Emily Ratajkowski has publicly confirmed her romantic relationship with French filmmaker Romain Gavras, following months of speculation since late 2025. The model made their romance official in a February 19, 2026 Instagram post, ending rumors and sharing their connection with her followers. This Emily Ratajkowski relationship update marks a significant moment for the couple, who were first seen together enjoying various outings in New York City and Mexico City last fall.
Background and Family Roots of Romain Gavras
Romain Gavras, born in 1981, hails from a creative family deeply rooted in the film industry. He is the son of Costa Gavras, an Academy Award-winning French-Greek director, and Michèle Ray-Gavras, a journalist and producer known for her wartime reporting. Speaking about his upbringing, Gavras reflected that cinema was a central part of his life from a very young age.
“I was going to the cinema as long as I can remember myself. I grew up in a film family, so there was no other choice but to make films,”
he admitted, adding,
“At the same time, I didn’t want to show my dad or mom some of the earlier things I made. I just showed them to my brother [Alexandre Gavras]. I was very shy.”
In discussing his mother’s toughness and extraordinary experiences, Gavras described her work covering the Vietnam War, recalling how she embedded with the Viet Cong in dangerous conditions.
“I think she was with the Viet Cong for about two months, but in the worst region where they were in the tunnels getting bombed with napalm all the time by the Americans. The stories that my mum tells me are insane,”
he said.
An Auteur Known for Provocative and Bold Visual Work
Romain Gavras has earned a reputation as one of contemporary cinema’s most daring voices. Frequently described by the media as
“the bad boy of European film,”
his career began with directing music videos. Notably, his work with M.I.A. garnered critical acclaim, including an MTV Video Music Award for Best Direction for the 2012 video “Bad Girls.” He also earned a Grammy nomination in 2013 for his direction of Jay-Z and Ye’s “No Church in the Wild.”
Transitioning into feature films, Gavras debuted with “Our Day Will Come” in 2010, before premiering his latest movie, “Athena,” at the 79th Venice Film Festival in 2022. His provocative style and boundary-pushing projects have continued to attract attention and define his distinct cinematic voice.
Previous Relationships Include Dua Lipa and Rita Ora
Before going public with Ratajkowski, Romain Gavras was involved in several high-profile relationships. Most recently, he dated pop artist Dua Lipa for almost a year during 2023. The couple was first seen together at Paris Fashion Week in February and made their red carpet debut at the Cannes Film Festival in May. By the end of that year, reports confirmed their split.
Prior to Lipa, Gavras was linked to singer Rita Ora between 2020 and 2021. Meanwhile, Emily Ratajkowski was previously linked to actor Austin Butler after being seen dining together in September 2025, though Butler later confirmed to Vanity Fair that their relationship was strictly platonic.
Parental Roles Shape Their Perspectives and Lives
Romain Gavras is a father to a 13-year-old daughter and often speaks about the realities of raising children. In a 2022 interview, he emphasized hard work over entitlement and criticized modern messages of specialness for kids.
“I have a 13-year-old daughter and I’m always telling her: ‘This stuff doesn’t exist. Life is work. Don’t expect a superpower,’”
Gavras shared. He also expressed his avoidance of green screen effects in his films, noting his daughter’s sharp eye for spotting CGI in mainstream superhero movies.
“Even my daughter, who’s 13, she watches an Avengers movie, she’s pointing out the green screen. I think the audience actually feels it when there’s real danger,”
he explained.
This shared sense of parenthood connects Gavras with Ratajkowski, who has a four-year-old son named Sylvester “Sly” Apollo Bear, whom she shares with her ex-husband, producer Sebastian Bear-McClard.
Early Romance Sightings and Official Announcement
Rumors of their budding romance began in November 2025, when the pair were photographed together in New York City, sparking speculation about their relationship. Further evidence surfaced through fan accounts showing them vacationing in Mexico City that same month.
In February 2026, shortly after Valentine’s Day, Ratajkowski ended the guessing game by sharing a carousel post on Instagram featuring intimate and candid moments with Gavras. The images highlight their affection through a grainy photo of them kissing, snapshots of coordinated accessories, and a playful dinner date. Notably, the post included no caption, allowing the images and emotions to convey their message.
What This Relationship Means Moving Forward
Emily Ratajkowski’s decision to publicly acknowledge her relationship with Romain Gavras signals a new chapter for both individuals, blending two prominent figures from modeling and European cinema. Their union provides insight into their private lives while maintaining the enigmatic aura they cultivate publicly. Given Gavras’ artistic reputation and Ratajkowski’s media presence, their relationship is likely to attract ongoing attention and inspire creative collaborations in the future.
