Lorde, also known as Ella Yelich-O’Connor, gained public attention at a remarkably young age. With her music quickly rising in popularity, she opted to step back from social media to handle the pressures of fame, resulting in limited personal updates and a mostly private romantic life.
In a November 2020 interview with Cazzie David for Interview magazine, Lorde explained, “One reason I distanced myself from social media was the overwhelming stress I experienced about global issues like climate change, systemic racism, and police brutality, which made me feel like I was losing my autonomy.”
Lorde, known as Ella Yelich-O’Connor, gained fame at a young age but stepped back from social media to cope with the pressures of celebrity life
In a September 2021 discussion with Vogue, she admitted, “I’m proficient in my work, but I’m not sure I’m fit for this lifestyle. Being a pop star feels very intense for someone as sensitive as I am. The public persona is challenging for me, as I lack that inherent charisma. I feel more like I have ‘a brain in a jar.’”
Here’s what is known about her romantic history based on her own disclosures.
James Lowe
Lorde began dating photographer James Lowe when she was just 16, while he was 24. Her mother, Sonja Yelich, shared her concerns about the age difference but eventually grew to like Lowe after meeting him. In a 2014 interview with Rolling Stone, she stated, “I didn’t encourage her to date a 24-year-old, but after getting to know him, her dad and I liked him. Ella’s first boyfriend was also older by about four years.”
After three years together, they broke up in 2015, leading fans to speculate that her song “Green Light” from Melodrama reflects their split. Lorde has commented, “The song addresses heartbreak, a theme I was unfamiliar with in my writing. It took time for me to learn how to articulate that; it was my first major heartbreak.”
During an interview promoting the album with The Daily Telegraph’s Stellar, Lorde revealed that her song “Sober” touches on her experience of self-medicating after the breakup. She explained, “There was an element of escapism and a desire to find myself in unusual circumstances. After a breakup, you often explore unexpected places, and I certainly did.”
Justin Warren
After her relationship with Lowe, Lorde began dating Justin Warren, the American promotions director for Universal Music in New Zealand, who is approximately 17 years older than her. Their paths first crossed in 2009 when she signed with the label as a teenager, according to The New Zealand Herald.
Speculation about their romance surfaced in 2015 when Warren appeared with Lorde at the Vodafone New Zealand Music Awards. They were later seen together in February 2016, but Warren dismissed the rumors, telling The Herald, “Ella and I have collaborated for years and are good friends. Any talk of us being ‘a couple’ is absurd, especially since she has a busy year ahead.”
However, in March 2019, engagement rumors circulated when they were photographed together in New Zealand, with Lorde seen wearing a ring on her left hand. In April 2021, she was again spotted with a ring at the Variety Power of Women event, which featured a large diamond.
Although Lorde never officially addressed the dating or engagement rumors involving Warren, she hinted at a breakup in September 2023. In a newsletter to her fans, she wrote, “I’m experiencing heartbreak again. It feels different yet familiar. I often ache, forgetting the reason until it hits me. I’m not avoiding the pain; I recognize that it’s not something to escape, as there’s beauty in moving through it. Yet sometimes, I grow tired of my own company.”
