‘I'm team Jared’: Milo Ventimiglia reveals why he’d be okay if his daughter picks Dean over Jess in Gilmore Girls debate

In an exclusive interview with People, Milo Ventimiglia opened up about fatherhood — and the enduring Team Dean vs. Team Jess debate that still follows him decades after Gilmore Girls first aired. The actor, who played the brooding Jess Mariano on the beloved series, said he would be perfectly fine if his daughter, Ke’ala, grows up to side with Dean Forester — the character played by Jared Padalecki.



For fans of Gilmore Girls, the Rory–Dean–Jess–Logan debate remains one of television’s most passionate fandom divides. Ventimiglia’s character Jess was introduced as Rory Gilmore’s rebellious yet intellectually matched love interest, shaking up her steady relationship with Dean. Later, Logan Huntzberger — played by Matt Czuchry — added another layer to the romantic saga.

Even years after the original run (2000–2007) and the 2016 revival, Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life, viewers continue to fiercely identify as Team Dean, Team Jess or Team Logan. Ventimiglia acknowledged the staying power of the debate, which has followed the cast through reunions, interviews and fan conventions.




What makes Ventimiglia’s comment stand out is its warmth. While he portrayed one of Rory’s most complex partners opposite Alexis Bledel, he made it clear that off-screen friendships outweigh fictional rivalries. He shared that he supports Padalecki as a friend, which makes the idea of his daughter picking Dean an easy pill to swallow.

The remark reflects how the former co-stars have maintained camaraderie long after the cameras stopped rolling. The rivalry may have fuelled dramatic tension on-screen, but behind the scenes, it has translated into lasting bonds.




Ventimiglia’s perspective also comes from a new chapter in his life. As a father, the actor appears less concerned with old fan allegiances and more focused on embracing whatever choices his daughter makes — even if that means siding against his own character.

For longtime fans, the idea of Jess being okay with “Team Dean” feels almost poetic. It signals how time has softened one of TV’s most iconic love triangles. And if the debate ever resurfaces at home, it sounds like Ventimiglia is ready to take it in stride — proving that in real life, friendship trumps fandom every time.