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THE RUNDOWN
Keke Palmer has appeared several times on the popular celebrity interview show Hot Ones, hosted by Sean Evans.The two shared a surprise kiss last year but are friends.They were seen in June having dinner together, sparking dating rumors.
Hot Ones host Sean Evans has been a fan of Nope actress Keke Palmer for some time, and his job as an interviewer has offered him ample opportunity to get to know her. And they did share a cute kiss once, but it was pretty public and seemingly casual.
In mid-June 2026, it became clear they had been spending time together off camera as well. When photos were published by TMZ showing them enjoying dinner together, dating rumors started circulating.
But as far as anyone can tell, the two are just friends. Here’s their complete (platonic) relationship timeline so far.
April 2017
Evans invited Palmer onto Hot Ones for the first time in 2017. She was promoting her show Berlin Station, and they seemed to hit it off right away.
August 2021
She was back four years later:
November 2023
The internet personality mentioned Palmer during an episode of Chicken Shop Date with Amelia Dimoldenberg when asked if he’d ever crushed on one of his guests.
“Keke Palmer,” Evans replied. “Very charming. Very charming woman.”
Palmer commented on Evans’s confession when it was posted as an interview clip, saying, “It was love at first hot wing—this was too kind @seanseaevans.”
August 2024
The actress told People in August 2024 that she was “living for” his interview with Dimoldenberg.
“Not to say that I was surprised or I wasn’t surprised,” she explained. “But when I heard it and people were sending it to me, I was like, ‘I knew the vibes were vibing.’”
September 2025
She addressed his comments with more direct action during another appearance on Hot Ones in 2025.
“I saw an interview where you said, like, I was your favorite guest, and all this really sweet stuff,” she said. “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.”
He readily agreed, and they kissed.
“The sparks are sparking!” Palmer joked afterward.
Evans added, “When I’m dying, and my life flashes before my eyes, I’ll have that snapshot.”
May 2026
In spring 2026, Evans made an appearance on the Baby, This Is Keke Palmer podcast. She introduced him as her “potential future suitor,” before they discussed their kiss.
“I think they probably thought it was scripted because you didn’t seem surprised at all,” she said, to which he replied, “I didn’t give it a second to breathe. Once I heard the offer and the conditions, I immediately signed.”
June 2026
On June 9, Evans appeared at a special FYC event, where he was asked about his favorite interviews, per The Hollywood Reporter.
“Working with Keke Palmer is always like a one plus one equals three situation,” Evans said.
Then, on June 12, they were seen together in New York City on a dinner date. TMZ reported they were at Italian restaurant Lucali in Brooklyn. They appeared to be in close and friendly conversation.
Palmer also addressed her relationship with Evans during Spotify’s Conversations That Channel Culture panel at Cannes Lions on June 23.
When host Jay Shetty asked whether she was “serious about Sean Evans,” Palmer replied, “Oh, we’re talking about this? First of all, I love Sean Evans. I love Sean. Hey, Sean! That’s my guy.”
After Shetty brought up photos of the pair dining together in Brooklyn earlier that month, Palmer confirmed, “We’re hanging out,” before adding that they “never know what could arise.”
She also explained that they are currently taking things slowly, saying, “[We’re] just tak[ing] it day by day, one wing at a time, so to speak.”
July 2026
Palmer discussed her relationship with Evans during a July 27 appearance on Today With Jenna & Sheinelle, saying their connection developed naturally after they first met through work.
“Our chemistry is genuine…I couldn’t force that if I tried,” she said. “We always felt that chemistry.”
Reflecting on how their friendship progressed beyond the workplace, Palmer added, “It’s life. Essentially, we met at work. We had chemistry. Work husband, work wife. You just have that chemistry with people. Then, we hang out.”
She also reacted to fans quickly imagining a future for the pair. “I was gagged that everybody was ready to marry me off,” she said. “Guys, let it cook! They married your girl off in two seconds!”
Palmer made it clear, however, that the online discourse would not determine how she approaches the relationship.
“I don’t let it define the way that I think,” she said. “If anything, I’m always trying to contextualize things. A lot of times I feel like people get that about me. You can’t just take everything at face value. You have to be critically thinking about everything you see.”
August 2026
Palmer addressed the speculation surrounding her and Evans’s relationship during an appearance on Evan Ross Katz’s Shut Up Evan podcast.
After Katz pointed out that fans have been enthusiastic about the idea of the two getting together, Palmer said, “Yeah, yeah. I feel like that they’re not wrong, you know what I’m saying? I feel like it’s just one of those things with me where I’m like this is so crazy, like what are we supposed to do, just go get married? We don’t even know each other outside of work.”
When Katz suggested a second date, Palmer laughed and replied, “So y’all can post about it?”
