Legendary actor Bill Murray has finally weighed in on lingering rumors that he and singer Kelis were romantically involved and his response was characteristically humorous. Speaking on SiriusXM’s Sway in the Morning, Murray made it clear that he and Kelis never dated, even though speculation swirled in 2023 that the two were an item. Instead of brushing off the chatter with irritation, the Ghostbusters and Lost in Translation star said the gossip actually helped his reputation.
“I met this girl named Kelis,” Murray said of how he first crossed paths with the Milkshake singer during the interview, recalling that **he initially became fascinated with her work after seeing her in Ol’ Dirty Bastard’s 1999 video for ‘Got Your Money.’” He told hosts that the rumors he was dating her “really raised my cred a lot,” prompting laughter and disbelief from the show’s panel.
The dating speculation first caught public attention in mid-2023 when Murray was spotted at multiple music festivals where Kelis was performing, and some outlets reported the pair had gotten “close for a while.” Fans and paparazzi excitement mounted as photos and sightings spread online. However, Murray insisted in the interview that there was no romantic relationship behind those moments.
Murray even doubled down on the joke after co-host Sway Calloway pointedly asked whether the two had ever been an item. “No,” he replied, then quipped with his signature dry delivery that “one of us could be on the rebound any second,” indicating he wouldn’t necessarily rule out the possibility in the most literal future, but confirming the rumor had no basis at the time.
In a 2023 social-media response, Kelis herself dismissed the dating talk when a fan asked her to address the allegations. Posting on Instagram, she wrote, “lol no babe, I wouldn’t bother at all,” and added that “we are both blessed, rich and happy,” underlining that the speculation was just that speculation.
Rather than being annoyed by the unsubstantiated rumors, Murray seemed to take them in stride. His comments reflect a blend of humor and humility, a quality that has helped him maintain a quirky, beloved image in Hollywood over many decades. For Murray, the episode became a lighthearted anecdote about how gossip can sometimes be flattering even when it’s not true.
