Lupita Nyong’o opens up on rumors about dating Janelle Monáe

Oscar-winner, Lupita Nyong’o, has been close friends with singer, Janelle Monáe, for nearly a decade. Following the close bond and friendship the two entertainers established after they met at the 2014 Met Gala, rumors have swirled about the pair being romantically involved.

The Kenyan-Mexican actress recently touched on the rumors during an interview with Rolling Stone magazine, saying that she gets why people thought they were dating, CNN reported.

“This world is still extremely new to me and unbelievable,” the 12 Years a Slave actress said in reference to when she initially met Monáe. “[Janelle] came up to me and just gave me the realest hug,” she added. “I think we may have swayed to the music. She was just like, ‘I’m so proud of you, and just thank you for being you.’” 

Monáe, 37, came out as pansexual in 2018 before later identifying as a nonbinary person. Explaining her sexual orientation during an interview with Rolling Stone at the time, the Pynk singer said, “Being a queer black woman in America, someone who has been in relationships with both men and women – I consider myself to be a free-ass m*****f****r.”

She continued, “But then later I read about pansexuality and was like, ‘Oh, these are things that I identify with too. I’m open to learning more about who I am.”

Nyong’o also told Rolling Stone that the rumors about her and Monáe previously dating was because the singer “has a magnetism that they were obviously picking up on.” “She is that enigmatic,” the Black Panther actress continued. “I was not surprised. And I don’t mind being associated with her in any capacity.”

The actress also said her close friendship with Monáe doesn’t mean she’s entitled to know everything about the singer. “Just because you’re a close friend of hers doesn’t mean you get to know everything about her,” said Nyong’o. “I think that’s what makes her interesting as an artist.”

Nyong’o’s current beau is Selema Masekela – the son of legendary South African jazz musician Hugh Masekela.