Honestly, if you’ve spent any time on Stan Twitter lately, you’ve probably seen the phrase "Jonah cooked for Halle" popping up in your timeline. It’s one of those weird, hyper-specific internet moments that feels like an inside joke you weren't invited to. But like most things involving The Little Mermaid stars Halle Bailey and Jonah Hauer-King, it’s rooted in a mix of genuine friendship and the internet's obsession with "shipping" costars who actually seem to like each other.
People are obsessed.
The "Jonah cooked for Halle Twitter" frenzy didn't just appear out of thin air. It’s a byproduct of the massive press tour for Disney's live-action The Little Mermaid, where the chemistry between the two leads was so palpable it launched a thousand fan edits. While most of the world was arguing about casting, a specific corner of the internet was focused on how Jonah looked at Halle during interviews. And then came the "cooking" talk.
What does it actually mean when Twitter says Jonah cooked?
In internet slang, "cooking" usually means someone is doing something exceptionally well or "serving" a specific vibe. However, in the case of Jonah Hauer-King and Halle Bailey, the "jonah cooked for halle twitter" trend is a bit more literal and a lot more speculative.
During their 2023 press run, the duo did dozens of "BFF tests" and "Puppy Interviews." In several of these segments—specifically ones for outlets like BuzzFeed and Newsround—they shared anecdotes about their time on set. Fans latched onto stories about them hanging out, Jonah being a "gentleman," and the general domestic energy they projected.
"It’s the way he talks about her," one viral tweet noted. "Like he literally cooked a 5-course meal just by describing her talent."
That's the thing. On Twitter, "cooking" is often used to describe someone putting in effort. When Jonah would spend an entire interview praising Halle’s vocal range or her kindness, fans would say "he's cooking." It became a shorthand for his apparent "stan" behavior toward his costar.
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The press tour moments that fueled the fire
Let’s look at the evidence. You can’t talk about this meme without talking about the UK premiere. Jonah was caught on camera multiple times looking at Halle like she was the only person in the room.
Twitter took those clips and ran.
- The "Wonder What She Thinks of Me" Theory: There was a whole conspiracy on TikTok and Twitter suggesting Halle wrote songs about Jonah back in 2019. While there's zero proof of this—Halle was famously in a relationship with rapper DDG during much of the movie's rollout—the "Jonah cooked" crowd loves the idea of a secret romance.
- The Variety and Vanity Fair Reunions: Every time they appear in a photo together at an afterparty, the "cooking" tweets resurface. It’s basically a way for fans to say that Jonah is "serving" as the perfect Prince Eric in real life.
- The "Home Cooked" Vibe: During an interview with ASOS, they discussed their favorite looks and how they supported each other through the grueling underwater filming. The level of comfort they showed led people to joke that they probably just spend their weekends "cooking" and hanging out like a normal couple.
Is there a literal cooking story?
Actually, sort of. While there isn't a viral video of Jonah Hauer-King in an apron flipping pancakes for Halle (sadly), they did talk about "food" and "treats" on set. In a few interviews, they mentioned the snacks and the "mermaid cake" involved in birthday celebrations during production.
The internet has a funny way of turning a "we had cake on set" story into "he spent four hours braising short ribs for her in his trailer."
That’s the beauty of Twitter. It takes a spark of chemistry and turns it into a full-blown narrative.
Why people are still talking about this in 2026
You’d think a movie from 2023 would be old news. Nope. The "jonah cooked for halle twitter" trend persists because the "Ariel and Eric" pairing remains one of the few live-action Disney couples that people actually believed in.
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In a world of sterile, forced chemistry, Jonah and Halle felt real.
The DDG Factor
We have to address the elephant in the room. Halle’s real-life relationship with DDG has been a constant source of drama on social media. Whenever there’s a rumor of a breakup or tension in her personal life, fans immediately flock back to Jonah.
It’s a "what if" scenario.
Twitter users use "Jonah cooked" as a way to contrast the perceived "gentlemanly" energy of Jonah with the more controversial public persona of DDG. It’s less about the cooking and more about the vibes.
How to find the "Jonah Cooked" threads
If you’re looking to find the original memes, your best bet is searching "Jonah Halle chemistry" or "Jonah Eric Ariel press tour" on X (formerly Twitter).
- Look for the clips of the London premiere.
- Check the BuzzFeed "Who's Most Likely To" video.
- Search for the "Prince Eric is a stan" threads.
Basically, the "cooking" is the effort Jonah puts into being the ultimate hype man. He isn't just a costar; he’s a fan. And in the eyes of Twitter, that’s the highest form of service.
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Insights for the "Stan" Community
If you're following this trend, it's worth noting that both actors have moved on to other massive projects. Jonah has been busy with The Tattooist of Auschwitz, and Halle has been focusing on her solo music career and motherhood.
The "cooking" hasn't stopped; it's just evolved into mutual respect from afar.
To keep up with the latest "Jonah cooked for Halle" updates, you should follow the major Halle Bailey update accounts. They are usually the first to clip any new interactions or "likes" between the two on Instagram. Just remember to take the "shipping" with a grain of salt. They’re friends, they’re pros, and honestly? They both probably have private chefs for the actual cooking anyway.
Keep an eye on the next major award show cycle. If they both attend the same gala, expect the "cooking" tweets to hit the trending page within minutes. It’s the cycle of the internet: see chemistry, create a meal, and let Twitter eat.
If you want to see the specific clips that started the "cooking" rumors, search for their Wired Autocomplete Interview. The way they finish each other's sentences is usually the "Patient Zero" for these types of memes. Look for the moments where Jonah deflects a question just to make Halle laugh—that's the "secret sauce" everyone is talking about.