John Boyega has been keeping a very big secret. Actually, make that two. The Star Wars actor recently revealed that he’s been married for nearly two years, despite keeping his relationship largely out of the spotlight. And as if that wasn’t enough of a surprise, he’s also announced that he’s become a dad.
The 34-year-old shared the happy news in an Instagram post on Wednesday, October 14, revealing that he and his wife had welcomed a baby boy some time ago. And while John hasn’t formally named his wife in interviews, fans have been piecing together clues about his relationship with actor and model Lashontae “Tae” Heckard for months.
From their understated social media exchanges to their private wedding and 14-year age gap, here’s everything we know about John and Tae’s relationship.
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Who is John Boyega’s wife Tae Heckard?
Lashontae Heckard, better known as Tae Heckard, is an actor and model who has appeared in several television shows and films.
She’s perhaps best known for playing Jazz in the BET comedy-drama The Game, while her other acting credits include the 2006 movie ATL and Netflix’s #BlackAF. Tae has also appeared in music videos, including work with artists such as Ne-Yo.
And while she’s no stranger to the entertainment industry, she’s generally kept her personal life relatively private.
What is John Boyega and Tae Heckard’s age gap?
John is 34, while Tae is 48, meaning there’s a 14-year age gap between the couple.
But despite their different ages, the pair appear to have plenty in common, including a shared preference for keeping their relationship away from the spotlight.
When did John Boyega and Tae Heckard start dating?
It’s not clear exactly when John and Tae first got together, although they were publicly linked in April 2025 after being spotted together at Disneyland.
Just about a year later, in May 2026, speculation that they had secretly married was gathering momentum, with eagle-eyed followers spotting what appeared to be matching wedding rings.
Then, in September, Tae shared an Instagram carousel that included a picture of herself reflected in John’s sunglasses. John also left a playful comment about her cooking Nigerian dishes at the weekend, affectionately referring to her as his “lover.”
Not exactly a traditional Instagram hard launch, but fans certainly got the message.
When did John Boyega and Tae Heckard get married?
John finally confirmed that he was married in an interview with The Guardian in October 2026. When asked about the ring on his left ring finger, John said, “Oh yeah, this is my wedding ring. I’ve been married for coming up to two years now.”
According to him, he and his unnamed wife had a small, private ceremony—and while they haven’t had a traditional Nigerian wedding celebration yet, John would like to have one eventually.
“I would love to have a wedding celebration,” he added. “We both like the idea of celebrating something established, rather than celebrating the entry. And by then, we’ll have to shut Nigeria down!”
Have John Boyega and Tae Heckard welcomed a baby?
Yes! After sharing that he and his wife had “a baby cooking” during his Guardian interview, John confirmed on October 14 that he and his wife had welcomed a baby boy.
Sharing a series of pictures and a sweet video of himself cradling the newborn on Instagram, the actor revealed that their little one had actually arrived some time ago.
The couple haven’t publicly revealed their son’s name or exact date of birth.
Does Tae Heckard have any other children?
Yes, Tae is already a mom to son Brandon Jennings Jr., whom she shares with former NBA basketball player Brandon Jennings.
John referred to his young stepson during his Guardian interview, saying, “So, you know, my life is completely, completely fulfilled in terms of family. It’s been so nice with the timing.”
And judging by John’s latest announcement, he’s clearly enjoying this new chapter of his life.