‘I Love Boosters’ Star Keke Palmer Says She “Always Felt the Chemistry” With ‘Hot Ones’ Host Sean Evans

Keke Palmer is asking fans to slow down when it comes to her relationship with Sean Evans. The actress recently opened up about the attention surrounding her and the Hot Ones host, saying their connection is real while making it clear that the internet is moving much faster than she is.

During an appearance on Today With Jenna & Sheinelle, Palmer talked about her friendship and growing connection with Evans. According to Palmer, the chemistry between them was not something either person had to create for the cameras.

“We always felt that chemistry,” Palmer said. “I couldn’t force that.” The comments come after months of fans wondering if Palmer and Evans could be more than friends. The two first connected through their work, but their interactions have continued outside of their professional lives.

Evans appeared on Palmer’s podcast, Baby, This Is Keke Palmer, in May. The pair were later seen having dinner together, which quickly caught the attention of fans online. Their history also includes a playful kiss when Palmer returned to Hot Ones in September 2025.

The speculation did not come as a surprise to Palmer, but the speed of it apparently did. “I was gagged that everybody was ready to marry me off,” she said during the Today appearance. “I’m like, ‘Guys, let it cook!’ They married your girl off in two seconds!”

Palmer explained that the public interest has not been limited to social media. She said fans have even approached her in person to ask about Evans and the status of her love life.

The actress recalled one such moment at an airport, where someone asked her what was happening between her and Evans. Palmer said she had to remind the fan that there was no need to rush to a conclusion.

“I’m like, ‘Well, girl, you gotta let time pass. This just happened yesterday,’” she recalled.

For Palmer, the situation is also an example of how quickly people can become invested in celebrities they do not actually know personally. She described that kind of intense fan interest as “so parasocial.”

Palmer also explained that the connection with Evans began in a simple way. They met through work, got along naturally, and developed the kind of easy chemistry that can happen between coworkers.

“For us, it was just like, it’s life,” she said. “Essentially, we met at work. We had chemistry. It’s like, you know, work husband, work wife. You just have that chemistry with people. Then, we hang out.”

That last part is likely to keep fans talking, but Palmer does not seem interested in letting online theories decide what happens next.

She admitted that she sometimes checks social media because she enjoys pop culture and likes knowing what people are talking about. At the same time, she said she tries not to let online conversations shape her own view of reality.

“I don’t let it define the way that I think,” Palmer said. “You can’t just take everything at face value. You have to be critically thinking about everything you see.”

So, while Palmer clearly acknowledges that she and Evans have chemistry, she is not putting a label on their relationship just yet. For now, her message to fans is simple: give it time and let things happen naturally.

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