The grapevine is buzzing with speculation about Jennifer Hudson and Common’s blossoming romance, leaving many of her fans feeling apprehensive. To grasp why this new relationship has tongues wagging, let’s rewind to 2018 when Common and political commentator Angela Rye called it quits after less than a year together.
In a candid chat with Angie Martinez, Common spilled the beans about his post-breakup therapy journey aimed at untangling his recurring relationship patterns. These patterns, he confessed, contributed to his past failed romances with the likes of Erykah Badu, Taraji P. Henson, Serena Williams, and the mother of his daughter, among others.
Therapy was a game-changer for him, helping him refine his communication skills, and he even sought relationship advice from none other than First Lady Michelle Obama. In an interview with Good Morning America, Common shared a gem of wisdom he received: “One thing she told me that really stuck was understanding that nobody’s perfect, because, well, neither are you.” Despite his years, Common was just starting to grasp the fundamentals of being a good partner and nurturing a healthy relationship. But commendably, he dove into the work required to open himself up to the possibility of finding true love.
His memoir delves into his journey of overcoming internal struggles, and you can find the link in the description below. In it, he candidly talks about his ideal type: strong, resilient women who’ve faced challenges head-on. This preference is deeply rooted in his admiration for his own mother, who exemplified strength amidst difficult family circumstances, including a rocky relationship with his father.
According to Common, his love life typically unfolds in a familiar manner: he delights in the pursuit of a woman, relishing the butterflies in his stomach. He’s drawn to strong, attentive partners who make him feel cherished and significant, stemming from a deep need for affection. However, underlying his excitement is a lingering fear of being let down or abandoned, a shadow cast by his father’s absence during his upbringing. Through introspective therapy sessions, he came to recognize his avoidant attachment style, craving intimacy yet feeling compelled to withdraw when relationships become too intense. Despite yearning for connection, he often grapples with unrealistic expectations, ultimately leading to the painful realization that the relationship may not meet his idealized vision. In his memoir, he candidly expresses the exhaustion of reaching this point, where he must confront his own limitations and the pain of ending a relationship.
According to Common, his breakup spiel goes a little like this: “Look, I don’t think we’re on the same page. I’m not really feeling the whole long-term commitment thing.” Post-breakup, instead of taking a breather, he tends to jump right into the next situation because it gives him a sense of being needed and wanted.
The silver lining is that Common is self-aware and actively striving to improve himself. In a 2019 interview with Good Morning America, he even expressed his readiness to be a devoted husband to the woman of his dreams. That same year, while filming ‘The Kitchen,’ he struck up a friendship with his co-star Tiffany Haddish. Tiffany spilled the beans to Access Hollywood, revealing that Common was pulling out all the stops to win her over, which isn’t surprising given his love for the chase. However, Tiffany kept him in the friend zone. Common, who doesn’t shy away from admitting he moves from one relationship to the next, reignited his romance with Angela in the summer of 2019.
Just a month after announcing their reconciliation, Angela sadly confirmed their split once again. During one of her podcast episodes in December 2019, she shared that their relationship hit a snag when she expressed her desire to start a family, while her partner seemed hesitant about taking that step. However, by the beginning of 2020, he managed to convince Tiffany to give their love another chance. As spring rolled in, they became an official couple and even endured quarantine together. Despite their undeniable chemistry and Tiffany’s obvious affection, not everyone was cheering for them. Wendy Williams, on her YouTube show ‘Wendy at Home,’ warned Tiffany about getting too attached, citing Common’s rumored issues with relationships. But Tiffany was already deeply invested, seemingly reciprocated by Common’s declarations of happiness during an August 2020 interview on ‘Live with Kelly and Ryan.’ However, would their blissful state last? Unlikely.
Their relationship took a significant turn when Tiffany expressed her desire to adopt or foster children during one of Common’s podcast episodes. It became apparent that Common was reconsidering their relationship when he failed to invite Tiffany to spend Thanksgiving with his family. Was he gradually pulling away, hinting at an impending breakup? It certainly seemed so.
As Tiffany’s 41st birthday approached, she excitedly shared with Extra her hopes for a magical day with Common, envisioning a hot air balloon ride followed by a romantic dinner. However, when December 3rd arrived, she only had a bouquet of flowers from him, without his presence. Despite her longing for motherhood and her attendance at parenting classes, Tiffany was also vocal about her desire for marriage, preferably with a grand proposal involving real estate, like an entire apartment complex.
