Michael B. Jordan Says He Struggles with 'Loneliness,' Goes 'Back and Forth' on Wanting a Relationship

Mar. 15, 2025

Michael B. Jordanis getting candid about romance.During an appearance on Monday’s episode of theOn Purpose with Jay Shettypodcast, the actor and filmmaker admitted he goes “back and forth between wanting partnership and then not knowing what’s the best partner for me.““Bringing them into my world, what I got going on, isn’t easy,” Jordan, 37, added of his busy lifestyle. “And it’s not just, ‘I love you, you love me, that should be enough,’ right? It’s not quite that simple.“For the actor, “Finding the right person to understand all of me, but then all that comeswithme, as well” would be paramount for him to consider another romantic relationship. (Jordan was most recently linked toLori Harvey, whom hesplit from circa June 2022afterdating for a year and a half.)“And understanding that balance between wanting to be available and there for that person, while I’m juggling everything else. And feeling okay to put the other part of my businesses down,” Jordan said of his perspective on a potential future partner.Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human-interest stories.Michael B. Jordan in Beverly Hills, California, on March 27, 2022; Lori Harvey in Los Angeles on April 20, 2022.Daniele Venturelli/WireImage; Stefanie Keenan/GettyThe conversation came about when hostJay Shettyasked what Jordan considers the best and worst parts of himself.After raving about being “Uncle Mike,” the actor said, “I love multitasking; I love juggling, the balancing act that I do. The worst part is the loneliness that comes with that.““There’s a loneliness that I have. The responsibility that you have is isolating, and the weight is isolating,” he continued. “So I think the worst part of that is the feeling like nobody really understands, and sometimes falling into the spaces of just being alone, feeling alone.“Asked how he, as the former PEOPLESexiest Man Alive, finds love, Jordan joked to Shetty, 36, “I revert back to the last question. It’s very lonely!“In all seriousness, “The sacrifice, the compromise that comes with a partnership and a relationship, and understanding how to make that all work, sometimes it gives me anxiety and pause,” he said.Michael B. Jordan on the ‘On Purpose with Jay Shetty’ podcast on March 11, 2024.Jay Shetty Podcast/ YouTubeTheBlack Pantherstar also acknowledged that “there’s a part of” him “that really has not really lived life yet.” For example, he hasn’t “really traveled as much for fun,” with the exception ofhis trip to Japan last spring.“I’m looking forward to that part of my life … I gotta start living. I’ve sacrificed and I’ve zoned in for so long. I owe it to myself a little bit to do that,” he said.And while he’s “not looking” for a romantic partner, he would welcome the right one into his life.“But it would take a very special person to understand and grow with me,” Jordan said, noting in addition, “Iwant a family[eventually].”

Michael B. Jordanis getting candid about romance.

During an appearance on Monday’s episode of theOn Purpose with Jay Shettypodcast, the actor and filmmaker admitted he goes “back and forth between wanting partnership and then not knowing what’s the best partner for me.”

“Bringing them into my world, what I got going on, isn’t easy,” Jordan, 37, added of his busy lifestyle. “And it’s not just, ‘I love you, you love me, that should be enough,’ right? It’s not quite that simple.”

For the actor, “Finding the right person to understand all of me, but then all that comeswithme, as well” would be paramount for him to consider another romantic relationship. (Jordan was most recently linked toLori Harvey, whom hesplit from circa June 2022afterdating for a year and a half.)

“And understanding that balance between wanting to be available and there for that person, while I’m juggling everything else. And feeling okay to put the other part of my businesses down,” Jordan said of his perspective on a potential future partner.

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human-interest stories.

Michael B. Jordan in Beverly Hills, California, on March 27, 2022; Lori Harvey in Los Angeles on April 20, 2022.Daniele Venturelli/WireImage; Stefanie Keenan/Getty

The conversation came about when hostJay Shettyasked what Jordan considers the best and worst parts of himself.

After raving about being “Uncle Mike,” the actor said, “I love multitasking; I love juggling, the balancing act that I do. The worst part is the loneliness that comes with that.”

“There’s a loneliness that I have. The responsibility that you have is isolating, and the weight is isolating,” he continued. “So I think the worst part of that is the feeling like nobody really understands, and sometimes falling into the spaces of just being alone, feeling alone.”

Asked how he, as the former PEOPLESexiest Man Alive, finds love, Jordan joked to Shetty, 36, “I revert back to the last question. It’s very lonely!”

In all seriousness, “The sacrifice, the compromise that comes with a partnership and a relationship, and understanding how to make that all work, sometimes it gives me anxiety and pause,” he said.

Michael B. Jordan on the ‘On Purpose with Jay Shetty’ podcast on March 11, 2024.Jay Shetty Podcast/ YouTube

Jay Shetty Podcast/ YouTube

TheBlack Pantherstar also acknowledged that “there’s a part of” him “that really has not really lived life yet.” For example, he hasn’t “really traveled as much for fun,” with the exception ofhis trip to Japan last spring.

“I’m looking forward to that part of my life … I gotta start living. I’ve sacrificed and I’ve zoned in for so long. I owe it to myself a little bit to do that,” he said.

And while he’s “not looking” for a romantic partner, he would welcome the right one into his life.

“But it would take a very special person to understand and grow with me,” Jordan said, noting in addition, “Iwant a family[eventually].”

source: people.com