Aaron Pierre and Teyana Taylor: Love Story or Clout Chase? Inside the Red Flag Warnings From His Ex

Hollywood loves a new couple. Whether it’s a red-carpet debut, a soft launch on Instagram, or even a subtle paparazzi spotting, nothing gets the internet buzzing faster than fresh romance energy. Right now, that spotlight is aimed squarely at actor Aaron Pierre — yes, Mufasa from The Lion King prequel — and the incomparable Teyana Taylor.

But before fans start ordering wedding hashtags and mood boards, there’s a storm brewing. Pierre’s ex, Jessica Hardwick, has stepped into the chat waving what she calls “red flags.” According to her, Teyana shouldn’t get too comfortable. Because if history is any indicator, Aaron’s not in it for love — he’s in it for clout. And, more importantly, she claims Teyana simply isn’t his type.

So, what’s really going on here? Is this a genuine connection, or another PR-fueled rollercoaster? Let’s get into it.

The Oscars Soft Launch That Broke the Internet

Aaron Pierre and Teyana Taylor had already been spotted together a handful of times — at the American Black Film Festival Honors in February, in deep conversation with all the body language of two people trying not to get caught, and again at Vanity Fair’s Oscars afterparty.

But the official “we see you” moment came on March 3rd, when both stars posted black-and-white photos of themselves looking cozy after the Oscars. Teyana captioned her post with a cryptic but flirty line: “Oscar night in black and white. No gray area.” The cherry on top? The soundtrack she paired with it — Chris Brown’s “Take You Down.” If that isn’t a statement, what is?

Meanwhile, Aaron? He dropped the exact same pictures but with zero caption. Not even a casual heart emoji. Just vibes.

And that silence spoke volumes. Because when you’re proud of your girl, you say something. A “my queen,” a “we outside,” even just a “blessed night.” But Aaron’s refusal to acknowledge Teyana in words had fans side-eyeing. Was this a man protecting his privacy — or keeping Teyana at arm’s length while soaking up the buzz?

Enter: Jessica Hardwick, the Ex With Receipts

If you ask Aaron’s alleged long-term girlfriend Jessica Hardwick, that silence wasn’t just an oversight. It was a clue.

Jessica, who’s rumored to have dated Aaron since 2019, has allegedly been warning Teyana that she’s in for heartbreak. Why? Because according to Jessica, Teyana isn’t even Aaron’s type.

And when you see Jessica, the claim makes sense. She’s not a woman of color, and fans immediately noticed the stark contrast between Aaron’s rumored exes and his current high-profile flame. Aaron has a track record, they say — one that leans heavily toward women of the “Caucasian persuasion.”

Which leads us to Exhibit B.

The Hannah Hurst Factor

If Jessica was just salty, that would be one thing. But more photos have surfaced of Aaron looking very cozy with yet another woman — this time, an Australian named Hannah Hurst.

Not only were they spotted together, but pictures show Aaron taking Hannah to a wedding. And let’s be real: bringing someone to a wedding isn’t casual “friends” energy. That’s a “this is my lady” move.

Even more damning? A picture of Aaron kissing Hannah on the forehead. And forehead kisses aren’t just affection — they’re intimacy. They’re “I love you” coded.

When you line it up, it starts looking less like coincidence and more like a pattern.

The Pattern: Humble, Quiet, Low-Key Women

Fans have noticed the trend in Aaron’s dating history. His exes aren’t celebrities, they aren’t dripping in designer, and they aren’t dominating the headlines. They’re low-key, modest, even described by one fan as “humble and likable.”

That’s where the contrast with Teyana Taylor couldn’t be louder. Teyana is a superstar. She’s bold, unapologetic, a triple threat who owns every room she walks into. She’s got industry power, a decade-long resume, and the kind of charisma that screams “main character.”

So why would Aaron suddenly pivot from quiet, modest partners to one of the loudest, flashiest queens in the industry? Jessica says it’s simple: clout.

Lori Harvey Saw the Red Flags Too

It’s not just Jessica hinting at trouble. Even Lori Harvey, Hollywood’s reigning it-girl, gave Aaron a hard pass.

When a TikTok reporter tried to play matchmaker and suggested Lori and Aaron would make a fire couple, Lori didn’t just decline. She hit the comments with a sharp “No thank you. Leave me alone.”

Not just no — but leave me alone. That’s not indifference; that’s a warning. Lori’s dated some of Hollywood’s most eligible bachelors, from Michael B. Jordan to Damson Idris, and she knows a red flag when she sees one. Fans speculated Lori must’ve heard whispers about Aaron’s dating history — the quiet girlfriends, the forehead kisses, the preference rumors — and wanted no parts of it.

If Lori Harvey doesn’t want to be your PR girlfriend, that’s saying a lot.

Teyana’s Dating History: Love or PR Patterns?

But let’s flip the coin for a second. Because while Aaron’s motives are under the microscope, so are Teyana’s.

She’s no stranger to high-profile relationships, and if we’re being real, a lot of her exes left their relationships with her much more famous than they were going in.

Iman Shumpert? When they got together, he was known in the basketball world. But being married to Teyana put him on the map in pop culture. Their relationship eventually crashed in messy divorce, but not before Iman enjoyed a serious spotlight boost.

Soulja Boy? Yes, they were a thing. Their on-again, off-again relationship even produced a child, but like many of Teyana’s romances, it ended with chaos.

Drake? The rumors flew back in 2009 and again in 2013 when cozy pictures surfaced. Nothing confirmed, but the whispers alone were enough to keep both their names hot.

ASAP Rocky? Yep, he was on the roster too — briefly, before jumping to Iggy Azalea and Chanel Iman.

Colin Kaepernick? Another rumored situationship that fizzled out before it could go public.

The pattern is undeniable: athletes, rappers, entertainers, all of whom walked away with clout after linking with Teyana.

So when fans look at Aaron Pierre, they can’t help but ask: is this history repeating itself?

Clout or Chemistry?

Here’s where things get complicated. Aaron Pierre is undeniably talented. As the voice of Mufasa in The Lion King prequel, he’s on the cusp of global stardom. But he’s not exactly a household name — yet.

Pairing up with Teyana Taylor, however, guarantees headlines. It keeps his name buzzing in Hollywood gossip circles and attaches him to a woman whose brand is already cemented.

For Teyana, the benefits are less clear. She doesn’t need the clout. She doesn’t need the spotlight. Which makes the imbalance in this alleged relationship all the more suspicious.

So What’s the Endgame?

Is Aaron Pierre simply switching up his type and falling for a bold, powerful woman? Or is this another case of Hollywood strategy — a clout chase disguised as romance?

Jessica Hardwick certainly thinks it’s the latter. And with Hannah Hurst receipts and Lori Harvey’s pointed rejection backing her claims, it’s hard to dismiss her warnings.

Teyana, fresh off her divorce from Iman Shumpert, deserves nothing but peace and genuine love. But if Aaron’s exes are right, she may be walking straight into another heartbreak — and this time, one that doubles as a PR stunt.

Final Thoughts

At the end of the day, only Aaron and Teyana know what’s real between them. But the internet is already buzzing, the exes are already talking, and the red flags are waving high.

Will Teyana Taylor rewrite Aaron Pierre’s “type”? Or is this going to fizzle out just as fast as it started, with Teyana left cleaning up the mess while Aaron walks away with the clout boost?

One thing’s for sure: we’ll all be watching.

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