James Haven, son of actor Jon Voight, revealed that his father offered a supportive phone call after Haven came out as gay. The conversation, described by Haven as "mind-blowing" and "surreal," marked a significant moment in their relationship, which has included years of estrangement.
Haven, 53, shared details of the call on the "All Out with Jon Dean" podcast. "I finally pick up the phone after 15 minutes of him trying to call me," Haven recounted, anticipating a difficult conversation. Instead, Voight, 87, said, "I finally know who you are." Haven characterized the subsequent discussion as "really nice."
His ex-wife, Romi Imbelli, who also appeared on the podcast, noted that she and Haven had been anticipating Voight's reaction for decades, as the situation had caused significant pain. "So I’m like, ‘What is dad going to say?’ And then when he does that," Imbelli said.
Haven, whose sister is Angelina Jolie, stated that his father's response was particularly "affirming." He expressed surprise at hearing his father say, "Now I understand why you’ve been so private," and that Voight felt he could finally "understand" Haven’s "entire behavior."
The father-son relationship has been difficult, with Haven previously stating they did not speak for six years due to a "value issue" he felt from the Oscar winner. "My upbringing was very difficult, and we’ve come a long way," Haven said.
Haven recently came out publicly during a live video stream, stating that coming out is about "allowing everyone else to meet the person who has been here all along." He expressed hope that his family and others would choose "love over fear, understanding over judgment, and connection over the beliefs that may have kept us apart."
Imbelli described Haven as her "life partner" during the live stream.
Haven is also launching a new podcast titled "Safe Haven with James Haven," which will feature discussions about guests' life-shaping moments and turning points.