I'm a forever sap. I admit it, and that's probably not changing. And while I don't think love and relationships should be the sole focus of one's happiness, I do think it's OK to celebrate them when they're done healthily and happily! This year quite a few breakups had social media buzzing, but there was also an outpouring of love. From public first dates to relationship do-overs, we've seen it all. And some of our favorites were the celebrity couples showcasing it.
Check out this list of five of the biggest celebrity couples of 2021. And let us know if there is a couple we missed!
Lori Harvey and Michael B. Jordan
JOCE/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images
Of course, this couple had to make the list! Michael B. Jordan is one of the biggest talents of our time and the affection women have for him is indescribable. Yet, the 32-year-old Black Panther star was never previously tied to anyone publicly. I mean sure, we've seen a few photos pop up throughout the years, but he has always remained private about his personal life. So, it was so surprising when he shared an Instagram post smiling from ear to ear with none other than, model and influencer Lori "Living her Best Life" Harvey.
Women have applauded Lori for living her twenties fully by dating, securing the bag, and supporting her family. And it's been so nice to watch from the social sidelines as they share extravagant date nights and special moments, while genuinely appearing happy and fulfilled. Lori tells The Real:
"We really balance each other and I really do believe in the statement when you know, you know. And I think that really applies to our situation."
I enjoy watching them continue to flourish creatively as individuals while still showing Black love in such a beautiful, and I mean beautiful way.
Megan Thee Stallion and Pardison Fontaine
Paras Griffin/Getty Images for BET
"I never said hot girls couldn't have boyfriends," the Body rapper dropped a gem with this one when she replied to a fan during an Instagram Live. Because, for some reason, some people feel like you can't enjoy life, be about your coin, and still maintain a happy relationship, and I love how the rappers boldly defy that idea. Now, I'll admit Megan Thee Stallion and Pardison Fontaine should not technically be on the list since they released a one-year video that shows they were dating before 2021. However, the item didn't share their relationship with us until the beginning of the year, and we've watched happily ever since.
From baecation photos to heartfelt messages, they love each other out loud and we love to see it. In an interview with Taraji P. Henson for her Facebook Watch series, Peace of Mind With Taraji, Megan described their relationship wonderfully, "He moves me. He inspires me. We just feel like a real team. He feels like a partner."
Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck
Stefania D'Alessandro/Getty Images
(Sings) "If you love something let it go, and if it comes back then that's how you know." Y'all remember that song from the IMX days? Well, that's what plays in my head whenever I come across pictures of "Bennifer 2.0." As a reminder, actor Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez were previously engaged and ended up calling it off in 2003. But, after Lopez's recent split with Alex Rodriguez, the two were seen spending time together pretty shortly after. And, hey, true love never dies. Because since that time, they've been spotted together romantically on multiple occasions and even made things Instagram official over the summer.
A source close to Lopez told People, "They want to do everything they can to make this work."
Adele and Rich Paul
Adele/Instagram
It seems like sitting courtside at the games is some sort of rite of passage for celebrity couples. And the latest to accept the challenge is none other than the amazingly talented singer Adele and her business bae Rich Paul, LeBron James's agent. When they arrived at the game together, blogs and social media went crazy. But, many people were wondering if they could just simply be friends enjoying a game.
However, Adele ended all the speculation when she made it Instagram-official with a collage of photos, the final one being a picture of them together – captioned with a heart (see above).
I'm here for this couple and I can't wait to hear the "happy relationship music" that I'm betting will be on the album.
Zoe Kravitz and Channing Tatum
James Devaney/GC Images
I've always heard it's not good to mix work and play. But I mean, maybe if you're Channing Tatum and Zoe Kravitz, it's OK to bend the rules a little bit. These two connected, one of my favorite ways, through their creative passions. Kravitz first reached out to the Magic Mike star about playing a character in a film she was directing. And it looks like their relationship blossomed and developed from there. A source tells People, "They don't seem to care about hiding their relationship anymore. It's obvious that they are very happy."
Fast forward to the end of summer 2021, the High Fidelity star was seen riding on the back of his motorcycle, holding Tatum tight, giving very much smitten vibes. We get it, girl, we do.
Featured image by Johnny Nunez/WireImage via Getty Images
In a xoNecoleexclusive, the iconic actress opens up about embracing this season of her life, new projects, and overall being a “bad motherfucker.” Gabrielle reveals that she was 37 years old when she was diagnosed with perimenopause and is still going through it at 51 years old. Mayo Clinic says perimenopause “refers to the time during which your body makes the natural transition to menopause, marking the end of the reproductive years.”
