Lisa Bonet Opens Up About Her Relationship with Jason Momoa

Lisa Bonet was the woman who had it all. First, she was a teen sitcom actress and Hollywood star. Then, when she was 20, she married rock god Lenny Kravitz and had a daughter, Zoë. Years after divorcing America’s most handsome musician, she got together with America’s hunkiest actor, Jason Momoa. Today, we’ll hear everything from Lisa and Jason… from how they met to why they broke up.

Lisa Bonet

Before we dive in, we must first set the scene and get to know our protagonists. Lisa Michelle Bonet was born on November 16th, 1967, and trained as an actress at the Celluloid Actor’s Studio in Hollywood. In 1984, she won the role of Denise Huxtable in The Cosby Show.

Vinnie Zuffante // Getty Images

She appeared in over 100 episodes, and Denise was so popular she even had her own college-set spin-off, A Different World. Then the 19-year-old beauty made the leap to Hollywood, appearing in Alan Parker’s brilliant dark psychological thriller 1987 Angelheart.

Jason Stalked Lisa

On the other side of the country, halfway across the Pacific, an eight-year-old boy called Jason Momoa was watching The Cosby Show.

He later told James Corden, “Ever since I was, like, eight years old and I saw her on the TV, and I was like, ‘Mommy, I want that one.’ I’m like, ‘I’m gonna stalk you for the rest of my life, and I’m gonna get you.’ I am a full-fledged stalker!” Mind you, every boy who grew up in the 1980s wanted to marry Denise Huxtable!

Let Love Rule

Meanwhile, back on the ranch. Heading back to Lisa’s career for a while. On her 20th birthday — that’s November 16th, 1987 for super fans — Lisa eloped with an as-yet-unknown rock singer named Lenny Kravitz, marrying in Las Vegas.

Vinnie Zuffante // Getty Images

Lisa was suddenly and unexpectedly written out of her own TV show the following year when producers found out she was pregnant. On December 1st, 1988, Lisa gave birth to their daughter, Zoë Isabella Kravitz. The baby girl was lucky to have inherited her mom and dad’s good looks.

It Ain’t Over ’til It’s Over

Lisa and Lenny were together for six years, and all was hunky dory. She co-wrote songs for his break-out album Let Love Rule and put her acting career on the back burner to look after Zoë. Meanwhile, Lenny’s career skyrocketed with songs like “Are You Gonna Go My Way” and “American Woman”, topping the charts and turning him into a genuine rock god.

However, love doesn’t always rule, and the couple finally declared “It Ain’t Over ’til It’s Over” and divorced in 1993.

Lilakoi Moon

Following her split from Lenny Kravitz, Lisa dated celebrity yoga instructor Bryan Kest, and the media pushed the narrative that they had a baby together. Lisa confirmed in no uncertain terms this was not true.

Instagram // @lisamichellebonet

Then, in 1995, Lisa legally changed her name to Lilakoi Moon. She said she made the decision due to “privacy reasons.” Is it just us, or does Lilakoi Moon have a slight Hawaiian ring to it? Within a decade, she would fall in love with and be over the moon to be with Hawaii’s hunkiest actor…

American Woman

Lisa admitted she found it tough juggling motherhood and quietly making her Hollywood comeback. She displayed her acting range in the political thriller Enemy of the State, comedy High Fidelity, and action movie Biker Boyz.

She would later make the leap back to the small screen, playing Maya Daniels in Life on Mars and Marisol in Ray Donovan. But in 2005, she met another gorgeous hunk. His name was Jason Momoa, but before we find out how they met, let’s learn a little about this then-up-and-coming actor.

Jason Momoa

Joseph Jason Namakaeha Momoa was the man who didn’t have it all… yet. Born in Honolulu, Hawaii, in 1979, he studied marine biology before becoming an actor in Baywatch: Hawaii. There, the 20-year-old met actress Simmone Jade Mackinnon.

Jeff Vespa // GettyImages // WireImage

When Jason was starring in Northern Shore in 2004, he asked Simmone to marry him. She said yes, and they started planning a big wedding. However, they called off the engagement after Momoa met another woman. That woman was Lisa Bonet, who was 18 years older than Jason.

