“My love for my cat is singular,” she told the mag. “If I’m ever so lucky to be in a romantic relationship again, it’ll be because of him. I was ready to shut that door and lock it and bolt it. He has ensured that my heart remains open.”
Nyong’o adopted Yoyo at the end of 2023, shortly after she announced her split from ex-boyfriend Selema Masekela. It wasn’t long after that she and Jackson–who also went through a recent split–first sparked dating rumors. The pair were seen spending a lot of time together in Los Angeles after Jodie Turner-Smith filed for divorce from Jackson, going on to spend a romantic weekend in Mexico to celebrate Lupita’s birthday in March.
After they seemed to confirm their relationship on that PDA-filled vacation, the couple went quiet, and in September, Jackson was seen out in New York City with model Nastassja Roberts. Joshua’s new companion sparked rumors that his romance with Lupita was over, and now, it looks like that’s the case.
Lupita Nyong’o attends ‘The Wilde Robot’ (Robot Salvaje) photocall during the 72nd San Sebastian Film Festival at Kursaal on September 22, 2024 in San Sebastian, Spain. Source: Juan Naharro Gimenez / Getty
In her Harper’s Bazaar UK interview, Nyong’o didn’t open up anymore about that romance, but she did appear to speak on her 2023 breakup from Masekela.
“You go through a lot of like, ‘Why? What were the signs? Why didn’t I see them? And if I did, why didn’t I act on them?’ ” Nyong’o said, seemingly referring to the assumptions that her former partner cheated. “Also, replaying moments and thinking, ‘Oh, I felt this apprehension, and I ignored it. Why did I ignore it?’ It can get toxic to beat yourself up about a past you can’t change, but it’s also an opportunity to learn about yourself.”
While Nyong’o was open with fans following that heartbreak, it’s safe to say the actress won’t be sharing so much in the future.
“It’s hard enough to go through heartbreak privately,” she admitted. “When the world has an image of you in relation to someone else, it prolongs the healing process because the memory is emblazoned in the public domain.”
