Star’s Son’s Secret

Penn Badgley has found himself in an unusual position: correcting a rumor about his family that has lingered for years. During a recent appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, the You actor took the opportunity to address a persistent misconception about his youngest son’s name. “This is a very weird thing to say, but our littlest, who is four… everybody is like, ‘What on earth is he about to say?’” Badgley began, before clarifying, “His name is not James.”

Badgley explained that the confusion began with an incorrect entry on Wikipedia, which, despite his best efforts, kept reappearing online. “The internet, on Wikipedia, for many years, his name was James. And we’d get it removed, it would go back. His name’s not James,” he said. The misinformation became so widespread that even people close to the family were affected. “There are people who are close to the family who haven’t seen us in a while, they send us a card and it says, ‘To all of us and James,’” he shared, highlighting the real-world impact of online rumors.

While Badgley is known for keeping his personal life private, he did offer a hint about his son’s real name, saying, “It’s a good name though!” He explained that he and his wife, Domino Kirke, want to protect their son’s privacy for as long as possible.

The interview also provided a rare glimpse into the growing Badgley-Kirke family. The couple is expecting identical twin boys this summer, and Badgley described the excitement and surrealism of seeing the twins together in sonograms. “It’s thrilling, obviously. It’s such a nice dose of reality. Like every time I see the sonogram it just… it feels so good. So as an only child, that’s touching to see them together,” he said.

Badgley also shared how his four-year-old son is eager to become a big brother, while his stepson Cassius, 16, is supportive but also looking forward to his own independence in the coming years.

Through a mix of humor, sincerity, and a touch of vulnerability, Penn Badgley gave fans a balanced and thoughtful look at the challenges and joys of family life in the public eye-and a reminder that even the smallest details can have a big impact.