August Alsina is giving the people in his life their flowers in front of the world. And that includes a man, he says is teaching him “so much about love and healing.”
The moment happened on a recent episode of The Surreal Life, where August named fear as his greatest learning tool. One lesson he got was about love existing in “different forms and facets.” And then he introduced Zu with a loving monologue about honoring him for a love that “defies all the constructs.”
“…Love showed up but in a new way. I want to share that and really honor the person that I love, and that loves me back, and teaching me so much about love and healing, I want to do that in front of the world because it defies all the constructs that one would say love is supposed to be or love should look like.”
Since August Alsina & Zu got y’all attention. Look at them 😍 pic.twitter.com/tbB4Z4Hc3k
— BKC. (@ufoundb) November 22, 2022
So Who Is Zu?
Social media users and headlines have begun claiming Zu and August are in a romantic relationship. However, in the episode, August did not explicitly name Zu his boyfriend or partner–just someone that’s teaching him about “love and healing.”
Alsina hasn’t addressed the trending talks about his sexuality or relationship status. Folks online are digging into the social profiles of both Alsina and Zu–trying to find their own conclusions.
Here’s what we know for sure: Zu is a musician and released a track with August Alsina in June.
According to Newsweek, August also shared a birthday shoutout to his mother Sheila Blair, on July 18 that seemingly features Zu in the background. The caption reportedly said, “Happy Birthday to our MF mama! I’m so proudddd to be Sheila Boy!!” So, others have suggested Zu is actually Alsina’s younger brother.
😭🤷🏾 pic.twitter.com/s3k1Bd2cMN
— just__𝓑™️ (@_brae_brae) November 22, 2022
Social Media Is Talking About THIS
With nothing more from August or Zu and speculations from internet investigators, the artist has been a trending topic since the episode dropped on Monday night. And the conversation is all over the place.
August Alsina: “I’m gay.”
Twitter: pic.twitter.com/hb8ApxkzM5
— NUFF (@nuffsaidny) November 22, 2022
So y’all realize August Alsina didn’t actually say he was gay or that dude was his bf right? It’s giving intentional ambiguity for social discourse and higher viewership next week. pic.twitter.com/TB8yxSASJw
— A Cozy Libra Tryna Groove ✨ (@_brilliantbeeh) November 22, 2022
August Alsina: I went from a Jada to a Jaden.
Twitter: pic.twitter.com/2Pi0eLUYXx— Dennis Nguyen (@pastorpapi23) November 22, 2022
August Alsina coming out was the classiest shìt I’ve seen ❤️🤍 you’re doing great sweetie
— Todoronaa (@SilverMolars) November 22, 2022
Stop calling August Alsina gay if he’s really bisexual! I hate when y’all try to act like men can’t be bi. pic.twitter.com/PJOuLH5HKL
— 777 (@sunandscorpion) November 22, 2022
Beyond his new relationship, the 29-year-old is also raising three nieces, ages 14, 13, and 11. Going from uncle to legal guardian came from tragic incidents. His brother Melvin was fatally shot in 2010, and his sister-in-law Chandra passed away in 2018 on Christmas Day from cancer.
The artist is also about two years away from the scandal of his “entanglement” with Jada Pinkett Smith. Though there’s no longer any kind of relationship there, he’s not policing what she decides to share now.
Happy healing, August!