Last night, Michaela Coel won big at the BAFTAs taking home best actress, best director, best writer and best mini-series all for her incredible work bringing I May Destroy You to our screens. Watching her finally get the recognition she deserves was a rewarding moment for many fans, but of course, Google data speaks volumes about what they actually wanted to know.
According to Google Trends, ‘Michaela Coel husband’ is currently a breakout search term associated with the star – because what even is a successful woman without a man, right? We can’t simply, you know, value the amazing work she’s done or how talent she is, oh no – she MUST be valued by her attachment or unattachment to the male species.
For those googling, you’ll be disappointed to note Michaela appears embody the fight against that narrative, keeping her dating life entirely private (I write, while cackling like a witch). That’s right, the actor-producer-director hasn’t spoken about being in a relationship since 2018, when she revealed to The Guardian she had a boyfriend but declined to name him for his privacy.
Since then, it’s entirely plausible that Michaela Coel could be married, casually dating or vehemently single – but until she opens up about it herself, Michaela Coel’s relationship status will remain a mystery.
She’s unlikely to do so, too, telling The Guardian ‘I used to be really loose with the amount of information I put out on social media…As my career has stabilized, I feel like I need to retreat more.’
What we do know about her dating life though, is that she identifies as ‘aromantic’ which is when people ‘don’t develop romantic attractions for other people’. According to Healthline, ‘That doesn’t mean they don’t have feelings, aromantic people do form strong bonds and have loving relationships that have nothing to do with romance.’
I like having intimate relationships but I don’t want to change people or want to be changed by anyone.
Michaela explained further to The Culture Trip in 2018, stating ‘I googled aromanticism and I very much felt like, “Oh, that’s me.” Which means if you tell me to dress up nicely because we’re going to go to a dinner with candles, it’s not going to mean a lot to me. It’s a waste of money and I have ingredients at home. Things like weddings and the expense of these things — I would rather settle for the rest of my life with a person.’
‘I am OK being by myself,’ she continued. ‘I like having intimate relationships but I don’t want to change people or want to be changed by anyone. Diamond rings don’t make me happy. Flowers don’t make me smile. I can’t smell them. I don’t have a sense of smell. I want to know who you are.’
So, until Michaela feels comfortable sharing more about her dating life, it seems the people desperate to know whether or not she has a husband will have to settle for knowing she’s perfectly happy without one – and just as successful, too.
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