Jay Leno Reveals Why He Refuses To 'Get A Girlfriend' Amid Wife's Dementia Despite Hollywood Pressure

Jay Leno has recalled a moment when he was asked if he would "get a girlfriend" amid his wife Mavis' battle with dementia.

The former late-night talk show host maintained that it had never crossed his mind to do such a thing despite being questioned about it, especially in "Hollywood."

According to Jay Leno, his decision to stay faithful and committed to Mavis despite her dementia struggle had left people "shocked."

Leno is not ready to give up on the love of his life, Mavis, and is intent on staying by her side amid her battle with dementia.

The 75-year-old TV personality appeared as a guest on a recent episode of Maria Shriver's "Life Above The Noise" podcast, where he opened up about his marriage with Mavis and the comments he has received amid her health struggles.

"I've said this a bunch of times, you take a vow when you get married, and people are stunned … they're so shocked that you would live up to it," Leno told Shriver, per the New York Post.

The couple have been married since 1980 after they met during his performance at a comedy show in Los Angeles, and have no kids. She was diagnosed with dementia in the early part of 2024, after which Leno was granted conservatorship of her in April that year.

Ever since then, Leno has stood by her side and remained her primary caregiver.

Also in his chat with Shriver, the former "Tonight" show host recalled how some people react to him honoring his vows, sharing that some have even suggested he get himself a girlfriend or seek companionship elsewhere.

"My favorite thing — this is the most Hollywood thing — a guy said to me, 'So are you going to get a girlfriend now?'" Leno recalled, adding that he replied, "'Well, no. I have a girlfriend. I'm married. We've been married 45 years."

The person pressed on, saying, "Yeah, but you know what I mean?" but Leno didn't shift grounds.

He responded, "No, [We're] kind of in this together. You can't go, 'Honey, I'll be with my girlfriend, I'll be back later.'"

The funny man then reflected on how society's view on relationships has changed, observing that people seem to raise eyebrows when you're "just doing the right thing because you're supposed to."

"That kind of used to be the norm, and then when you strayed, that was the out-of-whack part," he explained.

Leno continued, "Now the out-of-whack part is fairly common, and staying and doing what you're supposed to do is stunning to people. 'Why do you do that?' 'Well, we kind of made a deal.'"

Having to endure a dementia battle doesn't come easy for any couple, and Leno has acknowledged that.

Shriver, a longtime advocate for people with Alzheimer's disease, noted that "millions" of people "doing caregiving" are "unseen and invisible," to which Leno agreed, saying it takes a "toll."

"This is that thing of, 'Okay, you've been pretty lucky up to this point. It's been easy sailing. This is where it gets a little tricky,'" the comedian told the host.

"I haven't really been tested in my life. I wasn't in the army. I didn't have to shoot anybody. So this is that thing," Leno said. "I'm glad I'm passing the test, because you never quite know what you're going to do in that situation, or any situation."

He noted, "I like to think I made the right decision."

Leno expressed how he couldn't be any happier standing right by his wife's side despite her health challenges, telling Shriver that making Mavis laugh "is still one of my primary things."

He recounted a time when they were both in bed, and she told him she loved him, which seemingly melted his heart.

"I said, 'You're having a nightmare, go back to bed.' She thought that was the funniest thing; she just couldn't stop laughing," Leno said, per People Magazine. "And to me, that's what's fun. 'Oh, I got a laugh out of her.'"

During a November 20 appearance on the "Today" show, Leno expressed how Mavis "really needs" him and that he likes that he can be there for her.

"She really needs me, and I like that. And I can tell she appreciates it," the comedian noted. "The idea that you get married, you take these vows, nobody ever thinks they'll be called upon to act on them. You know that part — for better or worse. Even the worst isn't that bad."