How Lisa Met Jason

Jason opened up to James Corden on The Late Late Show about the first time he met Lisa. Mutual friends introduced them at a jazz club, and since he knew Lisa would be there, he dreadlocked his hair to impress her.

Momoa revealed, “I literally turned around, and I see her, and she goes, ‘I’m Lisa.’ I turned around to my friend, and I [pretended to scream]. I had […] fireworks going off inside, man. I convinced her to take me home because I was living in a hotel.”

She’s the One

Stepping outside and leaving the gentle jazz music of the club behind them, Jason asked Lisa if he could catch a ride home with her to his hotel. His cunning plan to spend more time with her worked, and they stopped off at Café 101 to get better acquainted.

As they ate grits, drank a popular Irish drink, and chatted the night away, Jason immediately and instinctively knew that the woman sitting before him, smiling and laughing, was “The One.” However, Lisa would take a little more convincing…

Fools Rush in…

Lisa regretted nothing but admitted she was so young when she met Lenny Kravitz, she believes that running away to Vegas to get married so quickly was naïve. She once admitted to Ebony magazine that her first years with Kravitz were very “accelerated, spiritually and intellectually.”

Instagram // @lisamichellebonet

She wasn’t about to make the same mistake twice. “I can’t say it was full-on from the moment we saw each other, but we have been together from the day that we met,” Bonet told Porter magazine in 2018.

Where Angels Fear to Tread

Lisa admits she fell in love with Jason’s massive muscles and larger-than-life personality. In the same Porter interview, she stated, “In that moment, love came, and it came big, and he did not run as I think a lot of men do. He basically picked me up and threw me over his shoulder, caveman style.”

Instagram // @lisamichellebonet

However, while Jason had literally swept Lisa off her feet like any red-blooded Dothraki warlord should, she had learned her lesson and wanted to wait a while before they got married.

It’s a Girl!

Two years after they fell in love, Bonet and Momoa welcomed their first child into the world. They were delighted when 40-year-old Lisa gave birth to a baby daughter on July 23rd, 2007. The couple named their little bundle of joy Lola Iolani, which means “royal hawk.”

Instagram // @lisamichellebonet

Lisa said they chose the name because there were “hawks flying around overhead during the birth.” Parenthood was a huge turning point in Jason’s life, and the besotted new father was determined to cast off his tough guy image to become a doting dad.

Secret Wedding

Not long after Lola Iolani was born, rumors began swirling that they had secretly married. This was despite the fact that Lisa made it crystal clear she wasn’t ready to rush into marriage for a second time.

But journalists never let facts get in the way of a good story, so newspapers, gossip magazines, and websites all spouted their theories that Lisa Bonet and Jason Momoa had secretly tied the knot. The rumors were not true, though. However, less than a year after having their first child, Lisa fell pregnant again.

It Was a Dark and Stormy Night

18 months after Lisa gave birth to Lola, the couple welcomed another child in December 2008. This time, it was a baby boy, and it seemed Jason was in charge of choosing their son’s name. The testosterone-fueled, muscle-bound Hawaiian beast went with the most impressive Nakoa-Wolf Manakauapo Namakaeha.

As their son grew older, he went by just Nakoa-Wolf, but ‘Nakoa’ means ‘warrior,’ ‘Mana‘ means ‘strength and spirit,’ while ‘kaua’ means ‘rain’ and ‘po’ means’ dark,’ and refers to the unusually dark and stormy night he was born in Los Angeles.

Behind Every Great Man…

Just as Lenny Kravitz’s career had taken off while married to Lisa, Jason’s career skyrocketed. In 2011, Momoa was cast as fearsome Dothraki warlord Khal Drogo in Game of Thrones. Then, in 2014, he was cast as Arthur Curry/Aquaman.

Two years later, he’d make his first appearance alongside Batman, Superman, and Wonder Woman in the DC Universe. We’re not saying Lenny and Jason wouldn’t have made it alone, but… “Behind every great man, there is a great woman,” and Lisa does seem to have the Midas Touch.

Behind Every Great Woman…

In a loving partnership, it works both ways. In 2008, Bonet returned to acting with a role in Life on Mars. She told People magazine that Jason helped her get back into acting. “To have my face reinstated in minds and homes once a week was an intense decision. I’m a shy person […] Having a mate has given me that feeling of safety.”

