Drake Gives Honest Answer To Why He Won’t Be Getting Married Anytime Soon, And We Can Respect It
Rapper, singer, and actor Aubrey "Drake" Graham candidly opened up about his future plans, revealing his thoughts on marriage and whether he envisions settling down with a fellow celebrity.
The 36-year-old may have gained professional success after dominating the music charts with his catchy tunes for over a decade following his departure from the Canadian hit series Degrassi: The Next Generation. Still, Graham's personal life is an entirely different story.
Over the years, Graham has been romantically linked to Rihanna, SZA, and Serena Williams, to name a few. Although those alleged relationships didn't work out, the "God's Plan" emcee welcomed a son, Adonis Graham, in 2017 with former model and artist Sophie Brussaux.
Drake Reveals Why He Hasn't Gotten Married
In a July interview on Bobbi Althoff's The Really Good Podcast, Graham explains why he isn't a perfect suitor for marriage and isn't interested in being with a celebrity despite his past high-profile relationships.
Drake On Marriage
In the discussion, the "Over" lyricist disclosed that he feels he wouldn't be an ideal partner for marriage because of his busy schedule.
"I don't know. I don't think I could offer somebody what they'd be looking for," he told Althoff. "Just consistency. My work is my priority. I wouldn't want to not be able to contribute as a partner."
Further into the interview, Graham added that he is also reluctant to get married because he doesn't want to disappoint anybody.
"I don't want to get married because, like, I just don't want to disappoint someone," the "Fancy" rapper said.
Drake On Not Marrying A Celebrity
As the topic shifted to the type of woman Graham would marry, the star shared that he would prefer a noncelebrity over a famous person because he finds them more intriguing.
"I probably will end up marrying somebody that's not famous," he stated, "Famous people aren't that anything. They're not that intriguing."
In light of Graham's recent admission on relationships and marriage, xoNecole looks back at his former romances.
Who Has Drake Dated?
Keep scrolling for a brief timeline of the women Drake has dated:
Keshia Chanté
Although the exact timeline of when former 106 & Park host Keshia Chanté dated Graham is unclear, new outlets report that the pair's romance occurred in the early 2000s when they were both teenagers.
Despite their relationship ending, it appeared that Chanté left a mark in Graham's life because years later, in 2022, the emcee revealed that she was the "Kiki" inspiration behind his hit song "In My Feelings" during OVO Fest as he introduced her onstage and mentioned the activities the pair would partake in, which is highly referenced in the track.
"This next person coming to the stage, I used to get in my mom's car, and I used to drive all the way to the west for this one right here, you feel me? So, I have to personally introduce her," he said. "This is my first girlfriend I ever had in my life. A real legend, somebody I love with all of my heart. Make some noise for Keisha Chanté.”
SZA
Following his split with Chanté, Drake was reportedly linked to singer Solána "SZA" Rowe around 2008 or 2009, depending on whose version of events you believe.
At the time, Rowe wasn't widely known. On the other hand, Graham gained notoriety following his mixtape So Far Gone, featuring the hit singles "Best I Ever Had" and "Successful." Although it is unclear how long they were together, the rapper mentioned his romance with Rowe in 2021's "Mr. Right Now."
"Yeah, said she wanna f--k to some SZA, wait. 'Cause I used to date SZA back in '08," he said.
After the track's release, Rowe took to Twitter to clarify a few things, including the former couple's dating timeline.
"So It was actually 2009 lol ... in this case, a year of poetic rap license mattered lol," she wrote. "I think he just innocently rhymed 08 [with] wait. Anybody who really knows me and was around during this time can confirm ... it's all love all peace."
The following year in December 2022, Rowe opened up in an interview with Audacy about where she stands with Graham, their past relationship, and why she isn't fazed by being name-dropped in any of his songs.
"We're cool. We've always been cool. It's never been weird," she said. "Anytime he's ever mentioned me, it's always been positive. He never said anything negative about me, and I'm grateful for that. I think really highly of him… I'm an artist now, I wasn't then, and he's King Drake!"
Rihanna
Graham's most notable relationship to date has been with singer and entrepreneur Robyn "Rihanna" Fenty.
The couple began dating in 2009, years after Graham appeared as an extra on Fenty's music video "Pon De Replay." Despite their chemistry, Graham and Fenty's romance wouldn't last long because, by 2010, the lyricist revealed to The New York Times that he felt like "a pawn" in their relationship.
