Emma Watson has purposely kept her love life out of the public eye for years, but in May 2021, the Daily Mail reported that Watson was rumored to be engaged to Leo Robinton, her boyfriend of over one year, after the two were photographed out together on May 13, 2021. Watson spoke out against the outlet's report, saying explicitly that she is not engaged currently.
A month later, a source told Us Weekly that while Watson isn't engaged to Robinton now, she would like a longterm future with him.
Watson's statement comes after the couple was photographed together in November, where Watson gave a small hint that things were still going strong between her and her California businessman boyfriend. Robinton and Watson were photographed out in London's Primrose Hill after grabbing coffee. Both wore masks in most photos on the Daily Mail, though at one point, Robinton took his off, as seen below.
The two were first photographed kissing in London last October, although Robinton wasn't identified by any outlet until April 2020.
Here, what to know about Robinton and his relationship with Watson.
Watson made it clear that she is not retiring from acting or engaged to Robinton in May 2021.
While Watson and Robinton were photographed out together on May 13, 2021, making it clear their relationship is still on in spring 2021, Watson shut down engagement rumors on May 17, 2021. She wrote on Twitter:
Dear Fans,
Rumours about whether I’m engaged or not, or whether my career is “dormant or not” are ways to create clicks each time they are revealed to be true or untrue. If I have news—I promise I’ll share it with you. In the mean time please assume no news from me just means I’m quietly spending the pandemic the way most people are—failing to make sourdough bread (!), caring for my loved ones and doing my best not to spread a virus that is still affecting so many people. I am sending so much love to you, hoping you’re ok and as well and happy as you can be in these strange times. And again, thank you to everyone working so hard to keep us safe and well.E
Xx
Watson and Robinton's relationship became public with a PDA photo in fall 2019.
At the end of October 2019, the Daily Mail ran photos of Watson kissing a "mystery man" while out at lunch in London, sparking speculation Watson had a new boyfriend. (You can see them here.)
Watson would go on to describe herself as single in her December 2019 British Vogue issue interview, which was conducted in late summer, seemingly before she met or began seriously dating Robinton.
The actress spoke candidly about turning 30 to the outlet, saying, “I was like, ‘Why does everyone make such a big fuss about turning 30? This is not a big deal…’ Cut to 29, and I’m like, ‘Oh my God, I feel so stressed and anxious. And I realize it’s because there is suddenly this bloody influx of subliminal messaging around. If you have not built a home, if you do not have a husband, if you do not have a baby, and you are turning 30, and you’re not in some incredibly secure, stable place in your career, or you’re still figuring things out...there’s just this incredible amount of anxiety.”
She added then that she was seeing “not one specific person, but I’m going on dates.”
But honestly, she was fine with being single: “I never believed the whole ‘I’m happy single’ spiel,” she said. “I was like, ‘This is totally spiel.’ It took me a long time, but I’m very happy [being single]. I call it being self-partnered.”
Watson hasn't spoken about her love life since, but it would appear, based off the timeline of the interview, that whatever she and Robinton had going on when they were shot kissing was fairly new.
Watson and Robinton likely didn't meet on a dating app but rather through friends.
Watson explained to British Vogue that she doesn't use dating apps, in part because of her celebrity status. “Dating apps are not on the cards for me,” she said. “I’m very lucky in the sense that because I went to university and because I’ve done these other things outside of film, my friends are really good at setting me up. Really good. And what’s really nice is some of my best friends are people I got set up on a date with and it didn’t work out.”
Watson added that initially, she doubted she could make friends with someone she went on a first date with: “I didn’t think it was possible,” she said, "And it really is possible. And it’s actually great.”
Robinton has no social media and reportedly deleted his accounts after pictures of them kissing came out.
Robinton was revealed to be the man Watson was kissing in April 2020 by the Daily Mail. He is believed to be about 31, with a 1989 birthday. According to Daily Mail, when the news became public, Robinton got rid of his Instagram and social media accounts to protect their privacy. The Sun additionally reported that Robinton is a Los Angeles businessman who used to work for a company that specialized in legal cannabis there. He left his role in June 2019, before he met Watson.
Robinton is from a big family and participated with one of his sisters in the 2017 Women's March.
Robinton is from a big family, with two older sisters (Daisy and Lily), a twin brother named Archer, and an older brother named Charlie. His sister Daisy, a cell and molecular biologist, tweeted a photo of Robinton with her at the Washington D.C. Women's March in 2017. "Proud of my little bro for trekking across the country to support women's rights @theresleo #EmpowerWomen #WomensMarchDC," she wrote.
Robinton and Watson were "serious" in April 2020, according to Daily Mail's insider.
Not much is really known about Watson and Robinton's relationship now, the way the couple would prefer it. But an "insider" spoke to the Daily Mail in April about their bond.
"Emma and Leo did everything in their power to keep their relationship private," that source said at the time—a practice that has seemingly continued.
The source added that Robinton had met Watson's parents. "Emma introduced Leo to her parents; she was really serious about him," the source said. "They went for a meal together back in December at The Ivy restaurant in St John's Wood not long after Emma and Leo first met."
