Who Joe Is Texting In May December: Is He Secretly Having An Affair?

Warning! This article contains SPOILERS for May December.

Throughout May December, Joe sends texts to a mystery woman, suggesting he is secretly having an affair as he grows apart from his much older wife. May December takes place in 2015, decades after a woman named Gracie was imprisoned for entering a sexual relationship with a young boy. When actress Elizabeth Berry was tasked with portraying Gracie in a biopic film, she visited the now-married Joe and Gracie and their children to learn more about them and the scandal that their relationship was born out of. May December cast member Charles Melton has received deserved critical acclaim for his performance as Joe, a boy who grew up too fast.

As May December progresses, Joe starts to question his relationship with Gracie and his life, spurred on by Elizabeth’s questions as well as their attraction towards each other. Joe shares that he has always been faithful to Gracie, at least until he sleeps with Elizabeth, but his texts may tell another story. The May December ending hints that Joe and Gracie may be officially done, now that their children have all graduated and left the house, freeing him from his obligation to their mother, who is also old enough to be his own mother.

Joe Is Texting His Friend Michela From His Monarch Butterflies Facebook Group

Joe’s isolation is a big theme in May December, as he has dedicated his entire life to being a father to his three children and a husband to Gracie. While he has a job as a radiology technician, he seems to spend most of his time at work alone, in contrast to Gracie who fills her day with social activities and a group of supportive friends. While he has a close relationship with his children, the only other real connection he seems to have outside his family is with a woman named Michela from his monarch butterflies Facebook group.

The symbolism of monarch butterflies in May December and Joe’s hobby of raising them represents his own personal metamorphosis that he’s currently going through. Joe has never truly been able to live his life for himself, as he took care of his younger siblings from a young age only to become a father as a teenager and a husband not long after. His butterflies and friendship with Michela appear to be the only thing he does truly for himself. Through his connection with Michela, he finally allows himself to have something outside of Gracie, and the way he hides their texts is proof that they’re important to him.

Joe Will Likely Pursue A Relationship With Michela After May December’s Ending

Since Joe’s entire life up to the point of May December had revolved around Gracie and their children, he seemed almost afraid to leave her. His children leaving the home provided Joe with the possibility of doing the same, and for perhaps the first time, there was someone who seemed to be encouraging him to do so in Elizabeth. Michela also shared that she wanted to take a trip with him to see the butterflies. Getting to finally meet could be the final straw for Joe and Gracie, allowing him to pursue a relationship with Michela following May December’s ending.

The real-life story of May December is based on Vili Fualaau and Mary Kay Letourneau, who received national attention when their illegal relationship became known to the public in the 1990s. Fualaau and Letourneau separated in 2019 after 14 years together, and Joe in May December will likely do the same with Gracie. It’s strongly implied that Joe and Gracie’s marriage will finally end following their children’s graduation, which they watched separately. This opens Joe up to pursue something with Michela in May December and start his life over with someone close to his age, as he is still young at just 36.