Ari Lennox's Boyfriend: All We Know about the Singer's Dating Life

Since achieving her mainstream music star status, and perhaps even before then, the "Whipped Cream" singer has been somewhat forthcoming about her dating life. And of all the big names in the entertainment industry she's been linked to, only one of them was known as Ari Lennox's boyfriend.

Born Courtney Shanade Salter on March 26, 1991, Ari Lennox broke into the music industry in the early 2010s, releasing her first mixtape, "Five Finger Discount," in 2012. She followed with her first EP, "Ariography," in 2013 and continued dishing out music and features until she caught the attention of Dreamville Records.

Soon, the owner of the label, rapper-turned-NBA star J Cole, sought to recruit Lennox to produce references for Fenty billionaire Rihanna. By 2016, she was signed to Dreamville Records. Lennox's fanbase grew over the following years, and she released her first studio album, "Shea Butter Baby," in May 2019.

The record was notably successful, earning the songstress mainstream status as an artist. However, as more credits in singing and songwriting continue to fall under her name, fans who have grown curious about Lennox's dating life or preferences haven't had much to ponder; the singer has been an open book.

She once opened up about what she desired in a partner, clarifying that she wanted someone captivating, bringing just as much intrigue into her sex life. But in her struggle to find such a person, her suitors usually have only one of those qualities, or they're scared of her pet dog.

Ari Lennox Was Linked to Moneybagg Yo, but She Denied This Rumor

The rumor surfaced in January 2020 after a screen-recorded clip from one of her Instagram lives went viral. In the short video, tweeted by a fan who was present during the Live, Lennox exclaims, "[Expletive] no!" to a question asked by one of her followers. The user in question had inquired if she was Moneybagg Yo's girlfriend.

After her reaction, Lennox brushed the subject aside, though not without making a few repulsed faces at the insinuation. The tweet garnered mixed reactions from netizens, but reports highlighted what appeared to be a misunderstanding on the inquirer's part.

Not long before Lennox went live, Moneybagg Yo had made headlines for confirming his relationship with TV personality Ari Fletcher after keeping it under wraps for some time. Therefore, it's likely that the follower who asked if Lennox was dating Moneybagg Yo had confused her with Fletcher.

Still, there were doubts on whether Lennox was truly reacting to her rumored romance with the hip-hop artist, as the question was no longer in view when the clip started. Prior to her rise to fame, Lennox had been in a long-term relationship with another man. She sang about the romance in her hit single, "Whipped Cream." However, little is known about the former flame.

'Atlanta' Star Lakeith Stanfield Seemed to Have Had a Crush on Ari Lennox

In another Instagram live in 2020, Lennox told her followers about a recent trip to the movie theater she'd taken alone. She'd seen the film "The Photograph," and one of its stars (also including Angela Bassett's husband, Courtney B. Vance, whose son is a promising musician), LaKeith Stanfield, just happened to be among the followers listening to Lennox.

Stanfield left a comment that instantly caught Lennox's attention, asking her to be his date. Lennox immediately "freaked out," saying, "Lakeith, I don’t have time for this. You’re joking. Wait… let’s change the subject. Because I heard some things."

A few months later, Stanfield hadn't given up on the Dreamville songstress, as he randomly shared a photo of Lennox in a now-deleted Instagram post, captioning, "js." The possibility of a romance blooming between the two excited many, but it never came to pass.

Just a day shy of last New Year's Eve, Stanfield proposed to his girlfriend, Kasmere Trice, on her birthday. The couple announced the exciting news on their respective social accounts; however, controversy immediately followed as Taylor Hurd, an artist, claimed she had a baby with Stanfield.

Ari Lennox's Last Known Boyfriend Was 'Married at First Sight' Contestant Keith Manley II

The two went public with their romance last June when they posted a series of photos depicting them spending quality time together. Lennox shared two on her Instagram stories, one showing her and Keith Manley II enjoying dinner at a restaurant and another of them cozied up on a couch in casual attire.

Yet only a week later, an anonymous source claimed Lennox and Manley II had separated. Still, Lennox wasn't significantly affected by the breakup, as the insider said. She turned her focus on making music and working on her upcoming sophomore studio album. Since then, she has kept her personal life hidden from the spotlight.