When a photographer inquired about any forthcoming proposal plans, Common’s response was ambiguous, expressing admiration for Tiffany but emphasizing their focus on taking each day as it comes, sidestepping discussions of marriage. Trouble brewed, and by November 2021, Common had ended the relationship. Later, on Hollywood Unlocked, he spoke fondly of Tiffany but attributed their split to their demanding schedules, a justification that seemed less than genuine.
Appearing on the same show a week later, Tiffany shared a different story, suggesting that Common might be a perpetual wanderer, unwilling to commit. Despite his busy schedule, she suspected he wouldn’t remain single for long, choosing to prioritize his career in acting and music.
Meanwhile, Jennifer’s love story took a different turn. Engaged to David Otunga in 2008 and welcoming their son David Jr. in 2009, they danced around marriage inquiries for nearly a decade before calling it quits. Jennifer took precautions, ensuring David signed a confidentiality agreement months before their 2017 breakup. The reasons behind their separation remained murky, with TMZ hinting at allegations of infidelity involving music producer Mali Music.
Jennifer was granted full custody of their son after accusing David of pushing her while she was holding their child. According to documents obtained by the Chicago Tribune, Jennifer claimed David had a history of both physical and emotional abuse. As a result, she was granted an order of protection, and David was instructed to leave their home promptly. However, David denied all allegations, and in January 2018, he was cleared of any wrongdoing due to insufficient evidence.
Just a month after their split, Jennifer accused David of breaching their confidentiality agreement by leaking stories to the media to tarnish her reputation. This led to a court-issued gag order to prevent any further public discussion of their private matters. Eventually, they reached a custody agreement that allowed for equal parenting time, with a provision prohibiting either of them from hosting romantic guests overnight. The specifics of their child support arrangement were kept under wraps.
Rather than addressing their breakup publicly, Jennifer chose to focus on her career. By May 2022, she landed a role in the movie ‘Breathe,’ starring alongside Common. Although rumors swirled about their relationship mirroring Common’s past romance with Tiffany Haddish, Jennifer attributed their closeness to the demands of their on-set collaboration.
Despite Jennifer’s attempts to downplay the rumors, sightings of them dining together in Philadelphia in July 2022 only fueled speculation. Social media went into overdrive, speculating about Jennifer’s possible romance with Common given his history. Jennifer clarified that their relationship was purely professional, citing the necessity of meals during filming. Nevertheless, photographs continued to surface of them on various outings, including Common picking Jennifer up from her Burbank talk show set.
In November 2022 and again in January 2023, insider gossip swirled around Jennifer and Common, suggesting their longtime friendship had evolved into something more while working on ‘Breathe’ together. Although Common’s known for his charm, the word was Jennifer didn’t mind, seeing it all as harmless fun.
Then, in March 2023, Jennifer publicly wished Common a happy 51st birthday, inviting her followers to join in. But the reaction wasn’t entirely positive. Some folks online felt Jennifer deserved better, while others speculated about Common’s alleged commitment issues, urging caution.
But it wasn’t just Jennifer’s fans feeling uneasy about the romance. Tiffany, in a TikTok response to a curious fan, denied ever receiving earrings reportedly given to Common during their own dating days, suggesting they might have found their way to Jennifer instead.
When Common appeared on The Today Show in June 2023 and was pressed about the dating rumors, he remained coy, neither confirming nor denying. Instead, he expressed admiration for Jennifer’s character, citing her resilience in the face of personal tragedy, notably the loss of her mother, brother, and nephew in 2008. Their shared Chicago roots, coupled with their mutual pursuits in acting and music, deepen their connection. Despite Jennifer’s impressive EGOT status—winning an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony—some argue that her accomplishments outshine Common’s, but their bond remains evident.
In July 2023, it will have been a year since Jennifer and Common went on their first date, and it seems like their relationship is still going strong. Given Common’s past, it’s easy to predict how this might end, but there’s always hope for a happy ending. Maybe they’ve found something special in each other that they’ve been searching for. Who knows? Anything can happen. What do you think will happen with Common and Jennifer? Let us know your thoughts