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Keke Palmer and Sean Evans have spent years charming fans with their undeniable chemistry, from flirty interviews and playful podcast banter to an on-camera kiss that quickly went viral.
So when the actress and the “Hot Ones” host were recently spotted sharing a dinner date in Brooklyn, speculation about their relationship went into overdrive.
Now, after weeks of buzz and countless fan theories, Palmer is finally addressing the rumors herself and her candid response has only made people even more curious about what might be developing between the longtime friends.
Keke Palmer gave fans exactly what they were waiting for when she appeared at Spotify’s “Conversations That Channel Culture” panel during Cannes Lions on Tuesday.
Host Jay Shetty wasted little time getting to the topic everyone wanted to hear about, asking Palmer whether she was “serious about Sean Evans.”
The Emmy-winning actress appeared amused by the question. “Oh, we’re talking about this? First of all, I love Sean Evans. I love Sean. Hey, Sean! That’s my guy,” Palmer said per Page Six.
Shetty then brought up the viral photos that surfaced earlier this month showing the pair dining together in Brooklyn.
Rather than shutting down the speculation, Palmer offered a response that left plenty of room for interpretation. “We’re hanging out,” the actress confirmed.
Still, she made it clear that nothing is being rushed. Referencing Evans’ famous interview series, she added, “We’re just tak[ing] it day by day, one wing at a time, so to speak.” Palmer also teased that with relationships, “never know what could arise.”
Palmer And Evans Have Been Flirting For Years
While fans may have only recently started paying attention to the pair, Keke Palmer and Sean Evans actually go back several years.
The two first crossed paths in 2017 when the “One of Them Day” actress appeared on an episode of “Hot Ones.”
They reunited four years later for another appearance, further building their easy chemistry on screen.
In 2023, Evans openly admitted to having a crush on Palmer while appearing on “Chicken Shop Date.”
After he described her as a “very charming woman,” Palmer shared the clip on Instagram and sweetly responded by calling him “too kind.”
Their playful dynamic only continued to grow. During Palmer’s third appearance on “Hot Ones” last year, she jokingly asked Evans for a “quick smooch,” and the pair ended up sharing a kiss on camera.
Keke Palmer And Sean Evans Fuel More Buzz With NYC Date Night
The flirting didn’t stop there. Earlier this year, listeners noticed more sparks flying when Evans appeared on Palmer’s podcast, “Baby, This Is Keke.”
The episode quickly sparked fresh dating speculation across social media, with many fans openly rooting for the pair to become a couple.
The rumors reached another level after the duo was spotted together in Brooklyn on June 12. As The Blast reported, the two dined at the popular Italian restaurant Lucali, where eyewitnesses said they appeared completely focused on each other throughout the evening.
One observer described them as being “locked in” during the meal. Although there reportedly wasn’t any public display of affection, the eyewitness still described Evans as looking “smitten.”
Palmer Says Marriage Won’t Change Her One Major Living Rule
In February, Keke Palmer made headlines when she rethought one of society’s biggest relationship traditions.
During an appearance on the “Today” show, the 32-year-old admitted that even marriage wouldn’t convince her to share a home with a partner, explaining that she values her independence and personal space far too much.
According to The Blast, Palmer said she has no interest in traditional cohabitation, revealing, “I like my alone time.”
She pointed to a comment Whoopi Goldberg once made about not wanting anyone in her house and said she completely understood the sentiment.
“I don’t want nobody in my house,” Palmer recalled, adding that she feels the same way. Rather than sharing a roof with a future spouse, Palmer suggested a setup where a partner lives nearby.
“Around the corner would be great. You can be in the guesthouse; we can be on the same land, but I’m over there and he’s over there,” she explained. At most, she said, separate rooms would be her preferred arrangement.
Keke Palmer And Demi Lovato Reflect On Painful Relationships With Older Men
A month after her viral revelation, Palmer reflected on a painful reality from her years as a young star in Hollywood.
During a candid conversation on her “Baby, This Is Keke Palmer” podcast, the actress and Demi Lovato spoke openly about dating significantly older men as teenagers and how their perspective has changed with age.
Looking back, both women admitted that relationships that once seemed normal now felt deeply troubling.
As The Blast shared, Palmer recalled, “I’m fifteen, why was my boyfriend 20?” prompting Lovato to respond, “Why was my boyfriend 30?”
The “Akeelah and the Bee” star explained that as child stars, they often believed they were mature enough to navigate relationships with older partners because they were already working adult jobs and carrying adult responsibilities.
Now in their 30s, both women said they viewed those experiences very differently. Palmer revealed that reaching the age of some of the adults who once surrounded her forced her to reevaluate what happened.
