Keki Palmer was spotted on a date with Hot Ones host Sean Evans in New York City, fueling dating rumors.
According to TMZ, the two were spotted having dinner at Italian restaurant Lucari in Brooklyn on Friday night.
Witnesses told the outlet that the “Nope” actress, 32, and the media personality, 40, stayed at the luxury establishment for more than an hour and a half, during which they remained “locked in” to each other.
Although the two don’t seem to be engaging in any PDA, a source says Evans seems “infatuated” with the “One of Them Days” actress.
Snapshots obtained by DeuxMoi and TMZ showed the two in deep conversation at an intimate candlelit table.
Representatives for Mr. Palmer and Mr. Evans did not immediately respond to Page Six’s requests for comment Saturday afternoon.
The two flirted during an episode of her podcast, “Baby, I’m KiKi Palmer” in May, further fueling romance speculation.
After introducing Evans as a “potential future suitor,” Evans revealed that his celebrity crush when he was younger was TLC rapper Lisa “Left Eye” Lopez.
“I played Chili in the[CrazySexyCool: The TLC Story]movie. That’s close enough,” Palmer replied, to which Evans agreed: “Absolutely close enough.”
Kike’s mother, Sharon Palmer, said it was an “amazing moment” to see her daughter interact with Evans. That’s because people from Evans’ “wealthy” Illinois neighborhood don’t usually hang out with people from Palmer’s Robbins, Illinois neighborhood.
“This is great. This is how life should be,” she exclaimed. “A guy from Crystal Lake should sit next to a girl from Robbins.”
Keke called the comment “kind” and added: “I love it. Mr. and Mrs. Evans…I want to say thank you to your parents.”
Evans timidly confessed. “Oh, I thought you were talking about us.”
At the end of the show, Palmer and Evans lovingly hugged each other and said, “I love you.”
The “Hustlers” star has appeared on “Hot Ones” several times in the past. In 2025, they surprised fans with a surprise kiss during a show.
“I’ve seen you say really sweet things in interviews, like I was your favorite guest,” Keke told him, referring to him confessing that he had a crush on Keke during an episode of “Chicken Shop Date” in 2023.
She added, “I know it’s still in its infancy, but I thought it might be a good idea to give it a shot to see if there’s a spark.”
As they bent down to smoke a smooch, Keke exclaimed, “There’s sparks!” Sean said, “When I’m about to die and my life flashes before my eyes, I’m going to take that snapshot.”
Palmer previously dated Darius Jackson, with whom she shares son Leo, but they split in 2023 after he posted on social media shading a dress she wore at an Usher concert.
Evans and adult film star Melissa Stratton split in 2024.
