Lupita Nyong'o Confirms She's Single and Shouts Out Her Cat After Joshua Jackson Steps Out with Model

Mar. 15, 2025

Lupita Nyong’o on Oct. 1, 2024.Photo:Marc Piasecki/WireImage

Marc Piasecki/WireImage

Lupita Nyong’ois single again.While Nyong’o, 41, spoke withHarper’s Bazaar UKfor an interview published Wednesday, Oct. 9 to promote her new movieThe Wild Robot, the actress appeared to confirm she is no longer datingJoshua Jacksonas she espoused her love forher cat, Yoyo.“My love for my cat is singular. If I’m ever so lucky to be in a romantic relationship again, it’ll be because of him,” she told the outlet. “I was ready to shut that door and lock it and bolt it. He has ensured that my heart remains open.”Nyong’o notably adopted Yoyo shortly after she announced her October 2023split from ex-boyfriend Selema Masekela. Around that same time, she and actor Jackson, 46, first sparked dating rumors afterspending time togetherat a concert in Los Angeles afterJodie Turner-Smithfiled for divorcefrom Jackson following three years of marriage due to “irreconcilable differences.”Jackson and Nyong’o appeared to spend a significant amount of time together over the last year, including aPDA-filled weekend spent together in Mexicoto celebrate Nyong’o’s birthday in March. However, speculation that the pair had gone their separate ways peaked after Jackson wasseen spending time in New York Citywith model Nastassja Roberts in late September.Joshua Jackson attends the premiere of Peacock’s “Dr. Death” Season 2 on December 14, 2023 in West Hollywood, California. ; Lupita Nyong’o attends the CinemaCon Big Screen Achievement Awards on April 11, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada.Matt Winkelmeyer/GA/The Hollywood Reporter/Getty ; Gabe Ginsberg/GettyReps for Jackson, Roberts and Nyong’o did not respond to requests for comment from PEOPLE at that time.While Nyong’o did not further address her relationship with Jackson while speaking withHarper’s Bazaar, she did appear to still have her 2023 breakup from Masekela, amusician and sports broadcaster, on her mind.Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.“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 told the outlet of the aftermath of breakups. “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.”Lupita Nyong’o on Oct. 1, 2024.Marc Piasecki/WireImageNyong’o has previously said that she simply “wanted to be honest” with the world when she publicly announced her split from Masekela. She toldHarper’s Bazaarthat she does not plan on remaining that public about her dating life moving forward.“It’s hard enough to go through heartbreak privately,” she said. “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.”Nyong’o’s new animated movie,The Wild Robot, is in theaters now.

Lupita Nyong’ois single again.

While Nyong’o, 41, spoke withHarper’s Bazaar UKfor an interview published Wednesday, Oct. 9 to promote her new movieThe Wild Robot, the actress appeared to confirm she is no longer datingJoshua Jacksonas she espoused her love forher cat, Yoyo.

“My love for my cat is singular. If I’m ever so lucky to be in a romantic relationship again, it’ll be because of him,” she told the outlet. “I was ready to shut that door and lock it and bolt it. He has ensured that my heart remains open.”

Nyong’o notably adopted Yoyo shortly after she announced her October 2023split from ex-boyfriend Selema Masekela. Around that same time, she and actor Jackson, 46, first sparked dating rumors afterspending time togetherat a concert in Los Angeles afterJodie Turner-Smithfiled for divorcefrom Jackson following three years of marriage due to “irreconcilable differences.”

Jackson and Nyong’o appeared to spend a significant amount of time together over the last year, including aPDA-filled weekend spent together in Mexicoto celebrate Nyong’o’s birthday in March. However, speculation that the pair had gone their separate ways peaked after Jackson wasseen spending time in New York Citywith model Nastassja Roberts in late September.

Joshua Jackson attends the premiere of Peacock’s “Dr. Death” Season 2 on December 14, 2023 in West Hollywood, California. ; Lupita Nyong’o attends the CinemaCon Big Screen Achievement Awards on April 11, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada.Matt Winkelmeyer/GA/The Hollywood Reporter/Getty ; Gabe Ginsberg/Getty

Matt Winkelmeyer/GA/The Hollywood Reporter/Getty ; Gabe Ginsberg/Getty

Reps for Jackson, Roberts and Nyong’o did not respond to requests for comment from PEOPLE at that time.

While Nyong’o did not further address her relationship with Jackson while speaking withHarper’s Bazaar, she did appear to still have her 2023 breakup from Masekela, amusician and sports broadcaster, on her mind.

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

“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 told the outlet of the aftermath of breakups. “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.”

Lupita Nyong’o on Oct. 1, 2024.Marc Piasecki/WireImage

Nyong’o has previously said that she simply “wanted to be honest” with the world when she publicly announced her split from Masekela. She toldHarper’s Bazaarthat she does not plan on remaining that public about her dating life moving forward.

“It’s hard enough to go through heartbreak privately,” she said. “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.”

Nyong’o’s new animated movie,The Wild Robot, is in theaters now.

source: people.com