The young man, who called himself Jacob, says his father stopped talking to him for several years after he came out as gay, and that the two have only recently repaired their relationship.
So it came as quite the surprise to him when he found his father on the gay hook-up app.
Jacob says he was browsing Grindr when found a profile with a headless torso pic and realise it had been taken in the walk-in closet in his parent’s house.
“They have one of those en-suites that are through the walk-in closet,” he told Australian radio hosts Kyle and Jackie O, per the Daily Mail.
“I thought: ‘That looks sort of like my parent’s house’.”
He scanned the profile to see if he could find any clues as to who was behind the profile, but couldn’t locate any signs.
So, Jacob began sending messages, using a faceless profile.
“I wasn’t flirting with him, I just engaged in normal conversation, told him I liked his picture and asked where he is from,” he continued.
After asking for a photo of his face, Jacob confirmed that he was in fact talking to his father.
Gay man doesn’t care if dad is on Grindr – but wants to tell his mother
Jacob told the radio hosts he is torn. He doesn’t care if his dad is queer, or on Grindr, but doesn’t like that he might be lying to his mother.
Jackie O told Jacob she would have “walked away” from the situation immediately after recognising the bedroom, but agreed with listeners who said he needed to discuss this with his parents.
“They have to be aware,” said one KIIS listener who called in.
“My partner had a similar thing happen, his dad had six kids, was a construction manager and appeared happily married. Your dad will be happier if he can be true to his real identity,” another said.
But, according to Jacob, things might not be that easy.
He said his father was “super against it when I was coming out”.
“He hated me. He was super angry and didn’t want anything to do with me in his life,” Jacob added.
His father only began speaking to Jacob again recently. It reportedly took a lot of work to get them on good terms – and Jacob fears it will hurt his mother if their relationship is ruined again.
Another listener suggested he talk to his father first before involving his mum, but Jacob seemed reluctant, despite wanting answers.
“I want to hear his opinion and get his story,” he said. “I want to know why he has been hiding it from me for so long.”