Angelina Jolie's brother James Haven speaks out after coming out as gay at 53

Angelina Jolie’s older brother James Haven has spoken openly about his sexuality after coming out as gay at 53, revealing he spent years suppressing parts of himself while growing up.

The actor made the announcement during a livestream with his ex-wife, Romi Imbelli, on her Substack, Breathe Mija, on Thursday (6 August).

As the pair discussed their new chapter as friends, Romi asked James what he wanted to share with viewers.

“I'm gay. I'm a lot of things,” he said.

James, the eldest child of actor Jon Voight and the late Marcheline Bertrand, then opened up about what led him to finally share his truth publicly.

“I, James Haven, begin a new chapter of my life,” he said.

“After many years of healing from childhood trauma, I am now free to live the life that I believe I was always meant to live. One of hope, one of peace and one of love. So as my story unfolds, I want you all to know that I do it with an open heart, with nothing but love for myself and for all of you.”

“Thank you for allowing me to be what I was meant to be,” he added.

In a separate statement shared on Romi’s Substack, James reflected on the childhood experiences that shaped how he viewed his sexuality.

“When I was a little boy, I was absolutely obsessed with the Disney princesses,” he wrote. “I would sneak glitter onto my cheeks, swipe mascara onto my lashes, and for those moments, I felt like magic.”

“I didn't have the language back then to explain why I just knew it made me feel more like me. It was never about pretending to be someone else. It was about letting a part of myself shine that had always been there.”

James said he later learned to hide those parts of himself, adding: “Like so many gay kids, I learned to question parts of myself long before I learned to celebrate them. I spent years dimming my light because I thought that was the price of belonging.”

He also shared a message for his family and others who may be struggling to understand his journey.

“I hope my family and others can choose love over fear, understanding over judgment, and connection over the beliefs that may have kept us apart. I hope they can look beyond the labels and simply see me with the same heart, the same laugh, the same soul they’ve always known.”

James also described coming out as a process of allowing others to see who he has always been.

“Coming out isn't about becoming someone new, it's about allowing everyone else to meet the person who has been here all along.”

James’ announcement comes more than a year after his split from Romi.

The pair married in August 2024, but Romi filed to annul their marriage just 15 days later. She cited 'fraud' as the reason for the annulment.

Despite the end of their marriage, Romi has continued to describe James as someone she loves, with the former couple appearing together as friends during the livestream.

Romi previously said she had suspected James was gay, but struggled with what that could mean for their relationship.

“I didn't want to see it. I didn't want to believe,” she said. “I knew it, and I wanted to support you and love you, and then I didn't want to believe it because then it would mean losing you in that capacity, which I couldn't.”