BANG Showbiz English
Lupita Nyongโo โdoesnโt mindโ rumours she dated Janelle Monae.
The โBlack Pantherโ actress has addressed speculation she dated her close friend โ who she first met at the 2014 Met Gala โ and admitted she can see why the rumours started in the first place.
She told Rolling Stone magazine: โShe has magnetism that they were obviously picking up on. She is that enigmatic.
โI was not surprised. And I donโt mind being associated with her in any capacity.โ
โGlass Onion: A Knives Out Mysteryโ star Janelle came out as pansexual in 2018, while Lupita is currently dating boyfriend Selema Masekela.
She hailed his BFF as someone who is โextremely giftedโ and instinctively draws people in on screen.
She added: โSheโs extremely gifted. Itโs built into her spirit. Her openness creates intimacy onscreen.
โItโs really cool to see her move from one thing to another and do it with such mastery.โ
Their friendship goes back nine years to that night at the Met Gala, with Lupita having just won an Oscar for best supporting actress in recognition of her role in โ12 Years A Slaveโ.
She reflected: โThis world is still extremely new to me and unbelievable. [Janelle] came up to me and just gave me the realest hug.
โI think we may have swayed to the music. She was just like, โIโm so proud of you, and just thank you for being you.โ โ
While sometimes celebrity interactions can be fleeting and lacking in sincerity, Janelle urged Lupita to stay in touch as she gave the star her number and insisted she was there for her.
Despite the bond they share, the actress admitted she doesnโt โknow everythingโ about her friend.
She said: โJust because youโre a close friend of hers doesnโt mean you get to know everything about her. I think thatโs what makes her interesting as an artist.โ