Let’s face it, sex is everywhere — whether it’s your favorite TV shows, movies, books, or just in conversations with friends. But that’s not how everyone chooses to live their life. If you’re not having sex, either by choice or because you’re going through a dry spell, we’re here to reassure you that you’re not alone.
In fact, multiple A-listers have spoken about abstinence and celibacy in the past. In many cases, celebrities, like Russell Wilson and Ciara, decided to practice abstinence to leave that ultimate form of intimacy for marriage. In other cases, like for Justin Bieber and Orlando Bloom, the choice came as a way to reset, recharge ,and renew. And for some, like Lady Gaga and Nicki Minaj, celibacy just happened as they took a break between relationships and, honestly, that’s totally okay.
Check out some of the stars who talked about abstinence for sex below!
A version of this article was originally published on March 2023.
Lenny Kravitz
Back in 2008, Lenny Kravitz told Maxim that he had been celibate for three years and planned on abstaining from sex until he met someone he wanted to marry.
“[It’s] just a promise I made until I get married,” Kravitz said. “Where I’m at in life, the women have got to come with something else, not just the body, but the mind and spirit.”
In 2024, he reconfirmed his commitment to abstinence in an interview with The Guardian, saying, “Yes. It’s a spiritual thing,” before saying he hadn’t been in a serious relationship in nine years.
Julia Fox
Julia Fox revealed in May 2024 that she has been celibate for over two years now. She commented under a TikTok video on May 12, via Page Six, saying, “2.5 years of celibacy and never been better tbh.”
She later clarified the comments during an appearance on Watch What Happens Live.
“I think, with the overturning of Roe v. Wade and our rights being stripped away from us, this is a way that I can take back the control,” she explained. “It just sucks that it has to be in that way, but I just don’t feel comfortable until things change.”
She admitted it was hard at first but has since gotten used to abstinence. “I think it’s just like getting over anything ― smoking, drugs, whatever it may be,” she said. “Eventually you just forget, and then all that energy that you were putting toward sex, you can put it toward other things.”
Craig David
In May 2024, Craig David explained how he tried celibacy to help his creativity, and it worked. He told The TMZ Podcast via Page Six, that he wanted to explore what life was like without the pressure to be physically intimate with partners.
“In a funny way, as much as I was like, ‘Wow,’ to myself for a moment, it just felt that creativity has been on a hundred, on a max for those two years.”
Suki Waterhouse
In an Oct 2023 episode of the Driven Minds: A Type 7 Podcast, Suki Waterhouse went through a lengthy “bout of celibacy” before getting together with her longtime boyfriend Robert Pattinson. And how it was a “brilliant” move for her and her mental health in the long run.
“It’s just something about taking away the chaos of receiving attention, having to deal with it and texting people and getting those lurches of excitement,” she said, adding that she went as far as to go on “no dates [or] no nothing” at that time. “It turned out to be great. I got very clear and got very comfortable with being by myself — then I ended up meeting my boyfriend.”
Andrew Garfield
In a 2022 podcast appearance, Garfield revealed that he abstained from sex for six months while playing a 17th century Jesuit priest in Martin Scorsese’s 2016 film Silence.
“I had an incredibly spiritual experience. I did a bunch of spiritual practices every day, I created new rituals for myself. I was celibate for six months, and fasting a lot, because me and Adam [Driver] had to lose a bunch of weight anyway,” he explained. “It was very cool, man. I had some pretty wild, trippy experiences from starving myself of sex and food at that time.”
Justin Bieber
Prior to meeting his now-wife Hailey Bieber, Justin Bieber was on a lengthy journey of celibacy in his attempt to fix his “legitimate problem with sex,” he told Vogue.
“[God] doesn’t ask us not to have sex for him because he wants rules and stuff,” the “Ghost” singer told the outlet. “He’s like, ‘I’m trying to protect you from hurt and pain.’ I think sex can cause a lot of pain. Sometimes people have sex because they don’t feel good enough. Because they lack self-worth. I wanted to rededicate myself to God in that way because I really felt it was better for the condition of my soul. And I believe that God blessed me with Hailey as a result. There are perks. You get rewarded for good behavior.”
Russell Wilson & Ciara
Happily married duo Russell Wilson and Ciara practiced celibacy before tying the knot. “I asked her, ‘What would you do if we took all that other stuff off the table and did it Jesus’ way, no sex?’” Wilson said in an interview with The Rock Church, per Us Weekly. “I knew God had brought me into her life to bless her and for her to bless me and to bless so many people with the impact that she has and I have.”
