Lisa Bonet And Jason Momoa’s Relationship Is Strange
When Jason Momoa debuted as Khal Drogo on Game of Thrones, people started scouring the Internet to find out who this guy was. They discovered that he was in a loving relationship with the one and only Lisa Bonet, with whom he already had two children. Of course, this posed many questions about the ambiguous nature of their relationship – especially after the revelation that they only just tied the knot in 2017!
That's not the only strange aspect of their relationship. Read on to find out more about their interesting marriage and what this Jason Momoa guy is all about!
Momoa Made Plans To Stalk Bonet Since His Youth
Everyone remembers Lisa Bonet's breakthrough role as Denise Huxtable on The Cosby Show. Like many of us, Momoa picked cool older sister Denise as their favorite Huxtable. But for the Aquaman actor, it was a full-blown crush.
Momoa appeared on The Late Late Show with James Corden where he revealed the first time he laid eyes on Bonet: "I saw her on TV and I was like, 'Mommy, I want that one.' I was like, 'I'm going to stalk you for the rest of my life, and I'm going to get you.' I'm a full-fledged stalker."
Their Marriage Was Kept Under Wraps
Lisa Bonet and Jason Momoa met through mutual friends in 2005. In 2007, Bonet gave birth to their first child, Lola, and had their second, Nakoa-Wolf, the following year. Ever since Lola was born, Momoa referred to Bonet in the press as his "wife," leading many to believe that they secretly married in 2007.
Quite the contrary, Momoa and Bonet apparently weren't officially husband and wife until 2017! Sources told Us Weekly that the couple purchased a marriage license on October 2, 2017, a week before they privately exchanged vows at their home in Topanga, California.
Bonet Likes His "Caveman Style"
From the moment they met, Bonet and Momoa knew it was love. In 2004, Bonet was with friends at a Los Angeles jazz club where Momoa also happened to be with his friends. Momoa told TV host James Corden that he felt "fireworks" when Bonet introduced herself to him.
Later that night, Bonet and Momoa found themselves at a café where he ordered grits and Bonet ordered a Guinness – Momoa's favorite beer of all time. Bonet told Porter magazine: "In that moment, love came and it came big... He basically picked me up and threw me over his shoulder, caveman style!"
They Don't Own A Television
Momoa and Bonet make a living appearing on the big and small screens as actors but apparently, they don't even own a TV! Bonet told Essence magazine that they don't own a television because of their kids: "I feel strongly about remaining as media-free as we can. I really want to cultivate my children's imaginations."
Despite that, they do own a computer and Bonet admits that there's at least one show she and hubby Momoa like to watch – Saturday Night Live. Still, Bonet is far removed from technology, even saying, "I've never been on Facebook. It's just not on my radar."
Bonet Is Still Pretty Tight With Her Ex-Husband
Lisa Bonet was only 20 years old when she married her first husband, rocker Lenny Kravitz, with whom she shares daughter Zoë Kravitz. Their whirlwind romance ended after just six years, but there is no ill will or bad blood between them. In fact, they're so close that Kravitz spends many family dinners with Bonet and Momoa and their kids.
Bonet even shocked everyone in 2015 when she attended the Met Gala Ball with her ex. Lenny Kravitz once revealed on Oprah's Master Class, "Zoë's mom and I now are best friends. When we're all together now – [Momoa], her kids, Zoë, me... we're one big, happy family."
Momoa Has Matching "Drunk" Tattoos With His Stepdaughter
Jason Momoa isn't pictured often with his stepdaughter Zoë, but the two apparently share a very close bond. Zoë publicly refers to her stepfather as "Papa Bear" and they're so close that they even have matching tattoos with Momoa's GoT co-star Jamie Sives.
In 2016, the three of them got tattoos along their right forearms that read "être toujours ivre," which in French translates to, "to always be drunk." Though most people would think it's weird to get a tattoo about being drunk with your parents, this tattoo was likely a reference poet Charles Baudelaire's admission that being "drunk" on life will get you through hard times.
Bonet Has Stuck With Momoa Through Discouraging Moments
Of course, no relationship is completely perfect and we're sure that Bonet and Momoa have had their fair share of bumps along the way. In fact, Momoa came under fire in 2017 after footage of him at a Comic-Con panel from 2011 resurfaced. In the clip, Momoa jokes about "taking advantage" of "beautiful women" – at the time he was playing Drogo on Game of Thrones.
Momoa issued a genuine apology and Bonet has continued to stick by his side. "She's so amazing because I'm such a [expletive]," he told Huffington Post.
Bonet Watched Momoa's Love Scenes Without His Consent
Momoa and Bonet obviously share quite a close relationship, but there are some things that the former just can't go through with. The actor refuses to watch his wife's love scenes. "I just don't really wanna see certain things... I love her, it's our job, but I gotta (separate it)," he told Entertainment Tonight Canada.
