• Celebrity
    • Celebrity News
    • ‘Yes, Girl!’ Podcast
    • Entertainment
    • Black Women in Music
    • Black Celeb Couples
    • Celebrity Moms
    • Red Carpet
  • Fashion
    • Fashion News
    • Street Style
    • Accessories
    • Fashion House
    • Fashion Week
  • Beauty
    • Beauty News
    • Skin
    • Makeup
    • Color Files Podcast
    • Nails
    • How-To
    • Beauty Carnival-Archive
    • Dope Stuff On My Desk
    • Girls United: Beautiful Possibilities
  • Hair
    • Hair News
    • Natural
    • Relaxed
    • Transitioning
    • Weaves
    • 4C
    • Spring Hair And Beauty
  • Love
    • Love & Sex
    • The Solve Podcast
    • Weddings
    • Parenting
    • Relationships
  • Lifestyle
    • Lifestyle News
    • Build Your Legacy
    • Coronavirus: Everything You Need to Know
    • Health & Wellness
    • Holiday Gift Guide 2020
    • Unbossed Podcast
    • ESSENCE Eats
    • Money & Career
    • Entrepreneurship
    • Travel
    • Food & Drink
    • Black Travel Guide
    • Currency Conversations
  • News
    • Latest News
    • BLACK VOTES MATTER
    • Raise Your Voice
    • Culture
    • Politics
  • Videos
  • Events
    • WELLNESS HOUSE: YEAR OF RENEWAL
    • LEVEL UP: Entrepreneur Summit (DEC 2020)
    • Power Tools
    • SHE GOT NOW
    • Girls United Summit
    • Making Moves Now: Virtual Bootcamp
    • #EF SESSIONS
    • Dear Black Men
    • Cares Act
    • News & Announcements
  • Festival
  • Subscribe
  • Essence Studios
  • Girls United
  • NaturallyCurly
  • Shop Essence

Follow Us

Skip to content
  • Essence Studios
  • Girls United
  • NaturallyCurly
  • Shop Essence
  • Celebrity
    • Celebrity
    • Celebrity News
    • ‘Yes, Girl!’ Podcast
    • Entertainment
    • Black Women in Music
    • Black Celeb Couples
    • Celebrity Moms
    • Red Carpet
  • Fashion
    • Fashion
    • Fashion News
    • Street Style
    • Accessories
    • Fashion House
    • Fashion Week
  • Beauty
    • Beauty
    • Beauty News
    • Skin
    • Makeup
    • Color Files Podcast
    • Nails
    • How-To
    • AVEENO® Skin Health Startup Accelerator
    • Girls United: Beautiful Possibilities
    • Beauty Carnival-Archive
    • Dope Stuff On My Desk
  • Hair
    • Hair
    • Hair News
    • Natural
    • Relaxed
    • Transitioning
    • Weaves
    • 4C
    • Spring Hair And Beauty
  • Love
    • Love
    • Love & Sex News
    • The Solve Podcast
    • Weddings
    • Parenting
    • Relationships
  • Lifestyle
    • Lifestyle
    • Lifestyle News
    • Build Your Legacy
    • Coronavirus: Everything You Need to Know
    • Health & Wellness
    • Holiday Gift Guide 2020
    • Netflix’s Jingle Jangle Gift Guide
    • Unbossed Podcast
    • ESSENCE Eats
    • Money & Career
    • Entrepreneurship
    • Travel
    • Food & Drink
    • Black Travel Guide
    • Currency Conversations
    • Your Legacy
  • News
    • News
    • Latest News
    • BLACK VOTES MATTER
    • Essence 50th Anniversary
    • Raise Your Voice
    • Culture
    • Politics
  • Videos
  • Events
    • Events
    • WELLNESS HOUSE: YEAR OF RENEWAL
    • LEVEL UP: Entrepreneur Summit (DEC 2020)
    • Power Tools
    • SHE GOT NOW
    • Girls United Summit
    • Making Moves Now: Virtual Bootcamp
    • #EF SESSIONS
    • Dear Black Men
    • Cares Act
    • News & Announcements
  • Festival
  • Subscribe
Home · Black Celeb Couples

We Didn't See These Relationships Coming! 8 Of The Most Surprising Celebrity Hookups Of All Time

From current couple Toni Braxton and Birdman to exes Janet Jackson and Jermaine Dupri, we really never saw these relationships coming. We recap some of the most surprising celeb hookups of all time.

