Kori Barnes 
A-list celebrities go through heartbreak and breakups too.
In a shocking and revealing Instagram post, Black Panther actress Lupita Nyong’o took to her social media platform to express her compassion for those suffering in the world by more important things, but that she’s “in a season of heartbreak because of a love suddenly and devastatingly extinguished by deception.”
Although the public isn’t entitled to the personal details of anyone’s relationships or rough periods in the spotlight, Nyong’o wanted to share her personal truth and dissociate herself from her now ex-boyfriend. She stated in her Instagram post, “I find myself in a season of heartbreak because of a love suddenly and devastatingly extinguished by deception. I am tempted to run into the shadows and hide, only to return to the light when I have regained my strength enough for me to say, ‘Whatever, my life is better this way.’ But I am reminded that the magnitude of the pain I am feeling is equal to the measure of my capacity for love. And so, I am choosing to face the pain, cultivating the courage to meet my life exactly as it is, and trusting that this too shall pass. The promise, they say, is that a tender heart is what gives birth to fearlessness. I hope it’s true… I share this to keep it 💯, and hoping that the knowledge of my experience might be useful to someone else out there experiencing the grip of heartbreak who is poised to try and escape from the pain and miss out on the wisdom that comes from it. #Breakup. Let’s face our pain so we don’t spread it.”
“Let’s face our pain so we don’t spread it.” — Lupita Nyong’o
The ending of relationships and overall break-ups are usually never easy to let go of. According to Vanityfair, “Though Nyong’o didn’t name names specifically, or go into detail about how her trust had been broken by the unnamed party, she has been linked to TV host and journalist Selema Masekela for about a year. In December 2022, in a since-deleted Instagram post, she shared a video of the two captioned “We just click! @selema #thisismylove #nuffsaid.” There’s multiple stages of grief and moving on from any ending of betrayal or sorrow, but Nyong’O hopes her strength is a testament for other people who may be going through the same things. She’s standing true to her words by being spotted out at a recent Janelle Monet concert in LA and hanging with friends. One of the best methods for moving on and getting over a break up is being surrounded by loved ones who remind you who you are. Also, the importance of getting out and continuing to enjoy the things you normally do; which could be attending one of your favorite artists’ concerts, going out to a fancy restaurant, retail therapy, and more.
One of the best methods for moving on and getting over a breakup is being surrounded by loved ones who remind you who you are.
It’s typical and expected for some coping mechanisms to result in removing or deleting any old memories of their ex-significant partner and any reminders of the relationship, which can be a good direction if done in a healthy manner. It’s essential to prioritize your mental health and happiness when going through a trying time that you may not fully understand why had to happen, but that pain is temporary in order to get to the side of what you truly deserve. We send out the best wishes to Nyong’O and anyone who may be going through a current heartbreak.
By Kori Barnes, University of Southern California
Instagram: @korixnicole
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