Lake Bell has confirmed her new romance with contemporary artist Rashid Johnson by going Instagram-official in a Halloween weekend social media post.
On Saturday, the 47-year-old actress and filmmaker shared a photo of the pair on Instagram with the caption, "Happy Hallow-hard launch."
In the Instagram post, Bell wore a beret and a fitted fur-trimmed jacket, while Johnson, 49, wore a dark suit, a white shirt and a bowtie.
Celebrity friends showed support in the comments of the post. Actress Erinn Hayes, who co-starred with Bell on the satirical medical comedy series Childrens Hospital, wrote, "And lookin fiiiiiiiine on the take off!! ❤️" Reed Morano, the Emmy-winning director and cinematographer known for The Handmaid's Tale, also shared three heart-eye emojis.
Bell's previous Instagram post had shown her wearing a cleavage-baring, brown, polka-dot print bikini top.
October gala appearances and career background
Before making their romance official online, Bell and Johnson stepped out together twice in late October. On October 29, the pair attended the American Ballet Theatre Fall Gala Honoring Cynthia Erivo.
American Ballet Theatre is a leading classical dance company based in New York City, and its fall gala honored Erivo, the Tony, Grammy and Emmy-winning British actress and singer known for The Color Purple and Wicked. Before that outing, Bell and Johnson had attended the WAW 25th Anniversary HER Gala on October 22.
Bell is an actress, screenwriter and director known for television series such as Boston Legal and Bless This Mess, as well as voicing Poison Ivy on the animated series Harley Quinn and writing, directing and starring in the 2013 comedy film In a World.... Johnson is a Chicago-born contemporary artist whose work across sculpture, painting, photography and film is held in collections including the Museum of Modern Art and the Whitney Museum of American Art, and who directed the 2019 film adaptation of Native Son.
Rashid Johnson separation from Sheree Hovsepian
Johnson's relationship with Bell follows the end of his marriage to Sheree Hovsepian, an Iranian-born visual artist known for combining photography, collage and ceramics. The pair, who are parents to a teenage son named Julius, announced their split in May.
In a joint statement to Page Six earlier this year, Johnson and Hovsepian addressed their separation. "After 15 years of marriage, we’ve made the difficult decision to separate. We do so with love, care and deep respect for one another, recognizing that we will continue as friends and will always be a meaningful part of each other’s lives," they said.
They also spoke about raising their son together. "We’re optimistic about this new phase, and about the support we will offer each other as we continue to co-parent our incredible son. We ask for your grace and understanding as our family navigates this transition," the statement added.
Lake Bell co-parenting with Scott Campbell
Bell shares 12-year-old daughter Nova and 11-year-old son Ozgood with her ex-husband, tattoo and visual artist Scott Campbell. The pair were married for seven years before divorcing in 2020 and remain amicable co-parents.
Speaking to Us magazine in 2022, Bell discussed how she and Campbell approach raising their children after their split. "I think great respect and communication is what is the key to coparenting," she said.
She explained that their dynamic requires continuous effort. "[We can] never think, 'Oh, we had that one conversation that was good, and therefore, now we’re good for the rest of our lives.' It’s an evolution, you know?" Bell added.
The entertainer emphasized the importance of that relationship, saying, "It’s a constant, it’s any rapport, but it’s, like, the most important rapport of my life. It’s for our children’s sake."
Rules for introducing new partners to her children
While speaking with Parents.com in 2025, Bell explained her protocol for introducing love interests to her daughter and son. "Scott and I had parameters around it, and now we trust each other to decide when the time is right, but I generally don’t rush into it," she noted.
Bell said she typically waits several months before introducing someone to Nova and Ozgood. "If I’m still hanging out with someone five or six months in and they’ve shown that they care about meeting them, then OK," the mother of two said.
She added that the timeline can move faster when a partner is also a parent. "It can also happen sooner if they have their own children, because if the kids despise each other, it can’t go any further. You can’t glue these kids together," Bell said.
Past dating rumors with Chris Rock and Jason Sudeikis
Since her 2020 divorce from Campbell, Bell has occasionally been the subject of dating rumors. She was romantically linked throughout 2022 to Emmy and Grammy-winning comedian and actor Chris Rock, before Rock revealed during a stand-up comedy set in 2023 that he was single.
Bell also fueled romance rumors with actor and Ted Lasso co-creator Jason Sudeikis when they were spotted together at a Guns N' Roses concert in November 2023. At the time, however, a source confirmed to the Daily Mail that the two were not a couple and were "just friends."