By Lauren Porter · October 31, 2016October 26, 2020
01
Janet Jackson and Jermaine Dupri

When Ms. Jackson and Jermaine emerged arm in arm on red carpets back in the early 2000s fans were more than a little surprised, but nevertheless they rooted for the love they shared. They called it quits in 2009, and Ms. Jackson moved on and married Wissam Al Mana in 2012. The pair are expecting their first child together very soon.

Mark Mainz
02
Mariah Carey and Nick Cannon

The announcement that Mariah Carey and Nick Cannon were in fact a couple and newlyweds caught most fans completely off guard, but in the end, we were totally here for the once adorable couple and especially for “dem babies”, which they call their twin son and daughter Morrocan and Monroe. Nick and Mariah divorced in 2015.! 

Christopher Polk
03
Toni Braxton and Birdman

It’s not every day you think of Grammy winning Toni Braxton and YMCMB’s Birdman being romantically linked, but if they like it, we love it! The relationship is still fairly new, so fans are waiting to see if it truly blossoms.

Paras Griffin/BET
04
Vivica A. Fox and 50 Cent

We’re still not sure how this couple came to be, but the union didn’t last long enough for anyone to worry much about it. These days they’re more like social media enemies than exes. 

05
Oprah and Roger Ebert

Oprah and Roger Ebert went on not one, but two, dates back in the late 80s. it didn’t lasted long either. While the two didn’t click romantically, they remained friends until his death in 2013. 

06
Tyra Banks and Seal

The 90s dating scene wouldn’t be complete without a totally scene-stealing couple. Thankfully, supermodel extraordinaire Tyra Banks and singer Seal made that happen for us. Their relationship caught us completely off guard, but we admit, at the time, we were here for it!

07
Robin Givens and Brad Pitt

No one saw the 90s relationship between Robin Givens and Brad Pitt coming, but even with it’s surprising nature, it definitely kept onlookers’ attention.

08
Whoopi Goldberg and Ted Danson

Yes, this happened. Oh Whoopi and Ted, you two were a love affair that we definitely didn’t know was on the horizon in the 90s. Who could ever forget that 1993 Friars Club roast?

Read More

Celebrity
17 Famous Women Of Proud African And Asian Heritage
Op-Ed
Texas Governor Greg Abbott Doesn’t Care About The Lives Of...
News
Wealthy Donors Push University of Texas to Keep Racist Alma...
Celebrity
Vanessa Bryant Opens Up About Coping With Kobe And Gianna's ...
News
Senate Confirms Dr. Cecilia Rouse to Chair the Council of Ec...
COMPANY INFORMATION
  • Our Company
  • Customer Service
  • Essence Ventures
  • Change Your Address
  • Contact Us
  • Job Opportunities
  • Internships
  • Media Kit
  • tag
SUBSCRIBE
  • Newsletters
  • Give a Gift of ESSENCE
  • Magazine Tablet Edition
FOLLOW US
MORE ON ESSENCE
  • Home
  • Love
  • Celebrity
  • Beauty
  • Hair
  • Fashion
  • ESSENCE festival

ESSENCE.com is part of ESSENCE Communications, Inc.

Essence may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.

©2021 ESSENCE Communications Inc. All Rights Reserved. | Privacy Policy | Terms of Use | Essence.com Advertising Terms

Get The ESSENCE Newsletter and
Special Offers delivered to your inbox

By clicking Sign Up, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.

Get The ESSENCE Magazine
by subscribing below
subscribe now