Lil Tjay, born Tione Jayden Merritt, has captured the hearts of many with his melodic rap style and introspective lyrics. While his music often delves into themes of love and heartbreak, his personal romantic journey has been a public spectacle, marked by high-profile relationships, dramatic breakups, and persistent rumors. Despite his public persona, the Bronx native once admitted to a more private reality regarding his early romantic experiences, stating in a 2019 interview with Pitchfork that he had “never really had a relationship” and wished he did, often writing about what he felt rather than what he experienced.
As his career ascended, so did the public's interest in his dating life. One of Lil Tjay's earliest and most tumultuous public entanglements was with fellow rapper Rubi Rose. Their connection became a hot topic in May 2020, around Tjay's 19th birthday. He reportedly flew Rose out to celebrate with him, but the encounter quickly devolved into a social media spectacle. Rose accused Tjay of not paying for her return flight, leading to a public spat where she allegedly called the police, and Tjay, in turn, publicly embarrassed her.
The drama intensified as Tjay claimed Rose called the police after finding him texting another girl, leading him to “embarrass her.” Rose later clarified that she and Tjay were “never together,” framing their interaction as a messy hookup rather than a committed relationship. Despite the initial fallout, the two appeared to reconcile on a platonic level in April 2022, with Tjay posting about Rose being “solid and real” after he was shot, indicating a move past their previous public conflict.
Following the highly publicized incident with Rubi Rose, Lil Tjay entered into a more significant and public relationship with social media influencer and model Lala Baptiste. Their romance gained traction in 2020 after Baptiste starred as Tjay's love interest in the music video for Pop Smoke and Lil Tjay's hit song, 'Mood Swings.' Their on-screen chemistry seemed to translate into a real-life connection, with Tjay frequently appearing on Baptiste's Instagram Live sessions, seemingly confirming their status as a couple.
The relationship between Lala Baptiste and Lil Tjay was not without its own drama, particularly given that Baptiste was reportedly best friends with Rubi Rose at the time. This led to accusations of “backstabbing” from Rose, further fueling the public narrative surrounding Tjay's love life. Despite the external pressures, the couple appeared happy for approximately a year. However, by March 2021, fans noticed that Baptiste and Tjay had unfollowed each other on social media, signaling the end of their public relationship.
Beyond these two prominent relationships, Lil Tjay has been the subject of various dating rumors and brief connections. Around the time of the Rubi Rose controversy, rapper Chinese Kitty also accused Tjay of attempting to link up with her and exposed his direct messages, adding another layer to his early dating history. In 2023, rumors circulated about a potential romance with Bronx rapper Ice Spice after Tjay gifted her an expensive Richard Mille watch for Valentine's Day. However, both artists swiftly denied any romantic involvement, with Ice Spice clarifying that they were merely friends and the gift was a gesture of appreciation for their collaboration on the song 'Gangsta Boo.'
More recently, in May 2024, speculation arose about Lil Tjay dating Brittni Mealy, the mother of rapper Future's child, after photos of them together on a plane surfaced. Mealy quickly shut down these rumors on social media, stating definitively that Tjay was “like my lil brother” and that there was “absolutely nothing like that at all,” emphasizing the significant age difference and dispelling any romantic notions. Another unconfirmed report from June 2024 suggested he was dating Jordan Hersey, though this claim has not been widely corroborated by other reputable sources.
The most recent public romantic development for Lil Tjay emerged in October 2024, when he openly linked up with Yailin La Más Viral, the ex-girlfriend of controversial rapper 6ix9ine. Tjay shared a photo of Yailin on his Instagram Stories, expressing that he “miss her” and playfully comparing their dynamic to “the new age PAC n Faith.” This public display, which coincided with them filming a music video for their song 'Step Up,' was widely seen as a deliberate taunt towards 6ix9ine, given the long-standing animosity between the two rappers. While the nature of their relationship remains somewhat ambiguous, oscillating between professional collaboration and flirtatious public interaction, it represents Lil Tjay's latest foray into the spotlight of celebrity romance.