“I haven't crossed over the next phase just yet, but I think part of it is when you hear any form of menopause, you automatically think of your mother or grandmother. It feels like an old-person thing, but for me, I was 37 and like not understanding what that really meant for me. And I don't think we focus so much on the word menopause without understanding that perimenopause is just the time before menopause,” she tells us.
Gabrielle Union
Photo by Brian Thomas
"But you can experience a lot of the same things during that period that people talk about, that they experienced during menopause. So you could get a hot flash, you could get the weight gain, the hair loss, depression, anxiety, like all of it, mental health challenges, all of that can come, you know, at any stage of the menopausal journey and like for me, I've been in perimenopause like 13, 14 years. When you know, most doctors are like, ‘Oh, but it's usually about ten years, and I'm like, ‘Uhh, I’m still going (laughs).’”
Conversations about perimenopause, fibroids, and all the things that are associated with women’s bodies have often been considered taboo and thus not discussed publicly. However, times are changing, and thanks to the Gabrielle’s and the Tia Mowry’s, more women are having an authentic discourse about women’s health. These open discussions lead to the creation of more safe spaces and support for one another.
“I want to be in community with folks. I don't ever want to feel like I'm on an island about anything. So, if I can help create community where we are lacking, I want to be a part of that,” she says. “So, it's like there's no harm in talking about it. You know what I mean? Like, I was a bad motherfucker before perimenopause. I’m a bad motherfucker now, and I'll be a bad motherfucker after menopause. Know what I’m saying? None of that has to change. How I’m a bad motherfucker, I welcome that part of the change. I'm just getting better and stronger and more intelligent, more wise, more patient, more compassionate, more empathetic. All of that is very, very welcomed, and none of it should be scary.”
The Being Mary Jane star hasn’t been shy about her stance on therapy. If you don’t know, here’s a hint: she’s all for it, and she encourages others to try it as well. She likens therapy to dating by suggesting that you keep looking for the right therapist to match your needs. Two other essential keys to her growth are radical transparency and radical acceptance (though she admits she is still working on the latter).
"I was a bad motherfucker before perimenopause. I’m a bad motherfucker now, and I'll be a bad motherfucker after menopause. Know what I’m saying? None of that has to change. How I’m a bad motherfucker, I welcome that part of the change."
Gabrielle Union and Kaavia Union-Wade
Photo by Monica Schipper/Getty Images
“I hope that a.) you recognize that you're not alone. Seek out help and know that it's okay to be honest about what the hell is happening in your life. That's the only way that you know you can get help, and that's also the only other way that people know that you are in need if there's something going on,” she says, “because we have all these big, very wild, high expectations of people, but if they don't know what they're actually dealing with, they're always going to be failing, and you will always be disappointed. So how about just tell the truth, be transparent, and let people know where you are. So they can be of service, they can be compassionate.”
Gabrielle’s transparency is what makes her so relatable, and has so many people root for her. Whether through her TV and film projects, her memoirs, or her social media, the actress has a knack for making you feel like she’s your homegirl. Scrolling through her Instagram, you see the special moments with her family, exciting new business ventures, and jaw-dropping fashion moments. Throughout her life and career, we’ve seen her evolve in a multitude of ways. From producing films to starting a haircare line to marriage and motherhood, her journey is a story of courage and triumph. And right now, in this season, she’s asking, “What’s next?”
“This is a season of discovery and change. In a billion ways,” says the NAACP Image Award winner. “The notion of like, ‘Oh, so and so changed. They got brand new.’ I want you to be brand new. I want me to be brand new. I want us to be always constantly growing, evolving. Having more clarity, moving with different purpose, like, and all of that is for me very, very welcomed."
"I want you to be brand new. I want me to be brand new. I want us to be always constantly growing, evolving. Having more clarity, moving with different purpose, like, and all of that is for me very, very welcomed."
She continues, “So I'm just trying to figure out what's next. You know what I mean? I'm jumping into what's next. I'm excited going into what's next and new. I'm just sort of embracing all of what life has to offer.”
Look out for Gabrielle in the upcoming indie film Riff Raff, which is a crime comedy starring her and Jennifer Coolidge, and she will also produce The Idea of You, which stars Anne Hathaway.
Let’s make things inbox official! Sign up for the xoNecole newsletter for daily love, wellness, career, and exclusive content delivered straight to your inbox.
Feature image by Mike Lawrie/Getty Images
In a xoNecoleexclusive, the iconic actress opens up about embracing this season of her life, new projects, and overall being a “bad motherfucker.” Gabrielle reveals that she was 37 years old when she was diagnosed with perimenopause and is still going through it at 51 years old. Mayo Clinic says perimenopause “refers to the time during which your body makes the natural transition to menopause, marking the end of the reproductive years.”