She confessed, “Jason is the love of my life. He’s everything I hoped would come.” According to Jason, “She’s so amazing […] she’s an angel.”

Steamy Love Scenes

Jason never wanted to watch Lisa’s love scenes with another actor; he tried to save Lisa from seeing his steamy Game of Thrones love scenes with Emilia Clarke. But, Lisa confessed she couldn’t help sneaking a peek.

After all the talk about how hot Jason and Emilia’s scene was, she snuck behind his back to check it out anyway. And what did she think? Well, Lisa absolutely loved the scenes. Apparently, she “stayed up all night watching it” and was “obsessed!”

Behind the Scenes

After sharing the screen in 2014’s Road to Paloma, which Jason also wrote and directed, they teamed up again the same year in The Red Road. By this point, they’d been together for nine years and were doing a great job raising Lola and Nakoa-Wolf and Jason being a stepdad to a grown-up Zoë.

However, working together, seeing Jason show a more gentle side and direct a movie may have finally proven to Lisa that they could work as a married couple.

She’s Still Close to Lenny

While they had split up two decades before, and Lisa was now with Jason, she still has a very close bond with Lenny Kravitz. When the father, mother, and daughter trio appeared at 2015’s Met Gala in New York, Lenny posted an adorable family photo of himself and Zoë kissing Lisa on the cheeks.

The Instagram photo was accompanied by the caption “blood.” Lisa and Lenny both agree that fate brought them together to bring their daughter into the world. Aww, bless them!

Lisa Helped Jason Grow Up

In a 2017 interview with Men’s Health magazine, he admitted fatherhood made him a better person. He said, “I really can’t tell you what the hell I was doing before I had kids,” he said. “I think I was pretty reckless and definitely a bit out of control. Now, I’m more focused. I probably love myself more and take care of myself more because I want to stick around.”

The wedding date, venue, and guest list remained one of Tinseltown’s most closely guarded secrets. After dating for 12 years, Lisa Bonet and Jason Momoa finally exchanged vows and became husband and wife, and no one was any the wiser. Until that is, an insider leaked the information…

I Will Find You

In November, Us Weekly wrote, “Jason Momoa and Lisa Bonet had an official wedding a few weeks ago at their house in Topanga, California.” But while the world was happy to finally hear the happy news, Jason and Lisa were not happy bunnies.

Channeling his inner Liam Neeson, Momoa told Entertainment Tonight, “I thought it would have stayed [on the down low], but some [jerk] leaked it, and I will find you.” Jason, you see, has a very particular set of skills for tracking people down…

Why She Loves Him

In 2018, Bonet told Porter why she fell for Momoa. “What’s cool about Jason is that he’s an alpha male who stands for love and family,” she explained. “And to circle back to my own wounds, having an absent father, then to be fully met by a man of that stature, is really incredible.”

She continued, “Jason embodies a rare form of masculinity in this day and age — he’s a leader; he’s generous. Just in terms of charisma, physique, the right use of power, responsibility, work ethic, you can go down the line.”

Your Wife Looks Beautiful!

In April 2019, Hollywood’s most gorgeous couple attended the premiere of Game of Thrones‘ final season in New York City. Jason later confessed on Instagram Stories that as they stood on the red carpet, about to walk into the event, he told his wife, “You look gorgeous… I love you.” And he wasn’t the only one!

When a fan shouted, “Jason, your wife looks beautiful!” Momoa hilariously yelled back: “I know! I [freakin] know!” Maybe the man who shouted it had grown up stalking Denise Huxtable, too!

Believe in Yourself

Later, in 2019, Momoa talked about how Lisa helped him get his career off the ground and make the most out of life. After filming the first season of Game of Thrones, and before the series really took off, he admitted he struggled to find roles, had zero money, and even struggled to feed his family.

In an interview with Esquire magazine, he said, “If someone says something isn’t possible, I’m like, ‘Listen here, I married Lisa Bonet. Anything is possible!’”

Playing House

In 2020, the duo starred together in a hilarious Super Bowl commercial for Rocket Mortgage in which Momoa peeled off his muscles and wig to reveal a skinny body. Later the same year, Jason surprised Lisa by restoring her 1965 Ford Mustang, the first car she bought when she was 17.

