carpets, and paparazzi photos, and we STILL don't have a definitive answer.
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As of now, they are supremely co-parents, collaborators, and close friends — or maybe that's just the official press statement. Mindy is happily with her partner, but B.J. remains in her inner circle, hovering like a satellite that refuses to fall into a proper orbit.
So, are they dating? Based on all available evidence, the answer is: probably not, but they'll probably never fully close the door. And honestly, that ambiguity is what makes their story more entertaining than any rom-com Hollywood could dream up.
If one thing is certain, it's that B.J. Novak and Mindy Kaling will keep leaving us with more questions than answers. Grab your coffee — this mystery is nowhere near over.