‘Mean Girls’ star Jonathan Bennett jokes he’s the ‘gay king of Christmas’
Jonathan Bennett has dubbed himself the “gay king of Christmas.”
The actor, 41, jokingly gave himself the moniker because he executive produced and stars in “The Holiday Sitter,” Hallmark Channel’s first Christmas romantic comedy that focuses on a queer couple.
In the movie, Bennett plays Sam, “a workaholic bachelor” who is forced to babysit his niece and nephew before the holidays when his sister and her husband suddenly have to go out of town.
Sam, who is completely befuddled, enlists some help from a handsome next-door neighbor, Jason (George Krissa), with whom he (spoiler alert) finds himself in an “unexpected romance” — and we’re guessing that he also learns the true meaning of Christmas.
Hallmark Channel recently made headlines after Candace Cameron Bure announced her move from the network to Great American Family.
When the “Full House” alum was asked in a Wall Street Journal interview whether her new home will feature same-sex couples on screen, she controversially replied, “I think the Great American Family will keep traditional marriage at the core.”
Bennett, who is openly gay, sidestepped the controversy.
“I can’t speak to what other people are doing on their network,” he told Page Six, “but all I know is that I’m proud to be a part of Hallmark Channel. [They’re] making extremely huge strides in making sure that there is inclusivity in their programming to make sure that everyone feels like they have a seat at the holiday table.
“Hallmark Channel has done such a great job of making sure that everyone knows that Christmas is for everyone and that the Hallmark Channel is for everyone … and has created a safe place for queer filmmakers to tell stories.”
Bennett is well aware, though, that no matter how many Hallmark movies he makes, he will forever be known as Aaron Samuels from “Mean Girls.”
“What a fun movie to be able to be involved with,” he gushed. “Not everyone gets a ‘Mean Girls’ in their lifetime, you know? And so, to be a part of pop culture and to have people love it and support it … not just the year that it came out, but it’s for some reason this movie that every generation just falls in love with.”
Bennett has been busy in his personal life as well, marrying Jaymes Vaughan earlier this year in Mexico. The two are involved in OutBound, a gay travel agency that organizes cruises.
“I have a husband that is just so supportive and helps me every single day be the best version of myself. And I help him be the best version of himself,” he enthused before noting that now he can “do all the things like I wouldn’t do before, like pick my nose and fart in front of him.
“And, you know, I can’t say anything because we’re married now, so I’m not going to go through it all. You just rip the Band-Aid off. All right, baby, you’re stuck with me!”
“The Holiday Sitter” premieres Sunday, Dec. 11, at 8 p.m. ET on Hallmark Channel.
