Between her first number one on the Billboard Hot 100 and some hefty checks from her Wingstop partnership, Latto had quite the year in 2023. It only leads us to wonder, is there a sweet somebody she’s celebrating her wins with?
While rumors have swirled of a romance with 21 Savage, with some pretty convincing evidence to support it, Latto continues to deny the allegations. So exactly who is Latto’s boyfriend then, and why has she done so much work to hide him from the world? Through some thorough investigating, here’s what we’ve come to learn about Latto’s mystery lover.
She’s Intentionally Moving Quietly
While most celebrities happily in love tend to plaster their relationship all over social media, Latto has done much of the opposite. And no one could blame her for being tight-lipped about her romantic escapades. Recently, the 24-year-old rapper opened up to Atlanta’s Hot 107.9 radio station about why she and her man are moving so stealthily. “This is gonna sound so cliche, but it’s the truth. Everything about my life is to be picked apart by social media,” she said. “I gotta hear everybody’s two cents and opinions on something that don’t got nothing to do with them.”
When a relationship blooms for a celebrity, it’s common that people assume it’s some sort of marketing ploy, which Latto wants no part in. “I’m in a real relationship, not like PR stunts, so I just want to protect it. That’s all.” Ultimately, she’d rather have a healthy home than upkeep a public image. “My privacy is more important than seeing him in the crowd. I can’t have people putting two and two together.”
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He’s Taking Care of Her
There’s nothing like being taken care of by your partner, and that’s just what Latto’s man is doing. Adding that she believes it’s the way any relationship with a man should go down, she claims that the man she dates “pays all of my bills,” even though she’s certainly made enough income to not have any worries. “I got the ‘Vette, I got the Lambs, I go the Birkins,” the rapper continued, proving her man cuts no corners when it comes to the anniversary and birthday gifts.
She Denies It’s 21 Savage
While they can certainly just be friends, there’s been a lot of piled evidence over the last three years that suggests there’s something more than platonic going on between Latto and London-born rapper 21 Savage. For starters, his full name is Shéyaa Bin Abraham-Joseph, which has been seen tattooed behind Latto’s ear.
This rumor is stronger now that The Shade Room shared an Instagram post where fans spotted 21 Savage sporting a tattoo that they think says “Alyssa” (Latto’s real name) conveniently located behind his right ear — mirroring Latto’s “Shéyaa” tattoo behind her right ear. It’s all speculation right now, but both tattoos are in matching red ink, further fueling the theory.
Savage also posted a photo on social media of Latto sitting on a couch with a lapdog and the caption “no make-up.” However, both artists repeatedly and adamantly deny any romantic relationship. Still, this rumor is one of the messiest that fans and gossip bloggers refuse to let go. The hot topic may bet the source of another rumor that surfaced late 2023 — that Savage’s wife, Keyanna Joseph is supposedly in the process of divorcing him over the potential illicit relationship. If this is the case, Savage’s immigration status is at stake since the UK rapper is relying on his wife’s US citizenship to help fast track his green card application.
He’s Known Her Since She Was a Teenager
There’s no one who knows you quite like your childhood connections, which is where the sweetest of love can bloom. She shared with Cosmopolitan that she’s known him since she was a teenager, proving their foundation is truly rooted in friendship. Living a life of fame and fortune can be pretty dizzying, and it helps to have people around who have known you since before you blew up to keep you grounded.
He Gives Her Space
Being that they’ve known each other since their adolescence, it’s presumed that her man resides in Latto’s hometown of Columbus, Ohio. As an independent woman making her own money, her personal space and freedom are of the utmost importance, which is why doing long distance hasn’t been too difficult for the couple.
“I think we find the beauty in separation sometimes because it makes us miss each other,” the rapper shares. “I let him have his time and he lets me have mine. We trust each other. When he’s at home, like now, he’s probably gambling with his friends. I let him do him. We’ve built that trust.”
He’s Her Longest Relationship Yet
Latto finds pride in how long the two have lasted, sharing “This is the longest relationship I’ve ever been in.” This is a testament to their healthy dynamic, as Latto shares that she’s been able to live her soft girl era while letting her leading man play his role.
“I think people will probably be caught off guard or shocked at who I am in a relationship versus my public persona.” While many would assume the girl boss songstress wouldn’t want to back down, Latto’s mystery man encourages her to let her guard down. “People think I’m so tough because I’m super confident and dominant. In this relationship at least, I’m way more comfortable with taking the passenger seat and letting him lead because he lets me be myself—and I can still be my alpha self. But I respect him as a man to play the man role. And I’m really in my soft girl era.”
What About Latto’s Past Boos?
Even though Latto refuses to share any juicy tidbits about her current man, and swears that 21 Savage absolutely couldn’t be him, that doesn’t mean that she doesn’t have an interesting dating past. In 2020, the young rapper was also rumored to be dating Key Glock, a Memphis MC. However, Latto quickly shut down that speculation on an interview with the podcast, Big Facts. Even though she admitted she had a man, she quickly denied that it was Key Glock.
Finding someone who makes your heart feel safe enough to surrender is a pretty rare thing, and we don’t blame Latto one bit for protecting it at all costs. As she opens up more and more about wanting to enter the motherhood stage of her life, we’re sure the identity of her potential soon-to-be father of her child will be revealed in due time.
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