On Friday, Lupita Nyong’o and Selema Masekela went Instagram official with an adorable declaration of their love. The Black Panther star and the TV host shared a collection of clips in which they’re snapping in unison while their outfits change to the song “The King’s Affirmation (Chill Mix)” by Iniko, featuring Reuel Williams.
“We just click!” Nyong’o wrote in the caption, tagging Masekela, adding the hashtags #thisismylove #nuffsaid.
He shared the same reel on his page, captioning it, “Hearts are synched. My whole and actual love @lupitanyongo. #outkickedthecoverage.”
Here’s everything we know about Nyong’o’s new partner.
Who is Selema Masekela?
Masekela is from New York, and he’s the son of famous South African jazz musician Hugh Masekela. The TV host mostly covers sports, and has reported on the Winter X Games for ESPN and the Summer Olympics for NBC. He’s also done some acting and singing in his entertainment career.
How long have they been together?
They haven’t yet shared how they met or when, but Masekela has been vocal about his interest in the actress since 2016.
“Hypothetically speaking of course…let’s say you’re seated behind Lupita Nyong’o on an airplane, what would be your opening line?” Masekela tweeted that April. “Anyone comes up with a good opener for me with Lupita Nyong’o, send em. Cause I’m really sittin’ right behind her on this flight. #stumped.”
He eventually retweeted the suggestion, “Say hello, wait for her to respond. Tell her [your] dad shouted her out at a performance & freestyle from there.”
Masekela responded, “Yes!!! Well played. I will use this one. #playthedadcard @Lupita_Nyongo.”
So, maybe they introduced themselves.
Who else has Nyong’o been connected to romantically?
In March of 2014, Us Weekly reported that Nyong’o was dating Somali-born rapper K’naan. They split a year later, and the actress went on to date fashion editor Mobolaji Dawodu. There were also unconfirmed rumors she had a relationship with actor Jared Leto.
“He’s still on speed dial because we were on that [Oscar campaign] journey together and he’s so embracing of me,” she told Net-a-Porter in March 2019. “There was an intimacy that grew from that, that goes beyond the dating rumors, beyond all that.”
Nyong’o has also denied dating rumors about herself and Michael B. Jordan, and told Vogue UK in December 2019 that “privacy is a commodity that is hard to come by.”
“Filming is so time-consuming. And intense,” she said. “With Black Panther, a lot of us were single. On Little Monsters, nobody was single.”
She added, “Everyone — when they’re done with their day’s work — wants to go home to their families, which makes a whole lot of sense. When you don’t have that, it’s very isolating.”
Aimée Lutkin is the weekend editor at ELLE.com. Her writing has appeared in Jezebel, Glamour, Marie Claire and more. Her first book, The Lonely Hunter, will be released by Dial Press in February 2022.