Laverne Cox and Kyle Draper have broken up
attends Entertainment Weekly Celebrates Screen Actors Guild Award Nominees sponsored by L’Oreal Paris, Cadillac, And PopSockets at Chateau Marmont on January 26, 2019 in Los Angeles, California.
American actress and LGBT+ campaigner Laverne Cox has broken up with her partner of almost two years, record label CEO Kyle Draper.
In an Instagram post, Cox said that the decision had come after “much soul searching and tears.”
“We decided we should make a public statement since our relationship was public in ways neither of us anticipated,” she wrote.
The Orange is the New Black actress celebrated her one-year anniversary with Draper in July 2018, with another Instagram post, but little was known about Draper at that point.
“We know our relationship meant so much to so many people, especially trans folks, giving them hope that this kind of love is possible for them as well,” Cox said today (June 25).
“That hope, the hope for love has not waned for me in the face of this breakup but rather is fortified.
(Laverne Cox/Instagram)
“Knowing that we are both capable of giving and receiving love with this level of kindness, respect, trust, affection, depth, and intensity has been so healing and life affirming for us both.”
“I am so grateful we were open to love and for every moment we had together. We have both grown in innumerable ways as a result,” Cox said.
Draper is CEO of record label Mateo Sound, and a founder of real estate firm Serene Team.
He’s also a director of real estate company Keller Williams Downtown Los Angeles’ executive division, and describes himself on Instagram as an “entrepreneur” and “motivator.”
Cox and Draper made a rare public appearance together in June 2018 at the MAC Cosmetics Aaliyah Launch Party in Hollywood.
In May 2019, Cox told Page Six that her relationship with Draper was “amazing.”
“Our two-year anniversary is in July,” she added.
But in today’s Instagram post, she said, “Now its just time to move on separately. We both want a breakup that honours and respects the quality of our relationship and the love we shared. Its possible.”
