The past year was a big one for love — in Hollywood, at least. Though there were plenty of celebrity breakups we had to dry our tears over, there were also a lot of new celebrity couples in 2021 … and some were pairings that we totally didn't see coming. (Is anyone else still trying to absorb the fact that Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck are actually dating again — like, for real?)
From reality stars falling in love with each other to new Kardashian love stories blooming, there have been a lot of celeb couples that fans couldn't get enough of this past year. It's always a fun escape to keep up with our favorite Hollywood romances, after all.
Here are the hottest new celebrity couples of 2021. We can't wait to find out which of these relationships will stay strong in 2022 (though inevitably, they won't all survive). But who knows — we could see a Bennifer engagement 2.0 very soon!
Kourtney Kardashian & Travis Barker
As far as the most talked-about celebrity couple in 2021 goes, Kourtney Kardashian and Travis Barker have to be it. Not only did they quickly get hot and heavy (and they weren't afraid to show it, either), but they also decided to spend the rest of their lives together. Now that they're planning their wedding, there's no doubt 2022 that is going to be another big year for them, too.
Kim Kardashian & Pete Davidson
Kourtney isn't the only member of her family who ended up in a high-profile relationship in 2021. Now that Kim Kardashian is a single woman after splitting with Kanye West, she's been spotted out and about with Pete Davidson. It's definitely an interesting pairing (to say the least), and so far, all fans have to go on is the photos that paparazzi have caught of them. But it definitely seems like they're already spending a lot of time together.
Jennifer Lopez & Ben Affleck
When Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck both ended up single in the beginning of 2021, we never could have guessed that it would lead to a reunion, but it totally did. In the spring, rumors first surfaced that Ben and Jennifer were back together, and sure enough, those rumors turned out to be true. Heading into 2022, their relationship seems to be going well. Maybe the second time is a charm for these two? It almost seems too good to be true!
Zoë Kravitz & Channing Tatum
Between his divorce from Jenna Dewan and his relationship with Jessie J, the last couple of years have been a bit of an emotional roller coaster for Channing Tatum — but now, it seems he's found love again. In the second half of 2021, there were rumors that he was with Zoë Kravitz, and then when they were photographed together at the Met Gala in September, it was all but confirmed.
Shailene Woodley & Aaron Rodgers
This celeb romance seemingly came out of nowhere — and even now, we still don't know much about their relationship (or how it came to be). After Aaron Rodgers casually announced that he was engaged in February, his top-secret relationship with Shailene Woodley was confirmed, and they've been living happily ever after ever since (at least, as far as we know).
Olivia Munn & John Mulaney
John Mulaney's divorce from Anna Marie Tendler certainly shocked the comedian's fans, but not as much as the news that he had moved on with Olivia Munn and that she quickly ended up pregnant with their first child together (who was reportedly born in November). So far, it certainly seems to be working for them, even though they have been keeping the circumstances around their relationship as mysterious as possible.
Zendaya & Tom Holland
Though there were rumors for years that the Spider-Man: No Way Home stars were dating, Tom Holland and Zendaya didn't confirm that they were in a relationship until September 2021, when Tom posted their first official couple photo on Instagram. Since then, fans haven't been able to stop talking about it.
Kat Dennings & Andrew WK
Kat Dennings and singer Andrew WK had a whirlwind relationship in 2021. Just a week after they shared that they were dating on Instagram, they announced their engagement, and there's even been a bit of buzz that they're secretly married already. Hmm …
Olivia Wilde & Harry Styles
This is another pairing we totally didn't see coming. After Olivia Wilde and Jason Sudeikis went their separate ways, Olivia was rumored to be dating Harry Styles (who happens to be 10 years her junior). They still seem to be going strong, even if they are keeping their relationship low key.
Lori Harvey & Michael B. Jordan
Earlier this year, Michael B. Jordan went public with his relationship with Lori Harvey — Steve Harvey's daughter, FYI. "The situation for me was real enough [to share]," he told The Hollywood Reporter in December. "There's a premeditated planning of staying out of the way [of the public eye] that sometimes kills spontaneity and intimacy."
He added: "I wanted to take that away and give this the best chance it had, in this weird world that we live in, to be somewhat normal. Long story short, I think it's just the timing of everything. It was the right time for me. Yeah. I'm happy."
Adele & Rich Paul
Swipe over to see a photo of Adele and boyfriend Rich Paul together — the new romance she debuted on social media in September. She and the sports agent started dating earlier this year, and though they haven't shared much about their relationship other than this picture, fans are rooting for them already.
Rita Ora & Taika Waititi
The relationship between singer Rita Ora and actor Taika Waititi seemed a bit out of left field to fans, but they've been going strong since the spring of 2021. Though they'd been spotted out together for months, they didn't make things Instagram official until August, and they've been openly sharing their relationship online ever since.
Renée Zellweger & Ant Anstead
Not long after his divorce from Flip or Flop star Christina Haack, TV presenter Ant Anstead found someone new: Renée Zellweger. According to the photos he's shared so far, it seems like these two are on cloud nine together, but neither of them has opened up about any of the details of their relationship.
Lena Dunham & Luis Felber
As much of a surprise as Lena Dunham's relationship with musician Luis Felber came to fans this year, they were even more surprised when she announced that they'd gotten married less than three months later. When you know, you know, and it seems like she definitely knew!
Vanessa Hudgens & Cole Tucker
After meeting virtually on a Zoom meditation group, High School Musical star Vanessa Hudgens and MLB player Cole Tucker made their relationship status Instagram official on Valentine's Day. "It's you, it's me, it's us," Vanessa captioned the post, which included a sweet snapshot of the two kissing. Since then, the couple has been sharing their love story on social media, from vacation snapshots to pics from Vanessa's visits to PNC Park to watch Cole and his fellow Pittsburgh Pirates play.
