The 2 have been mates since they met on the Met Gala in 2014, when Nyong’o was a newcomer to the leisure scene and had simply received an Oscar for her efficiency in “12 Years a Slave.”
In an interview with Rolling Stone journal, Nyong’o recalled that Monáe was one of many first folks to achieve out to her after she received the Oscar. “She got here as much as me and simply hugged me,” Nyong’o mentioned. “She was identical to, ‘I’m pleased with you, and simply thanks for being you.’”
Nyong’o mentioned that she understands why folks could have interpreted their friendship as one thing extra. “I believe that’s what makes her fascinating as an artist,” Nyong’o mentioned. “She’s so open and trustworthy about who she is, and I believe that’s one thing that folks actually join with.”
Nyong’o and Monáe have continued to be mates within the years since they met. They’ve collaborated on a number of initiatives, together with the music video for Monáe’s track “Pynk.” In 2018, Nyong’o was a presenter on the Grammy Awards, the place Monáe received Finest City Modern Album for her album “Soiled Pc.”
Whereas Nyong’o and Monáe have by no means confirmed that they’re romantically concerned, they’ve by no means denied it both. In a 2018 interview with The Guardian, Monáe mentioned that she is “not afraid to be who I’m.” She added that she is “not a cookie-cutter individual,” and that she “doesn’t match right into a field.”
Nyong’o has additionally spoken out in regards to the significance of illustration in Hollywood. In a 2015 interview with The New York Occasions, she mentioned that she is “proud to be part of a technology of girls who’re breaking down boundaries.” She added that she is “hopeful that we will proceed to make progress by way of illustration.”
Nyong’o and Monáe are two of probably the most seen and outspoken ladies in Hollywood. They’re each position fashions for younger folks, and they’re each utilizing their platforms to advertise range and inclusion.
