Lupita Nyong’o and Boyfriend Selema Masekela Break Up After One Year of Dating

There is no more "us" for Lupita Nyong'o and Selema Masekela.

The Oscar winner and her boyfriend have broken up after about one year together, she shared on Instagram Oct. 19 without naming her ex. 

"It is necessary for me to share a personal truth and publicly dissociate myself from someone I can no longer trust," Lupita wrote. "I find myself in a season of heartbreak because of a love suddenly and devastatingly extinguished by deception."

The Black Panther star shared why she decided to reveal the news publicly in spite of the heartache she's currently feeling.

"I am tempted to run into the shadows and hide, only to return to the light when I have regained my strength enough for me to say, 'Whatever, my life is better this way,'" she continued. "But I am reminded that the magnitude of the pain I am feeling is equal to the measure of my capacity for love. And so, I am choosing to face the pain, cultivating the courage to meet my life exactly as it is, and trusting that this too shall pass."

Lupita, 40, noted that she hopes discussing her breakup with followers might help someone else experiencing "the grip of heartbreak who is poised to try and escape from the pain and miss out on the wisdom that comes from it."

"The promise, they say, is that a tender heart is what gives birth to fearlessness," she added. "I hope it's true."

The former couple's connection traces back years, as Selema, a TV host and designer, confessed to having an apparent crush on the Us actress in 2016. 

"Hypothetically speaking of course," he tweeted at the time, "let's say you're seated behind Lupita Nyong'o on an airplane, what would be your opening line?"

Things had gone from hypothetical to IRL by March 2022, when she attended the store opening of his surf apparel company Mami Wata in Venice, Calif. 

Lupita then went Instagram official with the fashion founder in December 2022, writing at the time, "We just click!" and "#thisismylove."

Selema also gave a look inside their romance, gushing in a separate post, "Hearts are synched. My whole and actual love @lupitanyongo."

All the stars continued to align as of two months ago, when Lupita celebrated his birthday with a love note to the "Sunshine Human."

"Every day is full of #goodenergy and reasons to dance with @selema as my favorite playmate. Happy Birthday, mi amor!" she wrote in August, prompting him to respond that he was the "luckiest man alive." 

He has not yet publicly addressed the breakup on social media. E! News has reached out to Selema's manager for comment on the split but hasn't heard back.

For an inside look at Lupita's life over the years, read on:

Lupita nails the 2019 MET Gala "Camp" theme in custom Versace inspired by John Walter's legendary drag queen, Divine.

The actress poses with grace and elegance in this wine-colored gown.

The Black Panther actress carries the drama off-screen in this bold and beautiful Dior dress.

The budding horror queen wears a Balmain-studded transparent blazer-dress at the New York premiere of Us.

Lupita beams in a Prabal Gurung patterned dress and a yellow cashmere coat by Mansur Gavriel outside Good Morning America.

The actress looks hauntingly beautiful at the London screening of Us wearing an Attico sequined tartan wrap dress and red contacts. 

The Oscar-winner is seen in a Prabal Gurung's sweater dress and a vibrant red Mackage overcoat outside The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.

The actress is serving a Grace Jones-esque, other-worldly look in a Honayada white cut-out suit at the SXSW Premiere of Jordan Peele's sophomore film Us at SXSW.

Lupita Nyong'o was light as a feather as she attended the 2019 Vanity Fair Oscars party wearing this Oscar de la Renta one-shoulder gown.

The Kenyan-Mexican actress donned a golden power suit-inspired dress by Chanel as she partied ahead of the Oscars.

The 36-year-old star was pretty in pink while attending a pre-Oscars bash with Vanity Fair and Lancome. 

Nyong'o sparkled in this saucy Balmain striped frock as she carried a diamond-crusted leopard Judith Leiber clutch.

The Us actress gave major boss-vibes in this Versace gold puffer jacket.

Lupita wears a custom Vera Wang ensemble, pairing a structured blazer with a sheer jeweled skirt. She completes the look with feathered braids. 

Black Panther's Lupita stuns on the red carpet in a Calvin Klein dress. This shining star never ceases to amaze us!

Lupita pays homage to the Roaring Twenties in a fringed Tom Ford gown and teardrop earrings.

For the Versace Fall 2019 fashion show, the Black Panther star goes bold and bright with a T-shirt, cardigan, skirt and heels of the same pop art-inspired print.

The actress dons the popular power suit, but opts for an all-white look with silver shoes to stand out.

The actress was fierce in a glamorous see-though Prada number, paired with a brown bodycon dress.

Lupita's shimmering, floor-sweeping Prada gown was a fashion highlight at the Cannes Film Festival.

The actress stuns in this timeless Giorgio Armani gown embellished with sparkling jewels and plunging neckline. 

Lupita shows off a little skin in a gorgeous Dior Haute Couture gown.

It's definitely not every day you see someone wearing a dress covered in bananas, but Lupita makes the Prada dress look timeless.

The Black Panther star wore a show-stopping purple Atelier Versace dress with an embellished bodice for the world premiere of Black Panther. 

This black, flowy Elie Saab dress embodies elegance and power as the actress attended the EE BAFTAs.

The actress looks strikingly similar to the Oscar Statuette in a golden Atelier Versace for the 90th Annual Academy Awards.

The Black Panther actress sauntered down the red carpet at the 2018 SAG Awards in a Ralph and Russo gown.

The stunning actress turned heads in a glittering green Halpern dress at the premiere of Star Wars: The Last Jedi. 

This striped jumpsuit the actress wore while promoting Star Wars: The Force Awakens flatters her in every way. The vertical stripes elongate her legs while the horizontal ones give her more shape up top. 

The 12 Years a Slave star proved a simple satin dress will go far, especially when a few ruffle details flow down.