Zooey Deschanel and Jonathan Scott Open Up About Their Unexpected Relationship: “I Did Not See This Coming”

In August 2023, Zooey Deschanel and Jonathan Scott surprised their fans and followers by announcing their engagement after four years of dating. More than a month after the New Girl alum and the Property Brothers star revealed their updated relationship status, the two of them opened up to People about the origins of their partnership—and why they’ve sustained such a strong bond despite being “from different worlds.”

Deschanel and Scott first sparked dating rumors in 2019—it was a surprise, since no one expected them to link up. And when they confirmed their relationship on Instagram, people had a lot of opinions. “When we first started dating, Zooey posted a picture of us together—it might have been the very first time we ever posted anything on social media,” the reality star said in an interview for the outlet's cover story, which was published on October 4, 2023. “And I remember I looked at it, and I saw the first comment right below was, ‘Why the hell is she with a Property Brother?!’ I was like, ‘Excuse me—rude!'”

Although the initial judgment was a little offensive to Scott, he too never predicted that his union with Deschanel would progress to what it is now. “I’m not gonna lie, this, I did not see this coming,” he admits.

Deschanel explained that despite what other people thought, the two were always the perfect match. “Why wouldn’t I be with you?” the actress asked. “Our personalities are so compatible. It’s just that we’re from different worlds.” Deschanel also noted that their mutual interests paved the way for a successful relationship. “We identify as nerds, we’ll have you know,” she added.

Deschanel and Scott first met in August 2019, while filming an episode of James Corden’s Carpool Karaoke; they immediately hit it off. After crossing paths, the duo went on their first date to an escape room, which is one of Scott’s favorite activities—and quickly became something Deschanel enjoyed, too. “I had actually never done one, and he kept telling me how much he liked them,” the actress recalls. “It sounded very much up my alley, and I loved it right away. I mean, I wasn’t good at the first one, to be honest, but I’ve gotten pretty proficient.” Before the two of them even went to the escape room, Deschanel had a feeling things were going to work out—Scott had sent her an itinerary for the evening. “I was like, ‘This is my dream!’” she remembers. “I’m a Capricorn.”

From there, their relationship moved quickly. A few months later, Scott took Deschanel to his brother’s Halloween-themed wedding as his plus one. Then, the HGTV star said “I love you” for the first time while the two of them were watching a show at Magic Castle, a private club in Los Angeles to which Scott belongs. Throughout the four years they’ve been together, the two of them have supported one another professionally. While Scott has made cameos at Deschanel’s Christmas concerts for She & Him, Deschanel has made an appearance on Scott’s HGTV series, Celebrity IOU. 

In August 2023, Scott popped the question while they were touring a castle in Scotland. The ring, a floral-shaped stone set with diamonds and pink and purple sapphires, sealed the deal. Since they just got engaged a little over a month ago, the two of them explained that they haven’t started planning their wedding just yet. “We’ve just been basking in engaged bliss and haven’t really figured out anything,” Deschanel notes. However, they know that their future celebration will be an incredible experience. “We do love to throw a party,” the actress says.