Caitlyn Jenner’s ESPYs Date Candis Cayne Not Her Romantic Partner [Report]
Caitlyn Jenner is set to receive the Arthur Ashe Courage Award at the ESPYs Wednesday night. Most of Jenner’s 10 children, including his stepdaughters Kim, Khloe, and Kourtney Kardashian, are set to attend. Rob Kardashian, who has declined most public appearances in the past year, was not on the list of expected Jenner guests provided by US Weekly.
Also set to support Jenner is actress Candis Cayne, who was rumored to be Jenner’s love interest. Cayne appears briefly in a new promo for Jenner’s docu-series I Am Cait. Sources for US deny that Cayne, who appeared on ABC’s Dirty Sexy Money and was the first transgender actress to play a recurring transgender character on prime time television, is romantically involved with Jenner.
“Candis is currently single but is only interested in men, and Caitlyn is a woman.”
Cayne has been a source of support for Jenner during her transition. Another source told US Weekly in a separate piece that her inclusion in I Am Cait is no accident.
“It’s absolutely NOT a date. This is a job. She’s a paid cast member on the show. She has been filming almost every day with Caitlyn for over a month.”
When Jenner, then known as Bruce, interviewed with Diane Sawyer, the issue of future romantic involvements was raised. Jenner made it clear that getting into a new relationship was not high on the priority list.
“It’s so far down the road, it’s like the last thing in the world. I can’t figure that side of it out. I just want to have a free soul and have a lot of great friends. I’m 65. It’s not like you want to go out and get it on all the time. I just want to enjoy life.”
Jenner denied being gay and said the best term was “asexual, for now.”
Abby Wambach, U.S. soccer player and member of the reigning women’s World Cup championship team, will present the award to Jenner. Although some have called Jenner’s selection “exploitative,” ESPYs co-executive producer Maura Mandt denied it was a ploy for publicity.
“Bruce Jenner could have easily gone off into the sunset as this American hero and never have dealt with this publicly. Doing so took enormous courage. He was one of the greatest athletes of our time. That is what the Arthur Ashe Courage Award is about, somebody from the athletic community who has done something that transcends sport.”
The ESPYs air Wednesday night at 8 pm on ABC. It is the first time the broadcast will be on a major network.
[Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez / Getty Images Entertainment]
