actor Jermelle Simon and social media personality Obio Jones have captivated audiences with their authentic love story—one grounded in honesty, vulnerability, and a deep commitment to visibility. It started with a DM from Jones, and then Simon, revealing their relationship last fall as he publicly participated in National Coming Out Day. Now, the couple is engaged, as announced in May.

In a media landscape where Black queer love is still rarely depicted with care, their story feels both refreshing and necessary. Nevertheless, being so open hasn’t always been seamless.

“It was hard, if I’m being honest,” Jones says. “Because I think when you involve people in the ride, sometimes they get in the driver’s seat and you don’t even know it. So for us, it was more so making sure that we stay in the driver’s seat no matter how much we share. No matter how much people feel seen and heard by us, we have to maintain the driver’s seat.”

As people online laud the pair, even commenting that “They are single handedly keeping the hope alive y’all!” Simon says the response has been surprising to him. “I think I was shocked at how it was translating. We’re literally just being ourselves,” he notes. “And people are feeling the love from that. And I think because it’s not a performance, I’m almost floored at people being invested in it because it’s not like I’m doing a thing. I’m used to acting and I’m performing. I’m doing a thing and people are like, ‘Oh, I love you.’ I have to go home, and I have to study, and I have to do all these things. But with him, it’s like, I’m just chilling at the house.”