Lupita Nyong'o hints at split from Selema Masekela: 'A season of heartbreak'

How Lupita Nyong'o's 'Wakanda Forever' character helped her grieve Chadwick Boseman
Lupita Nyong'o chats with USA TODAY's Anika Reed about "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever" and how she remembers her late co-star, Chadwick Boseman. Credit: Entertain This!, USA TODAY"

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Lupita Nyong'o is opening up about being in "a season of heartbreak" amid a fresh breakup.

Though the "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever" actor knows "there are much more important things going on in the world right now," she felt compelled to share a "a personal truth and publicly dissociate myself from someone I can no longer trust," according to her Instagram post Thursday.

While she didn't explicitly name who she was referring to, Nyong'o has been romantically linked with television host Selema Masekela. The two seemingly confirmed their relationship and went Instagram official in December, though according to People, it's unclear when the two began dating.

Her heartbreak, she added, is due to "a love suddenly and devastatingly extinguished by deception." 

Her announcement comes a day after she was seen attending a Janelle Monáe concert with actor Joshua Jackson amid his divorce from Jodie Turner-Smith. The Daily Mail published photos of the two at the Los Angeles concert on Oct. 18.

On Instagram, Nyong'o continued: "But I am reminded that the magnitude of the pain I am feeling is equal to the measure of my capacity for love. And so, I am choosing to face the pain, cultivating the courage to meet my life exactly as it is, and trusting that this too shall pass. The promise, they say, is that a tender heart is what gives birth to fearlessness."

Nyong'o hopes that opening up about how she's dealing with a breakup "might be useful to someone else out there experiencing the grip of heartbreak who is poised to try and escape from the pain and miss out on the wisdom that comes from it," she wrote, adding "#Breakup."

"Let’s face our pain so we don’t spread it," she concluded her message.

 

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Lupita Nyong'o (@lupitanyongo)

 

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Gabrielle Union-Wade, Ava DuVernay, Marlon Wayans share love and advice

Several friends chimed in with to share their love and supportive comments under Nyong'o's post.

Gabrielle Union-Wade kept it simple with two black hearts and the prayer hands emoji, while Marlon Wayans reminded Nyong'o to "Trust God. He wants better for you."

"All lessons are blessings especially the painful ones. This too shall pass. Warmest of hugs. Be kind to you as you heal," the comedian and writer wrote. "I always say whenever (I) have a break up 'lucky me, i get to love ME again. I missed you me.' Go love on you woman."

Josh Gad expressed his love, and Ava DuVernay said, "We lift you up with love and sisterhood. Your miracles are all around you. Let us count them in confidence and in faith."

"Black Panther's" Oscar-winning costume designer, Ruth E. Carter, told Nyong'o to "lean on your supportive friends," adding, "I’m am here to soothe your heart."

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According to People, Nyong'o wished Masekela a happy birthday in August. As of Thursday, the post is no longer visible on her Instagram feed.

"And THEN... the Universe saw it fit to bring this Sunshine Human ☀️ into my orbit, and this day marks his introduction to life," she wrote on social media at the time, per the outlet. "Every day is full of #goodenergy and reasons to dance with @selema as my favorite playmate. Happy Birthday, mi amor!"

Masekela responded to her post, writing: "sneaky, mi amor. luckiest man alive. my heart is smiling wide."

Masekela has yet to speak out about the split.