Since her arrival onto the pop scene in the 1980s, Madonna has found herself the subject of both acclaim and controversy.
So it’s a pretty safe bet that the 62-year-old isn’t fazed by the headlines regarding her latest romance with her 26-year-old backup dancer and co-choreographer, Ahlamalik Williams.
The two sparked romance rumors after the ‘Vogue’ singer shared several Instagram posts with Ahlamalik in the summer of 2019.
Their relationship has since been confirmed by Ahlamalik’s father and Madonna herself. Ahlamalik joined Madonna on holiday ahead of 2020, with her children, Lourdes, 23, David, 14, Mercy, 13, and twins Estere and Stella, 7 (Rocco, 19, was absent), and more recently, he helped her celebrate her birthday in Jamaica.
Here’s everything you need to know about Ahlamalik, including how he and Madonna met.
Who is Ahlamalik Williams?
Ahlamalik Williams is a 26-year-old professional dancer and choreographer from Sacramento, California. He has trained in a mixture of hip-hop techniques and got his start as a street performer in Las Vegas.
His big break seems to have occurred in 2013 when he was one of 63 dancers and performers cast in Cirque du Soleil’s show, Michael Jackson ONE.
Ahlamalik is also part of the dance crew Raw By Nature, and he frequently posts videos of his dancing on his Instagram page (he was also active on YouTube a few years ago).
How did Madonna and Ahlamalik Williams meet?
Ahlamalik has reportedly been working for Madonna since her 2015 Rebel Heart Tour, as TMZ pointed out that Ahlamalik was “personally picked” by the ‘Material Girl’ singer.
Ahlamalik frequently documented his time on the world tour, which concluded in March 2016, on his Instagram. He joined Madonna and her crew once again, as a dancer and choreographer for her Madame X Tour, which began in September 2019.
When did Madonna and Ahlamalik Williams start dating?
The couple has never confirmed exactly when they began dating, but they’ve given a few clues as to when their relationship started.
In December 2019, TMZ spoke with Ahlamalik’s father, Drue, who stated that Madonna and his son had already been dating for a little over a year. Drue shared that Madonna had met both of Ahlamalik’s parents after one of her shows in New York City, and the singer made plans for her boyfriend’s parents to come to the tour’s stops in London and Paris in early 2020.
“Love has no age,” Drue told TMZ. “My son is livin’ la vida loca, and I’m just happy for him.”
Madonna also made her romance with Ahlamalik public on Instagram, sparking romance rumors after she shared several Instagram videos cozying up to the dancer. In December of 2019, Madonna appeared to confirm their relationship when Ahlamalik joined her and her children on holiday in the Maldives.
During the pandemic, Madonna shared a birthday tribute to Ahlamalik on April 24, who turned 26-years-old. “Happy Birthday My Love,” she wrote alongside a carousel of photos of the two. “I Could not think of a better person to be in quarantine with.”
And when the 'Material Girl' singer celebrated her 62nd birthday in August, Ahlamalik joined her and a crew of her friends (including her hairstylist and even Diplo) for some birthday festivities in Jamaica.
