You probably remember the Instagram posts. The ones where Jacob Latimore and Serayah looked like they were literally glowing in that specific, "we’re young, rich, and obsessed with each other" kind of way. For a solid four years, they were the blueprint for low-key but high-impact Black love in Hollywood. But then the grid posts stopped. The red carpet appearances vanished. And suddenly, everybody was asking the same thing: What actually happened between Jacob Latimore and Serayah?
Honestly, the fallout wasn't nearly as tidy as the fans wanted it to be.
The Breakup That Caught Everyone Off Guard
It started with a dinner photo. In February 2023, rapper Joey Bada$$ posted a picture of him and Serayah looking very "date night" at a restaurant. The internet, predictably, lost its mind. Up until that point, most people still thought Serayah was with Jacob. The "Empire" actress eventually had to jump on Instagram Live to clear the air, basically saying that she and Jacob were no longer together and had simply grown apart.
She asked people to "simmer down," but the curiosity didn't stop.
Transitioning from a public four-year relationship to seeing your ex with someone else is never easy, especially when you both work in the same small industry circles. While the initial split was framed as mutual and respectful, things got a little more complicated as time went on.
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Why They Aren't Friends Anymore
By late 2025, the "we’re still friends" narrative had pretty much crumbled. During an interview on "The Morning Hustle" in September 2025, Serayah didn't hold back. When asked about where she and Jacob stand now, she was blunt: "We don't have a friendship."
It wasn't that they hated each other—or at least, she didn't say that—but they just weren't in each other's lives.
- The Residuals Challenge: Jacob went viral for his rendition of the "Residuals" challenge, where he sang some pretty pointed lyrics about being "selfish in my ways" and not being ready to "give you a baby."
- The Reaction: Serayah claimed she didn't even know about the video until a friend sent it to her. Her vibe was very much "I hope he finds happiness," but the door was clearly closed.
It’s a classic case of a relationship that was beautiful while it lasted but couldn't survive the transition into adulthood and different life goals. Jacob was focusing on his music and his role on The Chi, while Serayah was ready for a new chapter entirely.
Where They Are in 2026
If you’re looking for a reconciliation, don't hold your breath. The lives of Jacob Latimore and Serayah have diverged in a major way.
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Serayah is currently in a completely different headspace. In June 2025, she and Joey Bada$$ welcomed a baby boy, and she’s since confirmed that they are engaged. She’s called motherhood the "greatest accomplishment" of her life. It’s a sharp contrast to those lyrics Jacob sang about not being ready for a family. Sometimes, people aren't "the one" simply because they aren't ready at the same time you are.
Jacob, meanwhile, has been leaning heavily into his artistry. He’s been vocal about his journey of self-discovery and his "Residuals" verse suggests he’s done some reflecting on what went wrong. He’s still a powerhouse on screen, but he seems to be keeping his romantic life way more guarded these days.
The Industry Impact
When two rising stars like them break up, it changes the landscape of the events they attend. You won't see them sitting together at the BET Awards anymore. They aren't collaborating on music videos like "Caught Up" like they did back in 2019. That era of their lives is officially in the archives.
The reality of celebrity relationships is that they often serve as a mirror for our own. People were invested in them because they seemed "real." They did the long-distance thing through FaceTime. They kept things private for months before going public. They did everything "right," and it still ended.
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Moving Forward: Lessons from the Split
There is actually a lot to learn from how these two handled their business. Even if they aren't "friends" now, they avoided the messy, public Twitter feuds that plague so many other celeb breakups.
- Acknowledge the Growth: Serayah was open about the fact that they simply grew apart. It’s okay to admit that the person you loved at 21 isn't the person you need at 28.
- Respect the New Chapter: Despite the awkwardness of the "Residuals" video, both have managed to keep a level of public dignity.
- Prioritize Peace over "Friendship": Sometimes, "no friendship" is healthier than a forced one. Serayah’s decision to move on completely allowed her to build a family with Joey without the shadow of her ex hanging over her.
If you’re still following their careers, the best thing to do is support them as individual artists. Check out Jacob's latest music if you want to hear the "his side" of the emotional journey, and keep an eye on Serayah’s upcoming acting projects like the R&B-inspired film R&B produced by Tyler Perry. They are both thriving, just in different worlds.
To keep up with their latest moves, you should follow their official social media accounts individually rather than looking for clues in old fan pages. Their paths are separate now, and based on everything we’ve seen in 2026, they both seem much better off for it.