“I was a pawn," he stated. "You know what she was doing to me? She was doing exactly what I've done to so many women throughout my life, which is show them quality time, then disappear. I was like, 'Wow, this feels terrible.'"
Shortly after that comment, Graham and Fenty would reunite that same year. However, their reunion was short-lived again because, in 2011, Fenty and Graham broke up for a second time. The following year, Fenty rekindled her relationship with her ex Chris Brown.
By 2016, all appeared to be going well with Fenty and Graham because the longtime musical collaborators released their hit song "Work." At the same time, Graham professed his love for Fenty when he presented her with the 2016 MTV Vanguard Award. Although it appeared Fenty and Graham would take the next step in their relationship following the public admiration from both parties, it sadly wouldn't last because, by 2017, they had broken up for the final time.
In a 2018 interview with Vogue, Fenty opened up about her nearly decade-long romance with Graham and where the pair stood after their final split.
"We don't have a friendship now, but we're not enemies either," she said. "It is what it is."
Since then, Fenty has moved on with rapper Rakim "A$AP Rocky" Mayers. The pair welcomed a son RZA Mayers in 2022 and are currently expecting their second child.
Serena Williams
During Graham's on-and-off relationship with Fenty, the "Hotline Bling" emcee was romantically linked to legendary tennis player Serena Williams in 2011 after he was seen attending one of her matches and shared a telling tweet online.
"@SerenaWilliams I cannot wait to put it on you and make you sweat……. during our match this weekend," he wrote.
Although neither party confirmed the romance, Graham and Williams appeared to be heating up when he mentioned her in his song "Worst Behavior" and later threw jabs at her ex, Common.
Although both men ultimately settled the feud, which was allegedly over Williams, dating rumors continued to follow the alleged couple when Graham kept attending the tennis player's games, and they were spotted making out in various locations.
But by 2015, Williams and Graham's alleged relationship would be over. Williams has since settled down with businessman Alexis Ohanian. The couple share a daughter, Alexis Olympia, and are expecting their second child.
Jennifer Lopez
In December 2016, actress and singer Jennifer Lopez and Graham ignited dating rumors after they shared an intimate photo of the pair cuddling on Instagram.
Although, at the time, it was reported that Graham and Lopez were professionally working together, a source told People magazine that they greatly respect each other and their friends are hopeful it could lead to a blossoming relationship.
"They seem to really like and respect each other, but it's early," they said. "Where it goes, we shall see. Friends of them both are hoping it becomes something, but it's too early to say more than that."
A short time later, another insider revealed that Lopez was "smitten" with Graham and enjoyed "spending time with him." The alleged couple's romance continued well into the New Year when Lopez was seen sporting a Tiffany necklace, reportedly worth $100,000, that Graham gave her. The duo allegedly continued dating for a while, and during that time, it was revealed to the public that Graham met Lopez's children.
But unfortunately, by February 2017, Lopez and Graham's brief union ended. Since then, Lopez has married actor Ben Affleck.
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Adrian Marcel On Purpose, Sacrifice, And The 'Signs Of Life'
In this week's episode of xoMAN, host Kiara Walker talked with R&B artist Adrian Marcel, who opened up, full of heart and authenticity, about his personal evolution. He discussed his days transitioning from a young Bay Area singer on the come-up to becoming a grounded husband and father of four.
With honesty and introspection, Marcel reflected on how life, love, and loss have shaped the man he is today.
On ‘Life’s Subtle Signals’
Much of the conversation centered around purpose, sacrifice, and listening to life’s subtle signals. “I think that you really have to pay attention to the signs of life,” Marcel said. “Because as much as we need to make money, we are not necessarily on this Earth for that sole purpose, you know what I mean?” While he acknowledged his ambitions, adding, “that is not me saying at all I’m not trying to ball out,” he emphasized that fulfillment goes deeper.
“We are here to be happy. We are here [to] fulfill a purpose that we are put on here for.”
On Passion vs. Survival
Adrian spoke candidly about the tension between passion and survival, describing how hardship can sometimes point us away from misaligned paths. “If you find it’s constantly hurting you… that’s telling you something. That’s telling you that you’re going outside of your purpose.”
Marcel’s path hasn’t been without detours. A promising athlete in his youth, he recalled, “Early on in my career, I was still doing sports… I was good… I had a scholarship.” An injury changed everything. “My femur broke. Hence why I always say, you know, I’m gonna keep you hip like a femur.” After the injury, he pivoted to explore other careers, including teaching and corporate jobs.
