Award-winning Kenyan actress Lupita Nyong'o has addressed claims that she is in a romantic relationship with American singer Janelle Monae.
In an interview with Rolling Stone magazine, Lupita said she understood why people may believe that.
She recalled their first hug at a time when Lupita was relatively new to the entertainment industry.
"This world is still extremely new to me and unbelievable. Janelle came up to me and just gave me the most real hug," the actress said.
"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'."
The two have been friends since they met at the Met Gala in 2014 when Lupita had just won an Oscar for "12 Years a Slave".
Lupita added that Janelle "has a magnetism", which she said is what the speculators were picking on.
"She is that enigmatic. I was not surprised. And I don’t mind being associated with her in any capacity," she added.
In 2018, Janelle said she identified as pansexual and non-binary.
"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'," she said during a Rolling Stone cover stone.
Speaking at the Red Table Talk, she talked about her gender identity.
"I just don't see myself as a woman solely. I feel all of my energy. I feel like God is so much bigger than the 'he' or the 'she'," she said.
"And if I am from God, I am everything. But I will always, always stand with women. I will always stand with Black women. But I just see everything that I am, beyond the binary."
In December 2022, Lupita introduced her boyfriend, Selema Masekela.
"We just click! 💘 @selema #thisismylove #nuffsaid," Lupita captioned a video she shared on Instagram.
