B.J. Novak is sharing rare insight into his role as godfather to Mindy Kaling’s three kids.
During his appearance on Watch What Happens Live With Andy Cohen on Monday, April 20, Novak, 46, was asked about the “best gift” he ever gave his godchildren.
“Kit nicknamed me Fofo, which is based on [the education app] Duolingo for kids character — the bear, Fofo,” the Office alum explained. “So, I got her a Fofo stuffed animal for her collection and that hit the spot.”
Novak is the godfather to Kaling’s three kids, daughters Katherine “Kit,” 8, and Anne, 2, and son Spencer, 5.
WWHL host Andy Cohen praised Novak for how “present” he is with his godchildren.
“He gets on their level. He talks to them,” Cohen, 57, added.
Kaling, 46, has never publicly revealed the identity of her children’s father, leading some fans to speculate that it may be Novak. However, the actress shut down the rumors in a 2022 interview with Marie Claire, emphasizing that she and Novak are close friends.
“He’s the godparent to both my kids — and they have such a great relationship — and so far [the speculation hasn’t] affected my happiness at all, it hasn’t affected my kids or B.J.,” she said. “It doesn’t bother me. If that’s what is going to be titillating to people, I’ll take it.”
Kaling — who has been candid about being a single mother by choice — previously called Novak an “integral part” of her family while accepting her star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in February 2025. Novak also spoke on Kaling’s behalf at the ceremony, calling her an “incredible mother of three.”
“Mindy respects and understands [fame] in a very intuitive way, because in addition to being a brilliant and wildly successful showrunner, [she is] an incredible mother of three, a deep and caring daughter and friend and mentor to so many,” the Vengeance star said.
Novak continued, “You’d be on the walk of talent if they had one. You’d be on the walk of friendship. You’d be on the walk of compassionate parenthood, but let’s face it all of these would be terrible field trips, so here you are instead, very deservedly, a person who means so much to so many on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.”
Kaling first announced she was pregnant in 2017, giving birth to Kit later that year. She later welcomed Spencer in September 2020 and Anne in February 2024.
In February 2024, Kaling opened up about how motherhood has changed her life.
“It’s really rewarding, being a mom and spending time with these two people who look like me,” she told WSJ Magazine at the time. “I love them, and they’re so funny. In terms of my career, I’m a single mom, I’m the breadwinner in the house.”
The Never Have I Ever creator continued, “So there’s a lot of panic that comes with that, the buck stops with me, I have to earn money for them. Having kids is everything — wanting to be a good role model and wanting to produce content that doesn’t embarrass them and makes them proud is another layer to my life and a complication that I welcome.”
