It’s Leo season and Madonna has plenty of cause for celebration. Following her huge international tour which ran from October 2023 until May this year, the Like A Prayer singer is continuing to enjoy the limelight as her 1980’s hit has made its way back into the charts after being featured in the new Deadpool and Wolverine film.
Now the global pop superstar is marking her August 16 birthday in Portofino, Italy at Dolce & Gabbana’s private estate — and has sparked dating rumours by taking a new beau.
Madonna, 66, was papped with Akeem Morris, a 28-year-old football player (or soccer as they call it stateside) from Jamaica who has been featuring more and more on the singer’s Instagram.
It seems the pair have known each other for a while, but it wouldn’t be a celebrity relationship without a dash of drama, would it? Let’s dive in.
How did Madonna and Akeem Morris meet?
Akeem Morris was first linked to Madonna back in August 2022 when he was part of her cover shoot for Paper Magazine.
The cover story and accompanying photo spread was all about capturing a “wild night out in New York City”. It featured Madonna in a hot pink wig surrounded by booze, cigs and people with their tongues out — Brat before it was called Brat. They were the sort of photos you’d wake up and find yourself tagged in on MySpace back in 2008.
The setting of the shoot was a private party held by Paper Magazine held at the uber-cool Sugar Hill Supper Club in Brooklyn. Madonna was joined by “some of New York City's coolest, young artists on the scene”, including singer-songwriter Miss Madeline and non-binary model Fish Fiorucci.
One of the scantily clad young artists partying with Madonna in the shoot was Akeem Morris. He shared a photo on Instagram of himself and others with Madonna lying across them, thanking the singer and Paper Magazine for the opportunity.
Akeem Morris’ life before Madonna
But back to his life before Madonna was in the picture... Akeem Morris was born in Spanish Town, Jamaica and relocated to New York for university. He attended Stony Brook University between 2014 and 2018, where he played football alongside his studies. After university, he spent time playing for Oyster Bay United FC, a premier league team based in New York. Although according to his stats, he only played one match with the team.
Morris is fairly elusive on social media with just 10 posts on Instagram. His photos show that he now spends his time between Brooklyn and Jamaica, with trips to Italy on Madonna’s arm now being thrown into the mix.
Ex drama
One aspect of Morris’ life that is missing from his online presence is any reference to an ex-girlfriend, but there’s always another side to the story. Reagan Rice went viral on TikTok in July when she posted a video captioned: “Put a finger down if your boyfriend of 3 years is now dating Madonna”.
@reaganrice17 Put a finger down if your boyfriend of 3 years is now dating Madonna 🙋🏼♀️ #madonna #breakup #wtf #2024 #heatbreak #fypage #fypシ゚viral
♬ Please Please Please - Sabrina Carpenter
Seemingly blindsided by Morris’ new relationship with the popstar, Rice still has a video montage on her TikTok from 2021 of her and Morris together, as well as videos from July this year referencing her heartbreak following the unexpected split.
Rice states that she dated Morris for three years, and it seems she found out that he is now with Madonna only a month ago. The video montage from 2021 shows Rice and Morris very much loved up, with new comments from friends and fans stating their shock and surprise at Morris’ relationship with Madonna. “Absolutely flabbergasted” says one, while another says: “I’m so mad for you. Wow”.
As for Madonna’s exes, they range from actor Sean Penn to John F. Kennedy Jr. and even rapper Vanilla Ice. She garnered attention when she dated dancer and choreographer Ahlamalik Williams from 2019 until 2022, with Williams being 36 years her junior. But his dad defended the pair, telling TMZ: “Love has no age. My son is livin’ la vida loca, and I’m just happy for him.”
@reaganrice17 my champagne papi 🥺🖤 #clb #love #relationshipgoals #fyp #glowup
♬ Champagne Poetry - Drake
Summer lovin’
How exactly Morris and Madonna reconnected two years after first meeting is between them for now, but the pair seemed to soft-launch themselves as a couple during Fourth of July celebrations last month. A video posted to TikTok shows the pair on the rooftop terrace of The Standard in New York City and Madonna posted several photos to her own Instagram of the the pair getting cosy.
A month later, at the beginning of August, Madonna posted several risque photos of herself and one of her with Morris captioned: “Hot Fun in The Summer Time………🔥”
The hot fun continues, it seems, as Morris has joined Madonna in Italy for her 66th birthday celebrations.
The fledgling couple are being hosted at the private Dolce & Gabbana estate in Portofino and arrived in style by boat with Madonna decked out in, of course, Dolce & Gabbana.
