In 2023, the internet went into overdrive over rumors that Ghostbusters legend Bill Murray and R&B singer Kelis were dating. The surprising pairing of the 74-year-old actor/comedian and the 44-year-old “Milkshake” hitmaker ignited countless memes and speculation. Now, nearly a year later, Murray is finally addressing the noise, and in true Bill Murray fashion, he’s having fun with it.
During a recent interview on Sway in the Morning, the veteran actor laughed off the dating rumors while admitting they worked in his favor. “I got great press that I was dating her, which really raised my cred,” Murray joked. While the idea of him and Kelis being an item was more fiction than fact, the buzz certainly made him feel cooler in the eyes of some fans.
The speculation started when Murray was spotted attending several of Kelis’s concerts in 2023. With Kelis mourning the passing of her husband and Murray still dealing with the loss of his ex-wife, some folks took their public appearances as a sign that a romance was brewing. But Kelis was quick to shut it down at the time. When a fan bluntly asked her on Instagram if she and Murray were really a thing, she playfully responded, “Lol no babe.” She added, “Everyone’s dumb and will believe anything.”
Still, Murray didn’t mind the connection. While speaking with Sway, he admitted Kelis had intrigued him for years. He recalled watching her in Ol’ Dirty Bastard’s 1999 video for “Got Your Money,” saying, “Who is that girl with the red hair?” That early fascination eventually led him to meet her in person, and he confirmed that they had become friends.
While the idea of them being together may have been entertaining, Murray set the record straight. When asked directly by Sway Calloway if he and Kelis were ever dating, Murray firmly responded, “No.” However, he added with a smirk, “One of us could be on the rebound any second.”
Murray had nothing but praise for Kelis, describing her as “spectacular” and admiring her fearless spirit. He also shared that Kelis recently moved to Africa to start a farm. “She is not afraid of the dark,” he said, highlighting her adventurous nature.
In a video posted on January 21, Kelis expressed her passion for farming, stating, “I’m a farmer. I do this because I love it. I love the land, the process and the freedom it gives me to provide the quality of life we all deserve for my family and the people around me…”
Kelis, known for her independent streak and unique career moves, has always done things on her own terms. From her breakout hits in the early 2000s to becoming a trained chef and launching her own food business, she has consistently shown she’s more than just an artist. Now, her latest endeavor into farming shows she’s still evolving.
This whole situation is just another chapter in the long and unpredictable legacy of Bill Murray. The actor has long been known for his random appearances and unexpected friendships, from showing up unannounced at weddings to crashing karaoke parties. While the Kelis dating rumors weren’t true, it’s exactly the kind of oddball pairing that fits within Murray’s universe.