Momoa didn't even want Bonet to watch his intimate scenes with Emilia Clarke in Game of Thrones – but she did it anyway behind his back. He later said, "First time my wife ever told me I was amazing... she stayed up all night, watching the whole thing, and was obsessed!"
They Like Complicated Names
Bonet and Momoa's first-born is named Lola Iolani. Momoa's mom made an announcement on the actor's site that "Iolani" means "royal hawk" and that they chose the name because "there were hawks flying around [overhead] during the birth." But Lola's name is quite simple compared to her little brother's: Nako-Wolf Manakauapo Namakaeha.
Momoa's mom returned to the actor's site to explain parts of the elaborate name: "Nakoa (warrior)... Mana (strength/spirit) Kaua (rain) po (dark)." We can only imagine how many substitute teachers are going to mess this kid's name up!
Momoa Had A Hard Time After One Role
Jason Momoa has worked hard to go from Game of Thrones, to Frontier, to eventually landing the lead role in Aquaman. But like every great acting career, it has to start somewhere – no matter how small. Momoa got his start with a role on Baywatch, which apparently didn't help at all.
"I love that it gave me the opportunity to fall in love with acting, but it also really, really hurt me, being on it. Just because it's Baywatch, people don't think you can act... No one would take me seriously," Momoa told Movieline.
Momoa Is More Than His Muscles
For someone who started out on Baywatch and whose roles in film regularly see him shirtless, it's no surprise that Jason Momoa is mostly known for his body. "People are like, 'Momoa's got his shirt off again!' It's not funny! I grew up in the Midwest. I'm raised to actually think, to use my brain," he once told New York Post.
When Momoa started college, he started out as a marine biology major. After transferring to Colorado State University, he studied wildlife biology. In addition to being a Paris-trained painter, Momoa also plays guitar and drums.
It Wasn't Easy Being Forceful
Momoa may not have wanted Bonet to watch his intimate scenes in Game of Thrones, but was surprised to see how impressed his wife was by them. Perhaps he didn't want her to see them because of how hard they were to film.
"It's one of the hardest things I've ever had to do, because I love Emilia, she's someone that I love and adore to this day. You have to kind of separate [yourself from] it... Lots of kisses and 'I'm sorry' afterwards. It's horrible, but Khal Drogo, that's what he does," Momoa told MTV in 2011.
Momoa's Into Extreme Sports...
At six-foot-four and over 200 pounds, Jason Momoa is obviously built for a spot on an NFL team, but sports like wrestling and football weren't really the actor's thing growing up. He was more into extreme sports and even turned down a scholarship offer in Colorado because he thought he'd be climbing mountains more than he would attend class.
He still went to Colorado to climb and snowboard. But after seeing the surf movie In God's Hands, Momoa was swayed to his family's origins in Hawaii to surf. "I'd never done that. Your legs are just shaking, it's just so much adrenaline," he told ESPN.
But He Isn't Into The Gym
Momoa may not like everyone focusing on his body so much, but how could you not? Surprisingly though, the actor hardly goes to the gym and didn't even start lifting weights until 2010 when his role on Conan the Barbarian prompted an increase in muscle size.
"It's very hard sometimes to just work out. It's monotonous and you can get stuck in a rut. I get bored, so I do a lot more boxing, surging, climbing – I do the things I love to do when I'm not training for a role," he told Men's Health in 2018.
The Truth About His Incomplete Eyebrow
Momoa may have landed a lot of menacing roles due to his size and acting abilities, but it also helped that he often looked the part. Many fans notice a scar above his left eye and while many think that he has some cool story behind it, the truth is that he was actually assaulted.
Momoa believes that he was targeted because his attacker was taking part in a "gang initiation." "A guy smashed a pint of glass in my face. I got a little over 140 stitches in my face," he told Access Hollywood.
Momoa Wants To Transcend Acting
Jason Momoa also has other ambitions beyond acting. The actor founded his own production company called Pride of Gypsies. "I have tons of amazing writers, friends, directors, actors... and we all go out and shoot movies. That's what we want to do. We love to tell stories," he told Huffington Post.
His extra-curricular interests even inspired him to direct his own movie in 2014 called Road to Paloma. Momoa made the indie film on a limited budget of $600,000 and called on friends and family for help, which is why wife Lisa Bonet is a co-star.
Momoa Looked To The Polynesians For GoT
Jason Momoa may be overwhelmingly large and intimidating, but he still had to prove to Game of Thrones casting directors that he could actually play the part too. In his audition for Khal Drogo, Momoa took a cue from the Maori culture by performing "the haka."
