The partner of August Alsina is addressing rumors that the singer groomed him, denying the age difference between them is inappropriate and asserting that they have a loving relationship.
Alsina’s boyfriend, Zu, made a statement via X on Monday (Sept. 1), saying it would be the “first and only time” he would address concerns about their partnership. Alsina is 32, and Zu is reportedly 22.
"I met August when I was already of age, an adult,” Zu wrote. “Aug didn’t even know me when I was 16 or 17...not sure where that came from.. yea there’s a slight age difference but y’all pick and chooses who to judge when it comes to that."
Questions mounted over Zu’s age after Alsina posted photos of their club appearance in Atlanta and said they had known each other for five years.
In his statement, Zu said that he and the "No Love (Remix)" artist will have known each other for five years by the end of this year. In another tweet, Zu explicitly stated that he “wasn’t groomed” and isn’t “dating a predator.”
In a series of tweets, Alsina criticized the rumors of him grooming Zu and said that the younger partner “lied” about his age when they first met.
“Granted, he was over 18,” Alsina wrote. “But the fact still remains. & I found out later, upon meeting the family. BUT this is information that would require me throwing my [n***a] under the bus, and involving mf’s in our story, who ain’t worthy… just to appease their own trauma.”
Alsina publicly announced his relationship in 2022 on The Surreal Life, saying Zu was “teaching [him] so much about loving and healing.”
Zu said him not being an “internet person” and infrequently engaging on social media could have led to speculation over their age difference.
“August is my boyfriend, and we’re happy with each other, simple…” Zu wrote. "But I can see how being quiet, and trying to protect something of value to you, can allow some people to spin the narrative and create a bunch of different scenarios which aren’t true. Aug gives me a GREAT life, & I’m thankful."