“It just did not get me—even with any success that happened in anything—those times, back then, I was so unhappy. And you know, to a different degree. Like not just like, ‘I really want to be a singer so that’s why I’m unhappy.’ Nah, it was like, it was not fulfilling me in any form or fashion.”
On Connection Between Pursuing Music & Fatherhood
He recalled performing old-school songs at age 12 to impress girls, then his father challenged him: “You can lie to these girls all you want, but you're really just lying to yourself. You ain't growing.” That push led him to the piano—and eventually, to his truth. “Music is my love,” Marcel affirmed. “I wouldn’t be a happy husband if I was here trying to do anything else just to appease her [his wife].”
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Self-Validation, No Meals After 5 P.M. & The Wellness Rituals That Helped Lizzo Take Her Power Back
Don't let the "weight release" fool you, Lizzo's transformation wasn't just physical. It was spiritual, emotional, and deeply personal. In her Women's Health cover story, the "Good As Hell" artist opened up about the low point that became the catalyst for radical change in her life, inside and out.
In the summer of 2023, Lizzo found herself at the center of what she calls painful allegations when some of her former dancers filed a lawsuit against her. The 37-year-old singer has denied their claims, and though she has experienced "backlash my entire career," going through such legal woes coupled with public scrutiny proved to be detrimental to her mental health, leading her to one of the darkest periods of her life.
She told Women's Health, "I got very paranoid and isolated. I wasn’t even talking to my therapist. I wasn’t present. I wasn’t open. I wasn’t myself anymore."
After spending months in isolation, Lizzo, whose real name is Melissa Viviane Jefferson, decided to go to a tour stop on the Renaissance World Tour. She was nervous that the public would shun her, boo her, or reject her, but instead, she was embraced. It shifted something in her and after feeling so in the dark, she saw the light again. "It made me feel like, wow, maybe I don’t want to die," she shared with Women's Health.
"That was the kick-starter to me being like, ‘Okay, Melissa, get your ass in gear and take your f*cking life back.’"
Her first step in Operation Get Your Life Back? Cutting out the external noise. She gave her team total control of her social media and stopped looking at comments. "My validation was from external sources, people telling me they loved me, or that I look good, and accepting me," she explained. "But if that’s all I’m getting my validation from, when it changes—and it will, because people are not always going to like you—what happens? Where are you going to get your love from?"
Lizzo continued, "I can convince myself that I’m beautiful, my body fine, no matter how big or small. But reminding myself that you can’t let others tell you who you are—that was hard work."
Lizzo started going to therapy again, she started practicing quigong meditation, reading books, journaling, and doing sound baths. She released unhealthy relationships, drank echinacea tea, and began incorporating Pilates as a means to "feel sacred" and "be gentle" with herself.
But what many have interpreted as a "weight loss transformation" after she popped out sharing she met her "weight release" goal earlier this year, Lizzo has clarified that it has been something deeper for her than the aesthetic of a smaller body. "I wanted to be big-girl skinny," she told the mag. "Every big girl knows what I’m talking about. Big-girl skinny is 250 pounds." According to her, it was her back issues that inspired her to take the physical part of her wellness journey seriously.
I DID IT! #weightrelease
@lizzo I DID IT! #weightrelease
Through her friend Kelly Rowland, she linked up with her now-trainer Marvin Telp and developed a fitness regimen that prioritized strength and intention. Her weekly schedule now includes moves like single-leg deadlifts, reverse flies, and lateral lunges, along with infrared sauna sessions and cardio. Add to that a change in eating habits after realizing her vegan diet no longer served her (to be fair, she wasn't doing the vegan thing the "healthiest" way).
All the meat substitutes, bread, cashew cheese, and soy left her bloated and lightheaded, so now she's switched things up a bit to fill the nutritional gaps. When it comes to diet, it's heavy on the protein and vegetables for Lizzo. A typical day eating looks like scrambled eggs and cauliflower hash browns for breakfast, Thai chicken salad or lettuce wraps for lunch, and turkey meatloaf with greens for dinner.
She also has a strict cutoff of no meals after 5 p.m. to support her GERD and give her body the time it needs before bed to digest her food sans the acid reflux. Of her relationship with food and wellness, she told Women's Health, "There's a balance. I think that's what true health is."
Read Lizzo's full cover story with Women's Health here.
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