The Maori are the aboriginal peoples of the Polynesian islands. Maori warriors would perform "haka," a traditional series of chants and movements to prepare for battle. "It's very, very powerful, and I wanted to capture that. I just thought it was apt for the role because it's beautiful and scary," he once said.
He Pretty Much Asked For It
As for looking rugged for roles, Momoa didn't think what he already had was enough when he was cast in the lead role for Conan the Barbarian. The actor thought that for a movie as violent as Conan, he ought to have a roughed up face so he asked his friend to clock him.
"I wanted to have my nose broken for this role but wasn't sure how to accomplish it," he told Sun-Times. "My buddy did it right away... he said, 'You don't have to ask me twice. Done deal.'"
People Thought He Couldn't Speak English
Though Jason Momoa overcame the stigma surrounding his stint on Baywatch, he found difficulty landing roles again after he became known for his role as Khal Drogo on Game of Thrones. He was certainly farther along on his acting career, but after GoT he couldn't figure out why he wasn't getting any jobs.
He finally found out the reason when he met Portlandia's Fred Armisen, who was surprised that Momoa spoke English. "It was heartbreaking. I was like 'That's why I'm not getting any jobs!'" he told Jimmy Fallon when he appeared on The Tonight Show.
Maybe It Is Only The Beginning
Momoa's growing fan base could hardly wait for the actor's next moves, which is why they were especially excited when he announced he was working on a remake of the 1994 drama The Crow. But in 2018, fans got a crushing blow when Momoa and director Corin Hardy announced their exit from the project.
Not only were they facing creative and financial differences with their producer, Samuel Hadida, but Hadida also failed to secure a deal with Sony Pictures who was supposed to distribute the film. Still, with his Aquaman acclaim, you can bet that Momoa's career is just getting started.
They Met By Chance—Kind Of
We know that Momoa had a crush on Bonet since he was a kid but how did he actually make it happen? According to him, they "just happened to be at the right place, right time" thanks to mutual friends. He didn't want to leave it entirely up to chance though. Then 26 years old, Momoa had just decided to dread his hair "almost for her" because she had dreadlocks at the time.
Then when the pair met—both with dreaded hair—Momoa said it felt like he had "fireworks going off inside" him. This love story is too cute to handle.
Bonet Says Momoa Helped Her Return To Acting
After leaving The Cosby Show in 1991, Bonet shrunk away from the limelight and only took on small roles that she felt were worth her time. She eventually went on a long-term hiatus until 2008 when she returned to television in Life on Mars. The choice to return to acting wasn't easy though and Bonet credited Momoa with helping her "prepare emotionally" for the return.
Bonet told People magazine that she's actually quite a shy person, and that having "a mate" has given her the feeling of safety that she needed to prepare for the role.
Bonet Admires Momoa's Rare Form Of Masculinity
It's pretty obvious that Jason is a masculine guy but not every man with that physique and power uses it the right way. One of the things Bonet loves most about her beau is that "he's an alpha male who stands for love and family."
The actress told Porter Magazine that Momoa embodies a "rare form of masculinity in this day and age" because he uses his power and physique responsibly. She truly loves that beyond his power, Momoa has charisma, responsibility, and a strong work ethic.
They Starred On Screen Together In 2014
In 2014, Momoa wrote, directed, and starred in a passion project Road to Paloma. Bonet agrees to appear in the film alongside her husband in her first feature flick in nearly a decade. The two shared a romantic scene in the movie but surprisingly, Momoa found it extremely difficult to film.
The actor told Collider that even though the scene was "effortless" and took only 15 minutes to film, it was so difficult because it was almost as if they had to capture the sparks that flew from the first time they met.
Acting Together Isn't Exactly Easy Though
You might think starring in films with your closest partner might make acting easier but Momoa says it's the complete opposite. After working together on Road to Paloma, Momoa told E! News that Bonet turns him into a very shy actor and that he doesn't "want to suck in front of [his] wife."
The nerves died down though eventually and the pair went on to star together in the Sundance series The Red Road. By their second job together the pair found it's fun and "an honor to work across from your partner.
Momoa Fears His Love Of Beer
Remember how much Momoa loved that Bonet ordered a Guinness on their first date? Well, the actor said that sometimes he loves his Guinness a little too much. In an interview with Men's Health, the actor admitted that like many people he's over-indulged in beers but that being with Bonet has kept him "grounded."
That being said, Momoa still loves to indulge in one or two beers every once in a while...as long as they fit into his workout plan and meal prep. No one wants Aquaman to have a beer belly.
They've Considered Disappearing From Public Life Completely
It's understandable that the pair of A-list stars have considered completely dropping off the grid, moving away from L.A., and avoiding the paparazzi entirely. After their children were born, it was Momoa who suggested to Bonet that they relocate to his home state of Hawaii or somewhere even further like New Zealand or Costa Rica.
