Spooky season has arrived and with it a new season of the Food Network's Halloween Wars. This time of year had the actor and host of the series Jonathan Bennett reminiscing about his own love story and how as he says, he has the show "to thank for my marriage."
With the new season comes a new group of cake bakers and sugar artists all competing to take home a sweet prize. Bennett tells Tracy E. Gilchrist of Equal Entertainment that it's nice to return to the show that led to him meeting his husband, Jaymes Vaughan, a current host for The Advocate Channel.
Formerly known as Celebrity Page, The Advocate Channel rebranded in 2022 after merging with historic LGBTQ+ publications such as The Advocate and Out Magazine. Bennett met Vaughan during a Celebrity Page interview in 2016 promoting Halloween Wars, and the rest was history.
"I went on his show, Celebrity Page, to promote my show, Halloween Wars, a few seasons ago," Bennett says. "We met during the interview and it was like literally love at first sight."
Bennett recalls the interview being a "complete mess" after he and Vaughan realized their connection. He continues: "We could barely speak. We were both just like a couple of little girls. But at the end of it, I was like, 'So can I get your number?' And he goes, 'You better.'"
Now, Bennett says Halloween "has a special place in my heart" for helping him meet his husband. The holiday also holds significance to the host, as it is what he's dubbed "the gayest holiday."
"I felt like being back on Halloween Wars, I was representing the queer community on television during a holiday that so many queer people celebrate and love for so many reasons," he explains, adding, "It's a time when you can actually escape anything that you're feeling and just be whoever you want to be for that evening. It's campy, it's dress up, it's glitter, it's be what you want to be. And so I think having queer representation on a show like Halloween Wars makes sense"
He adds: "I have Halloween Wars to thank for my marriage. And I have the fans to thank for being back on my favorite show."New episodes of Halloween Wars air every Thursday on the Food Network. For more interviews like this, watch Equal Entertainmenton The Advocate Channel.