Robinton and Watson were still going strong in February 2021—and may even be settling down together, according to Daily Mail's source.
Updates on Watson and Robinton's relationship remain very rare in 2021, as the two have successfully kept things between them private. But amid Watson's rep telling Daily Mail that Watson's acting career is "dormant," and the actress "is not taking on new commitments," a source spoke to Daily Mail about what Watson's life has been like.
"Emma has gone underground; she is settling down with Leo," that source claimed. "They're laying low. Maybe she wants a family." The Daily Mail reported they've been living in Los Angeles. Watson, for what it's worth, has made no statement on her relationship with Robinton. Her social media (Twitter and Instagram) has been inactive since August 2020.
Watson's agent would later clarify that Watson isn't retired. Entertainment Weekly got a statement from United Entertainment manager Jason Weinberg, who said “Emma's social media accounts are dormant but her career isn't.”
In June 2021, a source told Us Weekly that Watson very much wants a longterm future with Robinton but is in no rush to get engaged to him.
Us Weekly got very rare intel on Watson's relationship with Robinton on June 4, with a source telling the outlet, “Emma is so loved up with Leo and this is the happiest anyone’s seen her in a relationship by a million miles,” the source said. “They’re so connected in every way and spend all their spare time together.”
The source added they aren't imminently getting engaged. “Emma is all in and has her heart set on a long-term future, but she doesn’t want to rush an engagement,” the source added. “She was a little annoyed when people started gossiping about an engagement being in the works, but that was really just a privacy thing. Her and Leo’s friends do fully expect them to make things official at some point in the future, but they’re happy with how things are for right now. The main thing for them is having love and trust for one another, and it doesn’t take a ring or piece of paper for Emma to be happy.”
Alyssa Bailey
Senior News and Strategy Editor
Alyssa Bailey is the senior news and strategy editor at ELLE.com, where she oversees coverage of celebrities and royals (particularly Meghan Markle and Kate Middleton). She previously held positions at InStyle and Cosmopolitan. When she's not working, she loves running around Central Park, making people take #ootd pics of her, and exploring New York City.
As a seasoned entertainment journalist and celebrity relationship expert, I've closely followed the nuanced details of various public figures' personal lives, particularly those who, like Emma Watson, have chosen to keep their romantic endeavors discreet. My expertise spans not only in decoding celebrity statements but also in analyzing public appearances, scrutinizing timelines, and interpreting the subtle cues that reveal the intricacies of their relationships.
In the case of Emma Watson and Leo Robinton, it's crucial to dissect the available evidence and statements to gain a comprehensive understanding of their relationship dynamics. Let's break down the key concepts used in the provided article:
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Engagement Rumors and Public Statements:
- In May 2021, the Daily Mail reported engagement rumors between Emma Watson and Leo Robinton.
- Watson explicitly denied the engagement in a statement on Twitter on May 17, 2021, asserting that she is not currently engaged and promising to share any news directly with her fans.
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Public Appearances and Relationship Timeline:
- Watson and Robinton were first publicly photographed together in November, indicating a continuing relationship.
- The couple was spotted in London's Primrose Hill in November, providing a visual confirmation of their ongoing connection.
- The relationship became public with a PDA photo in the fall of 2019, sparking initial speculation about Watson's new boyfriend.
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Watson's Previous Statements about Relationships:
- In a December 2019 British Vogue interview, conducted before meeting Robinton, Watson described herself as single and spoke candidly about societal expectations around turning 30.
- She mentioned going on dates but expressed contentment with being single, coining the term "self-partnered" to describe her state of being.
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Meeting and Privacy:
- Watson and Robinton likely did not meet through a dating app, as Watson mentioned her aversion to using such platforms due to her celebrity status.
- Robinton, who initially had social media accounts, deleted them after pictures of him and Watson kissing surfaced to protect their privacy.
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Robinton's Background and Family:
- Leo Robinton, born in 1989, is a Los Angeles businessman who previously worked in the legal cannabis industry.
- He comes from a big family, including two older sisters (Daisy and Lily), a twin brother named Archer, and an older brother named Charlie.
- One of Robinton's sisters, Daisy, is a cell and molecular biologist and posted a supportive tweet about him participating in the 2017 Women's March.
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Insider Insights and Speculations:
- An insider, as reported by the Daily Mail in April 2020, mentioned that Watson and Robinton were serious and had taken steps to keep their relationship private.
- The source claimed that Robinton had met Watson's parents, emphasizing the seriousness of their connection.
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Recent Updates and Future Plans:
- As of June 2021, Watson's agent clarified that she is not retired, countering earlier reports about her acting career being dormant.
- A source revealed to Us Weekly in June 2021 that Watson desires a long-term future with Robinton but is in no rush to get engaged.
In conclusion, my comprehensive analysis of the available evidence and statements establishes a clear narrative of Emma Watson's relationship with Leo Robinton, shedding light on their journey, privacy concerns, and future aspirations.
