Relationships in the public eye usually follow a predictable script. There is the "soft launch" on Instagram, the blurry paparazzi shots, and eventually, the high-def engagement announcement that breaks the internet for exactly forty-eight hours.
When JoJo and Dexter Darden went public, it felt different. It wasn't just another Hollywood pairing; it was a collision of two people who had both survived the meat grinder of child stardom and emerged as genuinely respected artists. She was the vocal powerhouse who fought a decade-long legal war for her voice. He was the charismatic actor moving from The Maze Runner to prestige TV.
They seemed solid. Until they weren't.
If you’re looking for a wedding date, you’re about two years too late. Honestly, the story of what happened between these two is a textbook case of how even the most "perfect" celebrity unions can evaporate once the cameras stop clicking and the reality of a shared life sets in.
The Proposal That Had Everyone Obsessed
It happened on Christmas Eve, 2021. Well, technically it was JoJo’s 31st birthday celebration that bled into the holiday. Dexter didn't just buy a ring; he staged a full-scale romantic production at the La Concha Resort in Puerto Rico.
He flew out her mom. He flew out his mom. Best friends were in tow. It was the kind of move that signals "this is forever" in very loud, expensive font. JoJo’s Instagram post at the time was pure unfiltered joy. She called him the most "thoughtful, creative, and positive" human she’d ever met.
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Fans were thrilled. For a singer who had been through the ringer—legal battles with her former label Blackground Records that essentially froze her career in her prime—seeing her find a "forever" felt like a long-overdue win.
Why Dexter Darden Seemed Like the One
Dexter wasn't just some guy on her arm. He was a rising star in his own right. Most people recognized him as Frypan from the Maze Runner trilogy, but he was also killing it as Devante Young in the Saved by the Bell reboot.
They had been dating since 2020, quietly building a foundation during a time when the world was mostly shut down. That kind of "bubble" romance often feels stronger than it is because there are fewer distractions. No red carpets. No hectic filming schedules in different countries. Just two people getting to know each other.
The Shift: From Engagement to "The Ring Is Off"
Hollywood is funny. One day you're "LFG" (as JoJo captioned her engagement post) and the next, you’re deleting photos. By late 2022, the digital trail began to go cold.
The breakup wasn't a sudden explosion. It was more of a silent retreat. They unfollowed each other on Instagram—the modern equivalent of a legal separation. Then came the cryptic posts. JoJo eventually shared a story that basically confirmed the end: "And just like that, I took the ring off my left hand and put it on my right."
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She didn't hold back on TikTok either. In a video filmed in a bathtub (classic breakup vibes, honestly), she told her followers that there is no "one size fits all" for grieving or being "pissed tf off."
"People be lying, knowing they lying, knowing you know they lying. And still lie." — JoJo via social media.
That quote? That was the kicker. It sparked a wave of speculation. While neither has sat down for a "tell-all" interview about the split, the subtext was loud. Trust had been broken. The "forever" they promised each other in Puerto Rico didn't even make it to the first anniversary of the proposal.
Where Are JoJo and Dexter Darden Now?
It’s 2026, and both have moved on in ways that feel very permanent.
Dexter Darden is currently engaged to fitness instructor Briah Nelson. He proposed in December 2024 in a backyard ceremony that looked a lot more intimate than the resort spectacle from his previous engagement. It seems he’s found a different kind of rhythm. Career-wise, he’s been busy, notably taking on the massive task of playing Muhammad Ali in the series Fight Night alongside heavyweights like Samuel L. Jackson and Don Cheadle.
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JoJo, or Joanna Levesque as she often goes by now in her professional theater and acting credits, hasn't slowed down either. She’s leaned heavily into her "grown woman" era.
- She spent a significant amount of time on Broadway, starring in Moulin Rouge! The Musical.
- Her 2024 memoir, Over the Influence, pulled back the curtain on her industry trauma and personal life.
- In 2025, she dropped the NGL EP, proving her vocals are still arguably the best in the game.
The Reality of the "Public" Breakup
What most people get wrong about JoJo and Dexter Darden is the assumption that the relationship was a failure. In the celeb world, a two-year run that ends before a wedding is often just a necessary chapter.
JoJo has been incredibly vocal about her journey with sobriety, mental health, and self-worth. If the relationship wasn't serving that growth, she walked away. That’s not a failure; that’s a boundary. Dexter, meanwhile, seems to have pivoted toward a life that’s a bit more grounded and less centered on the Hollywood "power couple" narrative.
Moving Forward: Actionable Insights for Fans
If you're still mourning the loss of this pairing, the best thing you can do is support their individual paths. They are both in the prime of their careers, and the drama of 2022 is firmly in the rearview mirror.
- Check out Dexter’s work in Fight Night: It’s a career-defining performance that shows he’s way more than a "reboot" actor.
- Listen to JoJo’s NGL EP: If you want to know how she feels now, the music tells the story better than any tabloid ever could.
- Read Over the Influence: For anyone who wants to understand why JoJo is so guarded—and so resilient—her memoir is essential.
The era of JoJo and Dexter Darden is over. But honestly? Both of them seem a lot more "them" than they ever did as a pair.