Netizens in shock as B.J. Novak, the Office star, reportedly sparks a romance with TikTok sensation Delaney Rowe

The actor B.J. Novak, well known for starring as Ryan Howard in the sitcom The Office, is reportedly in a relationship with TikToker Delaney Rowe, as per PEOPLE magazine. The speculations first began in November 2024, when the duo were pictured together at the How Long Gone afterparty in New York City. The rumors intensified when they were spotted  together again at the Bowery Hotel in New York City a month later.

Many fans were surprised after the speculations began, as B.J. Novak has kept his personal life away from the media ever since his split with The Office co-star Mindy Kalling. After the rumors were confirmed in April 2025, netizens expressed their reaction to the news on social media platforms.

An X user expressed her confusion from Mindy’s perspective about B.J. Novak’s decision to date TikToker Delaney Rowe, as she believes Delaney’s personality is similar to the characters Mindy has often written about.

“Mindy Kaling watching B.J. Novak date a twenty-something girl with a personality she constantly writes her female characters to have and uses to self-project,” said X user @wannabespice.

Another user felt the attention to B.J. Novak’s personal life has been unnecessary, as they do not believe he had an interesting enough career for it.

“I feel like BJ Novak's career hasn't been that interesting for you all to be scandalized he's dating a woman who does skits on TikTok; you all sound like the millennial version of the Gen Z kids losing their minds over Timothée Chalamet and Kylie Jenner,” wrote the user in a lengthy explanation.

An X user believes they have overwhelming pop culture knowledge on the situation; however, they don’t think anyone can converse with them on that level.

“I just found out that BJ Novak is dating Delaney Rowe from TikTok, and I have no one to talk about this with. Why did God curse me with the ability to process vast amounts of useless pop culture knowledge and not something useful, like how to do math?” the user tweeted jokingly.

There were more mixed emotions expressed by netizens on the couple’s news.

“I just found out BJ Novak is dating that annoying TikTok actress,” tweeted the user in frustration.

“BJ staying iconic on and off screen. Happy for them both,” Another X user was seemingly happy for the actor.

Everything to about the actor B.J. Novak

Benjamin Joseph Manaly Novak, also known as B.J. Novak, is an American actor, comedian, screenwriter, author, and producer. During the early 2000s, he starred as a field agent for the MTV reality prank show Punk'd before landing the career-making role as Ryan Howard on NBC’s hit sitcom series The Office. Novak also featured in a supporting role in movies such as Reign Over Me and Inglourious Basterds.

 In the 2010s, he had a starring role as Harry J. Sonneborn in the biographical film The Founder and voiced Baker Smurf in The Smurfs and The Smurfs 2. He later made his directorial debut with the film Vengeance. He also produced and starred in the project. Novak also created and wrote the FX on Hulu anthology series The Premise.

B.J. Novak’s contribution to Hollywood as an actor, writer, and producer has earned him multiple awards, including two Screen Actors Guild Awards and a Writers Guild of America Award. He also has five nominations for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Comedy Series.