“I haven't crossed over the next phase just yet, but I think part of it is when you hear any form of menopause, you automatically think of your mother or grandmother. It feels like an old-person thing, but for me, I was 37 and like not understanding what that really meant for me. And I don't think we focus so much on the word menopause without understanding that perimenopause is just the time before menopause,” she tells us.
Gabrielle Union
Photo by Brian Thomas
"But you can experience a lot of the same things during that period that people talk about, that they experienced during menopause. So you could get a hot flash, you could get the weight gain, the hair loss, depression, anxiety, like all of it, mental health challenges, all of that can come, you know, at any stage of the menopausal journey and like for me, I've been in perimenopause like 13, 14 years. When you know, most doctors are like, ‘Oh, but it's usually about ten years, and I'm like, ‘Uhh, I’m still going (laughs).’”
Conversations about perimenopause, fibroids, and all the things that are associated with women’s bodies have often been considered taboo and thus not discussed publicly. However, times are changing, and thanks to the Gabrielle’s and the Tia Mowry’s, more women are having an authentic discourse about women’s health. These open discussions lead to the creation of more safe spaces and support for one another.
“I want to be in community with folks. I don't ever want to feel like I'm on an island about anything. So, if I can help create community where we are lacking, I want to be a part of that,” she says. “So, it's like there's no harm in talking about it. You know what I mean? Like, I was a bad motherfucker before perimenopause. I’m a bad motherfucker now, and I'll be a bad motherfucker after menopause. Know what I’m saying? None of that has to change. How I’m a bad motherfucker, I welcome that part of the change. I'm just getting better and stronger and more intelligent, more wise, more patient, more compassionate, more empathetic. All of that is very, very welcomed, and none of it should be scary.”
The Being Mary Jane star hasn’t been shy about her stance on therapy. If you don’t know, here’s a hint: she’s all for it, and she encourages others to try it as well. She likens therapy to dating by suggesting that you keep looking for the right therapist to match your needs. Two other essential keys to her growth are radical transparency and radical acceptance (though she admits she is still working on the latter).
"I was a bad motherfucker before perimenopause. I’m a bad motherfucker now, and I'll be a bad motherfucker after menopause. Know what I’m saying? None of that has to change. How I’m a bad motherfucker, I welcome that part of the change."
Gabrielle Union and Kaavia Union-Wade
Photo by Monica Schipper/Getty Images
“I hope that a.) you recognize that you're not alone. Seek out help and know that it's okay to be honest about what the hell is happening in your life. That's the only way that you know you can get help, and that's also the only other way that people know that you are in need if there's something going on,” she says, “because we have all these big, very wild, high expectations of people, but if they don't know what they're actually dealing with, they're always going to be failing, and you will always be disappointed. So how about just tell the truth, be transparent, and let people know where you are. So they can be of service, they can be compassionate.”
Gabrielle’s transparency is what makes her so relatable, and has so many people root for her. Whether through her TV and film projects, her memoirs, or her social media, the actress has a knack for making you feel like she’s your homegirl. Scrolling through her Instagram, you see the special moments with her family, exciting new business ventures, and jaw-dropping fashion moments. Throughout her life and career, we’ve seen her evolve in a multitude of ways. From producing films to starting a haircare line to marriage and motherhood, her journey is a story of courage and triumph. And right now, in this season, she’s asking, “What’s next?”
“This is a season of discovery and change. In a billion ways,” says the NAACP Image Award winner. “The notion of like, ‘Oh, so and so changed. They got brand new.’ I want you to be brand new. I want me to be brand new. I want us to be always constantly growing, evolving. Having more clarity, moving with different purpose, like, and all of that is for me very, very welcomed."
"I want you to be brand new. I want me to be brand new. I want us to be always constantly growing, evolving. Having more clarity, moving with different purpose, like, and all of that is for me very, very welcomed."
She continues, “So I'm just trying to figure out what's next. You know what I mean? I'm jumping into what's next. I'm excited going into what's next and new. I'm just sort of embracing all of what life has to offer.”
Look out for Gabrielle in the upcoming indie film Riff Raff, which is a crime comedy starring her and Jennifer Coolidge, and she will also produce The Idea of You, which stars Anne Hathaway.
Let’s make things inbox official! Sign up for the xoNecole newsletter for daily love, wellness, career, and exclusive content delivered straight to your inbox.
Feature image by Mike Lawrie/Getty Images