Shortly after, Ciara also confirmed their decision. “It’s until the deal is sealed,” the singer told Access.
Jessica Simpson
Jessica Simpson chose to wait to have sex until her marriage to Nick Lachey in 2002. “My virginity is something I stand strong in,” she told People at the time. “It’s not always easy. But I do respect it. Virginity can be cool and sexy.”
Ben Higgins
Former Bachelor star Ben Higgins opened up in the Talking It Out podcast last year about abstaining with now-wife Jessica Clarke until they tied the knot, per Us Weekly.
“We both believe in Jesus,” he said. “That is something that is at the foundation [and] the corner of our life. We also, because of that, do believe that sex is sacred. We believe it is something very powerful. Something very important to consider and hold dear, to talk about, to express. We also believe it’s an awesome thing. It’s a gift.”
Lady Gaga
Talking to Daily Mail back in 2010, the “Shallow” singer revealed she was celibate and totally loving it. “I can’t believe I’m saying this – don’t have sex,” she told the outlet. “I’m single right now and I’ve chosen to be single because I don’t have the time to get to know anybody. So it’s OK not to have sex, it’s OK to get to know people. I’m celibate, celibacy’s fine.”
Kevin Jonas
Back in the 2010s, the Jonas Brothers went viral for wearing purity rings as a symbol of their abstinence. And, although younger brothers Joe and Nick have since admitted to taking the ring off shortly after, older brother Kevin abstained from sex until he married his wife Danielle Deleasa in 2009. “I could’ve gotten married the day after we got engaged,” he told People. “We’d have gone crazy waiting any longer.”
Julianne Hough
Back in 2008, Julianne Hough revealed to CosmoGirl! her desire to abstain from sex until marriage, per Elite Daily. “I think [the choice] to have sex before marriage is an individual one, but if you’re just with one person, it’s only for one good reason, and [waiting to have sex] will strengthen that relationship,” she told the outlet. “I’m not trying to preach consequences here, but I think when you say no, down the line, it will be a better decision.”
Colton Underwood
Known as “the virgin” during his seasons of The Bachelorette and The Bachelor, Colton Underwood has since addressed the decision since coming out as gay. “I was a full virgin [before The Bachelor], and I could never give anybody a good answer of why I was a virgin,” he told Good Morning America in 2021, per Us Weekly. “The truth is I was a virgin Bachelor because I was gay, and I didn’t know how to handle it.”
Hilary Duff
Former Disney star Hilary Duff also chose to wait to pop the cherry until marriage. “It’s harder having a boyfriend who’s older because people just assume. But [virginity] is definitely something I like about myself,” the How I Met Your Father star told Elle. “It doesn’t mean I haven’t thought about sex, because everyone I know has had it and you want to fit in, but when they talk about it, it doesn’t sound special, like you would imagine it to be.”
Jordin Sparks
Leading up to her wedding to her husband Dana Isaiah, Jordin Sparks opened up to fans about recommitting to abstinence. “Have you ever consciously been celibate? Why or why not?” Sparks wrote on Instagram. “Are you celibate now? Why or why not? Did you plan on doing so, life happened & now you’ve recommitted? (Me! 🙋🏽) Do you think you could do it? Why or why not? No shame or judgment here, everyone has their own personal feelings & journey to take.”
Mariah Carey
Prior to her 2008 wedding with Nick Cannon, singer Mariah Carey was practicing celibacy. “It’s not that we had NO intimacy, we just didn’t have complete intimacy,” she told the Mirror. “It’s just me, and my feelings.”
“I definitely don’t want to push it on anybody else,” she added. “But we both have similar beliefs, and I just thought that it would be so much more special if we waited until after we were married. And it was, and it still is.”
Nicki Minaj
In a 2017 appearance on the Ellen DeGeneres Show, Nicki Minaj talked about her rather sex-less period, per Elite Daily. “I’m just chillin’ right now,” she said. “I’m celibate. I wanted to go a year without dating any man. I hate men.”
Ally Brooke Hernandez
Fifth Harmony alum Ally Brooke Hernandez revealed she was still a virgin in an interview with Hollywood Raw in 2021. “I was really happy to be able to share that with my fans and readers, and show them the choice that I made, and have them receive it however they want to receive it — but letting my true heart shine was the goal of this book,” she said, referring to her memoir Finding Harmony.
Orlando Bloom
Katy Perry’s other half Orlando Bloom has also spoken out about going sex-free before meeting the “Teenage Dream” singer. “I was really enjoying the way I was relating to women, and to the feminine within myself,” Bloom told The Sunday Times, per Elite Daily. “I know that sounds crazy.”
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