Former Jessie co-stars Josie Totah and Karan Brar recently set the internet buzzing with dating rumors after sharing a playful TikTok video that seemed to suggest some romantic chemistry. In the video, Brar approaches Totah from behind, wraps his arms around her waist, and she leans in for a kiss. Fans quickly began speculating that the two might be more than just friends.
However, Totah was quick to clear things up. She posted a follow-up TikTok in which she laughed and assured everyone that the video was just a joke. “It was a joke,” she repeated, making it clear that there was no romantic connection between them. She also added a caption to the video, stating, “We are two platonic best friends who danced a little too close to the sun.”
Brar also addressed the situation in his own way on Instagram Stories. He wrote, “It was a joke,” explaining that they didn’t intend to confuse or mislead anyone. He emphasized that the video was simply meant to be fun and not to “gaslight” anyone. Despite their clear explanations, fans were still divided. Some seemed to buy their response, while others weren’t so sure. One fan commented, “That did not look like a joke,” while another expressed disappointment, saying, “Well you can’t be joking like that cause now I’m disappointed.”
The video has sparked nostalgia for Jessie, the Disney Channel series that aired from 2011 to 2015, where Totah and Brar played memorable characters. Totah joined the show in 2013 as Stuart Wooten, a character who had a crush on Skai Jackson’s Zuri. Brar played Ravi, one of Zuri’s siblings, who was cared for by the babysitter Jessie (played by Debby Ryan).
Totah, who publicly came out as a transgender woman in 2018 through a powerful essay for Time, has become an advocate for the transgender community. At the time, she was just 17 and reflected on the struggles she faced, including fears of not being accepted or misunderstood.