The couple was so in love that it hurt. But then, quite out of the blue, they shocked the world with an unbelievable announcement…

Splitting Up

On January 12th, 2022, after being together for 18 years since 2004, including four years of marriage, Lisa and Jason revealed to the world that they were “parting ways in marriage.” Grazia described the announcement as devastating news, and fans around the world went into shock. ‘How could this happen?’ superfans asked themselves as they wept into their chai lattes.

The media went into overdrive to try to get to the bottom of why one of Hollywood’s most stunning, beloved, and savvy couples had let their relationship sour.

Joint Statement

In a joint statement on Instagram, they wrote, “We share this not because we think it’s newsworthy ~ But so that ~ as we go about our lives we may do so with dignity and honesty. The love between us carries on, evolving in ways it wishes to be known and lived.”

The statement continued, “We free each other ~ to be who we are learning to become … Our devotion unwavering to this sacred life and our children. Teaching our children what’s possible ~ Living the Prayer May Love Prevail.”

Two Months Later

After the initial shock, fans and the media decided it would be best for everyone involved if Lisa and Jason admitted they’d made a huge mistake and were getting back together. After numerous reports appeared in gossip magazines and the internet that the couple may give their marriage another shot, Momoa cleared things up at the Academy Awards on March 27th, 2022.

From the Oscars red carpet, he unequivocally told Access Hollywood, “We’re not back together, we’re family […] We have two beautiful children together.”

Divorce

Lisa and Jason divorced the following September, but the world still hadn’t found out why they split in the first place. While the usual rumors of infertility did the rounds, it emerged that the couple had been growing apart for a couple of years before they split.

But while the gossip merchants hoped for news of a juicy affair, E! News finally revealed the reason for the surprise breakup was rather dull. The couple had split due to “different priorities.”

They Drifted Apart

A source close to Lisa told E! News that the two stars had simply been heading in different directions for some time before they split. They explained, “Jason is very focused on his career and wants to work. He has found success, and it’s driving him and is very fulfilling.”

Then, the same source went on to say, “Lisa wants to be [at home with her children] in Los Angeles and is not interested in going on location for long periods of time with him.”

Health and Wellness

According to Lisa’s spokesperson, Lisa’s priorities had changed since she married the Aquaman star. She explained Lisa had gotten heavily into health, wellness, and looking after herself in the last couple of years, adding, “That’s what motivates her.” They also said that Jason had been moving in a different direction, which “did not fit together with her lifestyle.”

Finally, the spokesperson matter-of-factly stated, “They drifted apart and wanted different things.” And it seems the clues were always there if you knew where to look…

A New Chapter

Just weeks before they announced their 2022 split, Lisa opened up about “a new chapter” in her life during a chat with her former A Different World co-star Marissa Tomei for Interview magazine. When Marissa asked what’s been “calling you in life lately,” Lisa stated…

“Definitely learning how to be authentically me, learning to be new, and following this invitation from the universe to step into this river of uncertainty. We’ve eliminated all this extra noise, and now it’s time to grow our roots deeper into our own values.”

What About the Kids?

Lola and Nakoa-Wolf live with their mom, but she’s still friends with co-parenting dad Jason, who’s still a big part of their lives. Lisa says she, Jason, Lenny, and Zoë are all good buddies. Another source said Zoë “is very close” to her mom and “will be of great support as she navigates through this.”

Zoë also “really likes Jason and has a good relationship with him, so it’s all very sad that this chapter is closing. She loves them both but understands that it was time for them to move on.”

Aqua Handyman

As for Lisa, she’s happy Jason is currently dating Mexican actress Eiza Gonzalez, and insists their focus is bringing up their children. A source told People magazine the ex-flames “have stayed close” and “spend time together when Jason is in Los Angeles.”

The insider continued, “Jason is handy and often did things around the house when they lived together. He still helps Lisa out now.” In 2002, he was seen delivering a Christmas tree to Lisa’s Malibu home. It’s good to know Lisa’s putting her exes’ muscles to good use!

Press ESC to close

Lisa Bonet Tells All About Her Relationship With Jason Momoa