Jonathan Van Ness Congratulates Fan on Engagement to Her Girlfriend After Her Family Didn't

Mar. 15, 2025

Jonathan Van Ness congratulates Virgin Radio host Shannon Burns on her engagement.Photo:Shannon Burns/threads

Shannon Burns/threads

Jonathan Van Nessmade one lucky fan smile after congratulating her on her engagement to her girlfriend after her parents didn’t.Virgin Radio host Shannon Burns shared a video from her interaction with theQueer Eyestar that she said was “so healing for me😭🏳️‍🌈.“The video, shared onThreadson Tuesday, Feb. 18, begins with a clip of Burns crying as an audio saying, “Don’t worry about it. Everything is going to be fine,” plays in the background.A text in white letters over the clip explains, “My family didn’t congratulate me on getting engaged to my girlfriend. “The PEOPLE Puzzler crossword is here! How quickly can you solve it? Play now!Soon after, a split screen appears, and Van Ness, who isnonbinaryanduses he/him, she/her, and they/them pronouns, is seen chatting with Burns and gleefully says, “Congratulations!““Thank you, that’s so nice of you to say,” Burns says, smiling from ear to ear.“Is the wedding going to be big or small? Do you even know yet cause you guys just got engaged? Congratulations on getting engaged! I hope you have just like the most amazing wedding,” Van Ness says soon after.According to Burns' Instagram,she and her girlfriend Morgan got engaged in May 2023.A month later, she shared withYahoo!that she initially hesitated about publicizing the news.“I was feeling really anxious to post it, and I was getting upset at the fact that I wasn’t able to just fully celebrate us getting engaged, because there’s always this weight that comes with it,” said Burns. “It’s supposed to be just celebratory, and something that’s super exciting. “Jonathan Van Ness attends the 2023 GLAAD Media Awards at New York Hilton Midtown on May 13, 2023.Taylor Hill/WireImage"But knowing that there are people out there that are going to still find a way to try and make you feel bad about being who you are, is just so unfortunate,” she continued.Burns shared with Yahoo! that she hoped her story would “remind people who are a part of the LGBTQ+ community, that they are valid and that they are good, and that they don’t need to be silenced.“Like Burns, Van Ness is also in a romantic relationship, currently nearing five years of marriage withMark Peacock. The television personality and Peacockgot married in June 2020.Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.“Oh my gosh. I can’t believe it’s already been five years. But I always joke with him, I’m like, every night is like a sleepover. Every night we get to have a sleepover,” Van Ness told PEOPLE at the WWD Style Awards on Jan. 3.

Jonathan Van Nessmade one lucky fan smile after congratulating her on her engagement to her girlfriend after her parents didn’t.

Virgin Radio host Shannon Burns shared a video from her interaction with theQueer Eyestar that she said was “so healing for me😭🏳️‍🌈.”

The video, shared onThreadson Tuesday, Feb. 18, begins with a clip of Burns crying as an audio saying, “Don’t worry about it. Everything is going to be fine,” plays in the background.

A text in white letters over the clip explains, “My family didn’t congratulate me on getting engaged to my girlfriend. "

The PEOPLE Puzzler crossword is here! How quickly can you solve it? Play now!

Soon after, a split screen appears, and Van Ness, who isnonbinaryanduses he/him, she/her, and they/them pronouns, is seen chatting with Burns and gleefully says, “Congratulations!”

“Thank you, that’s so nice of you to say,” Burns says, smiling from ear to ear.

“Is the wedding going to be big or small? Do you even know yet cause you guys just got engaged? Congratulations on getting engaged! I hope you have just like the most amazing wedding,” Van Ness says soon after.

According to Burns' Instagram,she and her girlfriend Morgan got engaged in May 2023.

A month later, she shared withYahoo!that she initially hesitated about publicizing the news.

“I was feeling really anxious to post it, and I was getting upset at the fact that I wasn’t able to just fully celebrate us getting engaged, because there’s always this weight that comes with it,” said Burns. “It’s supposed to be just celebratory, and something that’s super exciting. "

Jonathan Van Ness attends the 2023 GLAAD Media Awards at New York Hilton Midtown on May 13, 2023.Taylor Hill/WireImage

Taylor Hill/WireImage

“But knowing that there are people out there that are going to still find a way to try and make you feel bad about being who you are, is just so unfortunate,” she continued.

Burns shared with Yahoo! that she hoped her story would “remind people who are a part of the LGBTQ+ community, that they are valid and that they are good, and that they don’t need to be silenced.”

Like Burns, Van Ness is also in a romantic relationship, currently nearing five years of marriage withMark Peacock. The television personality and Peacockgot married in June 2020.

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

“Oh my gosh. I can’t believe it’s already been five years. But I always joke with him, I’m like, every night is like a sleepover. Every night we get to have a sleepover,” Van Ness told PEOPLE at the WWD Style Awards on Jan. 3.

source: people.com