Old Loves: Former Black Hollywood Couples You Forgot About

With the help of Lena Dunham’s show Girls, I’ve been low-key stalking a Tumblr page called “Old Loves.” The whole point of it is to show you hundreds, if not thousands of pictures of former celebrity couples during happier times. And while I thoroughly enjoy flipping through the pages, I was thinking it would be nice to see more minorities, preferably Black couples from the past. So I did some digging, of course. Inspired by the page, and with my own love of throwback photos, I found dreamy pictures of 15 former couples. Some you may have known about, others who may have just briefly dated, and a few who fell in and out of love quick, fast and in a hurry. Many have moved on and married, divorced, or continue to be single and mingle, and probably don’t want that old thing back. But walking down memory lane is always fun. So check out these moments, and fleeting relationships in time.

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Amber Rose & Kanye West

It was all good a few years ago. Specifically, from 2008 to 2010.

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Diahann Carroll & Sidney Poitier

They started dating in ’61 after meeting on the set of Paris Blues. Hollywood royalty, and one good-looking pair.

Lisa Bonet & Lenny Kravitz (With Zoe Kravitz)

It’s nice that this former couple still happens to stay so close. But they were absolutely adorable while married from 1987 to 1993. 

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Taraji P. Henson & Hill Harper

Remember their relationship? Even if you don’t, they were together for a while. The stars dated from 2002 to 2005. 

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Lauryn Hill & Rohan Marley (With Selah Marley)

This couple split after 12 years of dating and five children. Hill posted this picture of the pair during the good times.

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Kidada Jones & LL Cool J

Before he settled down and married the lovely Simone Smith, LL Cool J was dating Kidada Jones, who is Quincy Jones’s daughter and who used to be engaged to 2Pac before his death.

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Pam Grier & Richard Pryor

The cool couple dated around 1976, but didn’t last too long though.

Kimberly Russell & George Clooney

Obvi George Clooney isn’t Black, but I found this pairing of the Academy Award winner and the former Head of Class star to very interesting. And worth sharing. They dated in ’95.

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Eva Marcille & Lance Gross

The smiles! Both parties have moved on and even had children, but we miss their time together (which was from 2006 to 2010).

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Vivica A. Fox & Dennis Rodman

They probably don’t miss kicking it, but I’m sure they miss sharing makeup. The two dated in 1997.

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Aaliyah & Damon Dash

The late singer seemed to be at her happiest with Damon Dash. They dated from 1999 up until her passing.

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Sanaa Lathan & Omar Epps

The pair took their love from the screen and dated in real life. They dated from 1999 to 2002.

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Tyra Banks & John Singleton

Singleton loved Banks so much he gave her a major role in Higher Learning. They were together from 1993 to 1996.

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Eartha Kitt & Sammy Davis Jr.

Did you know these two were together? They dated in 1954 and were quite the talented pair.

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Phylicia & Ahmad Rashad

These two were married from 1985 to 2001, and their daughter, Condola, is a very good actress on stage and on screen.

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Jennifer Lopez & Wesley Snipes

Snipes has dated damn near everybody, but Lopez was his main lady–for a few months. They reportedly dated from November 1994 to March 1995.

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Halle Berry & Shemar Moore

After her first marriage, Halle Berry gave Shemar Moore a chance in 1997, but the fire fizzled out.