Is Karen Carney Gay – Relationship Status and What We Know

Former England footballer and Strictly Come Dancing winner Karen Carney keeps her private life tightly guarded. Public curiosity about her sexuality and relationship status continues to grow, but official sources remain silent on the matter.

Is Karen Carney Gay? What Is Her Sexual Orientation?

Full Name & Age
Karen Julia Carney (born 1 August 1987)

Profession
Former professional footballer, sports journalist, Strictly star

Key Relationship Status Question
No public confirmation of current partner or sexual orientation

Known Rumored Partners
Liesel Jolly, Kelly Smith (not confirmed)

Karen Carney has never publicly confirmed or denied her sexual orientation.
The strongest persistent rumor links her to Liesel Jolly, but no official or reliable source confirms this.
Rumors of a past relationship with Kelly Smith are unsubstantiated.
Hello Magazine (Nov 2025) reports she is currently single, but this is not an official statement.

Fact	Value
Name	Karen Julia Carney OBE
Date of Birth	1 August 1987
Profession	Sports journalist, former footballer (Lioness)
Relationship Status	Not publicly confirmed; reported as single as of Nov 2025
Confirmation of Sexuality	None from Carney herself

Who Is Karen Carney’s Partner in Real Life?

Carney has never publicly confirmed any romantic relationship. According to her Wikipedia biography and a Hello Magazine article from November 2025, she is believed to be single and unmarried. No evidence of a current partner has emerged from reliable sources.

Who Is Liesel Jolly?

Liesel Jolly is a professional collaborator with whom Carney co-created “The Second Half,” a programme supporting women footballers in post-playing careers. Online rumors about a romantic relationship between the two appear to stem from that professional partnership. Neither party has confirmed any personal involvement, and no evidence suggests the relationship extends beyond work.

Is Karen Carney Dating Anyone from Strictly Come Dancing?

Despite winning the 2025 series with partner Carlos Gu, no reports or statements indicate Carney is romantically involved with anyone from the show. She has kept her private life entirely separate from the public nature of the competition.

What the Research Shows

Carney maintains a deliberate “cloak of secrecy” around her romantic life. She has never publicly addressed rumors about her sexual orientation and has not made any statements about being gay or lesbian.

Who Are Karen Carney’s Ex-Partners?

No former partners have been confirmed by Carney or credible sources. Speculation has mainly involved two figures: Kelly Smith and Liesel Jolly.

Did Karen Carney Ever Date Kelly Smith?

Kelly Smith is a former teammate from Arsenal and the England national team. The two have worked together as pundits for Sky Sports, but their relationship is strictly professional, according to available information. No evidence supports rumors of a past romantic involvement.

Who Is Karen Carney’s Ex-Partner?

There is no confirmed information about any ex-partner. Online discussions, including a community blog listing Carney among out gay footballers, lack verified sourcing and have not been corroborated.

Be Careful With Rumors

Rumors about Carney’s past relationships come from social media and unverified blog posts. Neither she nor any reliable source has confirmed a romantic link to Kelly Smith, Liesel Jolly, or anyone else.

Does Karen Carney Have Children? A Look at Her Personal Life and Family

Carney has no biological children. She has a godson named Ronnie. Her family background is well documented: father Michael Carney is a firefighter, mother Marie works at Sainsbury’s, and she has two older sisters, Emma and Sarah. Carney is the youngest of three daughters.

She grew up in Hall Green, Birmingham, and holds a BSc in Sports and Exercise Science from Loughborough University, plus master’s degrees from the University of Gloucestershire and the James Lind Institute. Carney was appointed MBE in 2017 and OBE in 2024 for services to football.

Carney has publicly discussed personal struggles including depression during her time at Birmingham City, addiction to sleeping pills after a knee injury with the Chicago Red Stars, and the impact of online abuse while commentating. She follows a vegan diet, which she credits with improving her physical and mental health.

A Timeline of Public Speculation Around Karen Carney’s Personal Life

2017 – Community blog writethroughthenight.com lists Carney as a gay footballer, sparking online speculation.
2018–2025 – Online rumors link her to Liesel Jolly. No official confirmation appears.
November 2025 – Hello Magazine reports Carney is “believed to be single” without mentioning Liesel Jolly.
2025 – Reddit users express confusion about her sexuality, noting a lack of confirmed information.

What Is Known and What Remains Unclear About Karen Carney’s Personal Life

Established Information	Information That Remains Unclear
Karen Carney is a public figure, former Lioness, and TV personality.	Whether she is currently in a relationship.
Her Wikipedia page and Hello Magazine article do not confirm a current partner.	Whether the Liesel Jolly relationship is factual.
She has never publicly confirmed or denied her sexual orientation.	Whether she identifies as gay or lesbian.

Why Are People Asking About Karen Carney’s Sexuality?

The question “Is Karen Carney gay?” appears frequently in search, but official sources do not address it. The lack of public comment from Carney is typical for public figures who keep their personal lives private. Confusion in the search results—ranging from Reddit threads to blog claims—highlights the gap between speculation and verified information. The topic gained renewed attention in 2025 due to her appearance on Strictly Come Dancing, which often triggers curiosity about participants’ relationships.

What Do the Sources Say?

Karen Carney OBE is an English former professional footballer who played as a winger or midfielder. She works as a sports broadcaster and analyst.

Wikipedia

Strictly star Karen Carney is believed to be single. The former Lioness has kept her love life under wraps.

Hello Magazine, November 2025

No official quotes from Carney herself exist on the topic of her sexuality or relationship status. The only third-party claims come from unverified community blogs and user-generated forum threads.

Summary: What We Know and What We Don’t

Karen Carney has deliberately kept her personal romantic life private throughout her career. She has not publicly confirmed her sexual orientation, any romantic partnerships, or plans for marriage or children. The available evidence points to a single, unmarried status as of late 2025, but without direct confirmation from Carney, all statements remain speculative.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Karen Carney’s personal life compare to other out gay footballers?

Unlike several openly gay footballers in women’s football, Carney has never publicly addressed her sexuality. This privacy places her outside the pattern of others who have spoken openly.

Is Karen Carney in a relationship with a man or a woman?

There is no confirmed information about the gender of any partner. Carney has not disclosed any current or past relationship.

Is Karen Carney dating anyone from Strictly Come Dancing?

No reports or statements suggest she is dating anyone connected to the show. She has kept her personal life separate from the competition.

Is Karen Carney single?

Hello Magazine reported in November 2025 that she is believed to be single. Carney herself has not confirmed or denied this.