Keke Palmer and Sean Evans have reignited romance rumors after being spotted together enjoying a cozy dinner. The pair’s outing quickly drew online attention, with many speculating about the nature of their relationship.
The actress and the YouTube personality first met in 2017, when the former appeared as a guest on “Hot Ones.” Palmer has since returned to the show two more times, with the third appearance sending fans into a frenzy after she and Evans shared a kiss. With their undeniable chemistry, many can’t help but speculate about whether there is something more than friendship between the two.
On June 12, Keke Palmer and “Hot Ones” host Sean Evans were seen dining together at Lucali in Brooklyn. Celebrity gossip account Deuxmoi posted a photo of the two seemingly deep in conversation.
A source also told TMZ that the dinner lasted for more than 90 minutes, and Evans looked like he was “smitten” with the actress. Despite the dating rumors, the insider observed that the dinner was more like a meal between friends.
One user commented on Deuxmoi’s post, saying, “You can tell just by this picture that she genuinely likes him but the interaction is platonic.” Others shipped the two, with one suggesting the couple name “KeSean,” and another writing, “He was smiling like a schoolgirl, she was acting like zendaya… it is meant to be!”
Sean Evans Admitted To Having A Crush On The Actress
Palmer and Evans first met in 2017 on “Hot Ones” to promote her movie “Berlin Station.” Four years later, she returned to the show for a second time.
In 2023, Evans was a guest on “Chicken Shop Date,” and host Amelia Dimoldenberg asked him whether he had ever had a crush on any of the celebrity guests on “Hot Ones.” The show premiered on YouTube in 2015 and has since welcomed hundreds of celebrity guests. The setup has Evans interviewing celebrities while eating chicken wings dabbed with hot sauce that progressively gets spicier.
Evans told Dimoldenberg he had a crush on Palmer, adding, “Very charming. Very charming woman.”
Keke Palmer Had ‘Good Chemistry’ With The Host
After Evans’ revelation, Palmer took to Instagram to post that segment of “Chicken Shop Date,” adding the caption, “It was love at first hot wing — this was too kind,” and tagging Evans.
In 2024, PEOPLE asked Palmer about her reaction to what Evans said about her, to which she replied, “I was living for it,” adding that she had “good chemistry” with the “Hot Ones” host.
“Not to say that I was surprised or I wasn’t surprised. But when I heard it and people were sending it to me, I was like, ‘I knew the vibes were vibing,” the actress said.
The Two Shared A Kiss That Went Viral
Palmer returned to “Hot Ones” for a third time in September 2025. “We’re back together again,” Palmer said. “I can’t quit you,” Evans replied.
At the end of the episode, Palmer acknowledged that she’d seen the host talking about his crush on her. “I know we’ve just had some wings, but I thought that maybe we could just have a quick smooch to see if there’s a spark,” she then suggested.
Evans agreed, and the two shared a quick smack. “The spark was sparking,” the actress could be heard saying after. “When I’m dying, and my life flashes before my eyes, I’ll have that snapshot. You’re amazing. I love you,” Evans said.
They Reunited On Keke Palmer’s Podcast
In May 2026, several months after they shared a kiss, Evans guested on Palmer’s podcast, “Baby, This is Keke Palmer.” The two continued their flirty banter, with the singer introducing Evans as her “potential future suitor.”
During their conversation, Palmer asked Evans about his first crush. He revealed that it was TLC’s Lisa “Left Eye” Lopes. Palmer then said that she portrayed Rozonda “Chilli” Thomas in the 2013 TLC movie, “Close enough,” she added.
At one point, they looked at videos of their moments together throughout the years, including the kiss. “I think they probably thought it was scripted because you didn’t seem surprised at all,” Palmer said. Evans noted that he didn’t have to think about it, adding, “Once I heard the offer and the conditions, I immediately signed.”