Sean Evans has spent over a decade grilling celebrities on Hot Ones, but lately, the tables have turned. The notoriously private host is finding himself in the hot seat as fans obsess over his chemistry with actress and singer Keke Palmer.
Following a viral on-screen kiss in 2025 and an intimate dinner date in New York City in June 2026, speculation about their relationship has reached a fever pitch. But before Keke, there were a few key women in Sean’s life. Here is a look at the Hot Ones host’s dating history and who he has been linked to over the years.
Who Has Sean Evans Dated? A Look at His Relationship History
The 40-year-old host is famously private about his personal life, but a few relationships have surfaced over the years.
Natasha Alexis Martinez
Sean’s first known public relationship was with Natasha Alexis Martinez, a former Miss California USA winner and TV host. The pair reportedly began dating in 2018.
Sean confirmed the relationship in early 2019 when he appeared in a New Year’s Eve photo on her social media. Details of their split are scarce, but by 2022, Martinez had moved on and announced her engagement to another man.
Melissa Stratton
The most dramatic entry on Sean’s dating timeline is his whirlwind romance with adult film star Melissa Stratton in early 2024.
- The Connection: Reports surfaced that Sean and Melissa started talking in late 2023 and met in person shortly after.
- The Split: The romance went public in February 2024 when they were spotted together at the Super Bowl. However, the public attention proved to be too much. Just two days later, Sean reportedly called Melissa on Valentine’s Day to end things.
- The Fallout: Melissa later claimed she felt her profession as an adult star was a factor. She publicly slammed Sean on social media, advising others not to “try to date a porn star if you actually hate porn stars.”
The Keke Palmer Connection: A Complete Timeline of the Romance Rumors
The connection between Sean and Keke Palmer is the one that has captivated the internet the most. Here’s how their friendship has evolved over the years.
2017 – 2021: The First Meetings
Keke first appeared on Hot Ones back in 2017. She returned for a second round in 2021, where fans immediately picked up on their playful banter. It was during this episode that Keke’s famous “This one has a little sweetness to it” meme was born.
November 2023: The Crush Confession
On an episode of Chicken Shop Date, host Amelia Dimoldenberg asked Sean if he had ever had a crush on a guest. Without hesitation, he replied: “Keke Palmer… Very charming. Very charming woman.”
Keke reacted by posting the clip on social media, captioning it: “It was love at first hot wing 🤪” .
September 2025: The Viral Kiss
During Keke’s historic third appearance on Hot Ones, she decided to address the elephant in the room. She proposed they kiss to see if there was a “spark.”
“I know we’ve just had some wings, but I thought that maybe we could just have a quick smooch to see if there’s a spark.”
Sean didn’t hesitate. After they kissed, he joked, “When I’m dying and my life flashes before my eyes, I’ll have that snapshot.”
May 2026: The Podcast Appearance
Sean appeared on Keke’s podcast, Baby, This Is Keke Palmer. The chemistry was undeniable. She famously introduced him as her “potential future suitor,” sending fans into a frenzy.
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June 2026: The Dinner Date
The most concrete evidence of a romance came on June 12, 2026. Sean and Keke were spotted having a romantic, 90-minute dinner at the famous Italian restaurant Lucali in Brooklyn, New York.
Witnesses told TMZ that Sean looked completely “smitten” with Keke. While there was reportedly no PDA, the fact that they were there alone, looking “locked in,” has convinced many fans that the relationship is real.
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