After a String of Failed Long-Term Relationships, Chris Hardwick Finally Got Engaged

By Dustin Rowles | Celebrity | September 14, 2015 |

By Dustin Rowles | Celebrity | September 14, 2015 |

I say “finally” got engaged in this case, not because there’s anything wrong with remaining unmarried, but because after listening to 47,000 episodes of the Nerdist podcast with Hardwick and hearing him talk — at length — about his commitment issues, it’s nice that he’s seemingly overcome them. It’s been a struggle (mostly for those of us who have had to hear about those issues Ad nauseam).

In fact, I had a hunch that an engagement was coming. Typically, when the subject of his guests’ children come up, he always makes it about himself and his aversion to children, which is to say: He gives a five-minute spiel about why he has chosen to remain childless because he can’t imagine himself being able to take care of someone else because he barely knows how to take care of himself. Over the last few weeks, however, Hardwick has softened on that stance, and for the first time, he’s begun to talk about what it might like to be a father. And then he talks about going to the gym again and I die a little inside.

Oh, and in many circles, his fiance is more famous than he is. Hardwick got engaged to model Lydia Hearst, great-granddaughter to William Randolph Heart and heiress to his fortune. She’s also a super-ish model and actress. She previously dated Kevin Connelly, from Entourage. She certainly has a type.

Hardwick, meanwhile, has left a string of long-term relationships in his wake, with the likes of actress Jacinda Barrett (now married to Suits’s Gabriel Macht), Janet Varney (Legend of Korra), and Chloe Dykstra (a gamer journalist and Nerdist co-host). Interestingly, Hardwick has only been with Hearst for a year, while he had spent multiple years in his previous relationships.

He’s also spoken, in recent weeks, of being called out for not being a nerd now that he’s with a supermodel, but that’s ridiculous. He’s living the nerd dream, y’all!

He’s also gonna be insufferable for the next few months ,and if he does have kids, god help us all! His guests will never get in another word.

As you might imagine, the announcement — and all the details — was announced on Instagram.

All snazzed up on the red carpet! @lydiahearst had NO IDEA what I was planning for later. I told her there was a small Emmy after party at the Chateau Marmont. When we got up to the room I had to confess that I had tricked her when I pulled out the room key. I opened the door and the room was filled with wild flower bouquets and purple rose petals all over the floor (apologies to the housekeeping dept). And then…IT HAPPENED. I pulled out a candy ring (the one she's getting for real is in NY and needs to be sized). She affirmed that this union was mutually agreeable by bursting into tears. Then there was kissing and cry breath. It was a scene so romantic, I'm surprised a Rachel McAdams movie didn't break out around it. I'm guessing it will ultimately be the only Hearst wedding whose registry includes @thinkgeek. (photo credit: JB Lacroix for @gettyimages)

A photo posted by Chris Hardwick (@nerdist) on Sep 13, 2015 at 12:18pm PDT

Awwwww.

I said YES!!!!!! 💍 Every love story is beautiful, but ours is my favorite. You completely swept me off my feet. You have shown me what it feels like to be loved and I love you with all my heart. My life is better because you are in it @nerdist.

A photo posted by Lydia Hearst 💋 (@lydiahearst) on Sep 12, 2015 at 11:21pm PDT

Congratulations!