Thiele frames his new Tinder campaign as a natural evolution of his brand, highlighting his 10-year relationship with stylist Jared Ellner as proof of his stable, relatable persona while promoting the new 'Group Hangouts' feature.
Insiders note that Thiele’s relentless promotion of Connor Storrie is becoming a meme in itself, with social media users keeping a running tally of how many times he brings up Storrie in interviews, suggesting a level of fandom that borders on obsessive.
Thiele confirmed he and Ellner shot a Tinder ad three months into dating, but their faces were cut out. He also revealed he missed seeing Jennifer Garner on set because he was already driving away when her black Escalade arrived.
Owen Thiele is either the internet’s most loyal hype man or the most entertainingly obsessed actor we’ve seen in a while, and we are here for the receipts.
If you thought Owen Thiele was just another charming leading man, think again. The 'Adults' star has been quietly hoarding a bizarre piece of dating app history that he finally spilled in a recent exclusive with Variety. Ten years into his relationship with celebrity stylist Jared Ellner, Thiele revealed that the couple actually shot a Tinder campaign when they were barely three months in.
But here’s the kicker: you won’t find their faces on any billboards. Thiele recalled that during the shoot, "our faces were cut out and it was just our hands interlocked," meaning a pair of disembodied hands representing the couple have been floating around the internet for a decade. It’s a weirdly intimate secret that proves Thiele has been in the dating app game longer than he’s been letting on.
Fast forward to 2026, and Thiele is back in the Tinder fold, this time fronting a new campaign for "Group Hangouts." Directed by twins Fa and Fon Watkins, the spot features Thiele channeling Sir David Attenborough to narrate Gen Z dating "in the wild." He admitted he signed on immediately because the concept of people-watching aligns with his personality, though he wisely skipped the British accent, joking that Tinder’s "stocks would have been down" if he had committed to the bit.
It’s a savvy move for a brand trying to capture the group-dating zeitgeist, leveraging Thiele’s natural comedic timing and observational skills without forcing him into a caricature that might feel forced. But the real drama isn't in the ads; it’s in Thiele’s professional relationships. The actor is currently starring in "Peaked," a comedy directed by his childhood best friend, Molly Gordon.
Thiele shared that their partnership dates back to age two, when they acted in a school play together, with Gordon "telling me where to stand" even then. This deep-rooted trust extends to his co-star, Connor Storrie, who is riding high on the success of "Heated Rivalry." Thiele didn’t just praise Storrie; he admitted to a compulsive need to mention him. "In every single interview, I somehow accidentally, but also on purpose, bring up Connor Storrie," Thiele confessed.
He even acknowledged a viral Twitter tally tracking his mentions, admitting, "I bring him up every time I can." It’s a level of fanboy energy that is both endearing and slightly unhinged. Thiele’s inability to stay on script seems to extend to his encounters with Hollywood royalty, too. When asked about the "13 Going on 30" sequel, he revealed he missed a chance to meet Jennifer Garner entirely.
"I get in my car, and I’m driving away as I see a black Escalade," Thiele recounted. "I was like, 'Turn around, Owen, turn around.'" But security wouldn’t let him back in, leaving him with nothing but regret and a story for this interview. Meanwhile, on "Adults," he remains tight-lipped about whether his character Anton and Paul Baker will officially get together, admitting he has no clue what the writers have planned. With a career spanning viral marketing stunts, childhood-friend directorships, and accidental celebrity near-misses, Owen Thiele is proving that his most compelling role might just be being himself.