Bonet was the one to shut the idea down. The actress told Porter Magazine that she's "not quite ready to disappear completely." In the meantime, they just try to keep their children and home life as grounded as possible.
Momoa Is Pretty Tight With Bonet's Ex-Husband
As far as blended families go in Hollywood, the Momoas and Bonets are as tight as it gets. We know that Bonet is still good friends with her ex-husband Lenny Kravitz but believe it or not, so is Momoa. In fact, the two men are good friends.
The pair proved their strange friendship when Momoa hosted Saturday Night Live for the first time and Kravitz came out to support him. As a thank you for the support, Momoa has custom bone skulls rings made for both of them.
We're Still Waiting To Find Out Who Leaked Their Marriage
When the couple finally tied the knot in an ultra-secret private ceremony, they hoped that that nuptials would become public knowledge. After it was leaked to the press, Momoa was pretty annoyed and vowed to find the person who leaked it.
At the time of the leak, Momoa was on a press tour in China and England but vowed to "stalk someone down and find them" the moment he could. It's unclear if Momoa ever found out who the leak was but we definitely wouldn't want to be in their shoes when he gets to them.
He Shaved His Beard To Save The Planet
In April 2019, Momoa shocked all his fans (and broke some of their hearts) by shaving off his signature beard. The actor uploaded a YouTube video titled, "Goodbye Drogo... I SHAVED!" As he shaves his beard, Momoa says goodbye to some of his iconic characters like Khal Drogo, Aquaman, Declan, and Baba.
The video wasn't just shock value though. He was promoting a positive change for the health of our planet, and advertising using aluminum for water instead of plastic bottles. Momoa even named dropped his character Aquaman and asked us all to help keep the oceans clear of plastic.
Bonet Lives A Down-To-Earth Lifestyle
The home that Momoa and Bonet call home has actually been Bonet's sanctuary for years. Bonet moved to the house with her daughter Zoe who was only five at the time, after divorcing from Lenny Kravitz. The home is set on acres of land about an hour outside of L.A. proper and even features some fun wildlife.
Some of the animals on the property include Bonet's two half-wolf, half-Malamute dogs Amba and Zion. She also has an auburn donkey named Freya that she and the kids often walk around town.
Bonet Has Faced Discrimination For Years
It's never been a easy road for actors of mixed race in Hollywood and it certainly wasn't any different for Bonet. Born in 1967, Bonet's mother was a white, Jewish schoolteacher and her father was an African-American opera singer. There may have been an ongoing hippie movement at the time but Bonet admitted that in school and even her own family, she "didn't always feel welcome."
Bonet's way of dealing with the discrimination was to "try not to internalize" the hate and instead, she turned to acting.
She Always Sensed Darkness On The Set Of The Cosby Show
After years of allegations against him, Bill Cosby was finally sentenced to jail in September 2018 for aggravated indecent assault. While the trial was going on, many people began to wonder if Cosby's co-stars had any inkling of his wrongdoings.
When asked about it, Bonet was up front and said that she had no knowledge at the time of any of his actions. She did admit though that there was a "type of sinister, shadow energy" around him. At the time, she always famously rebelled in public against Cosby. For Bonet, she called his sentencing "karma and justice."
The Couple's Age Difference Doesn't Seem To Be A Big Deal
When Bonet and Momoa first met in 2004, she was 38 and he was only 26. The thirteen-year age difference might be a deal breaker in other relationships but it doesn't seem to affect the pair. In fact, Momoa is closer in age to Bonet's daughter Zoe than to his wife.
You might think Momoa's younger age would be concerning to Bonet but she always said that he's wise beyond his years. In fact, it's his ability to be a generous leader that made Bonet want to be with him for life.
He's Not The Only One With A Rockin' Body
Momoa is known for his muscles and physique but Bonet works just are hard as him to stay healthy, strong, and happy. Just like her hubby though, she doesn't hit the gym to stay in shape. Bonet's favorite for of fitness is dance. She's been taking an African dance class for nearly a decade that keeps her healthy.
The actress also does Pilates twice a week, yoga once a week, and lifts weights two other times a week to keep her definition.
Momoa Had A Speical Way Of Pranking His Co-Star
So, here's the deal. When actors do nude scenes they're given a special flesh-colored sock to go over their private parts...if you know what we mean. When Momoa played the character Khal Drogo in Game of Thrones, he was forced to act out some not-so-friendly nude scenes with Emilia Clarke's Daenerys Targaryen.
Momoa hated doing the scenes and felt so bad that he decided to prank Clarke by wearing a fluffy pink sock instead. Seeing that would definitely lighten the mood! Momoa also said he would apologize at the end of every scene because he felt so bad about his character's actions.
Momoa Took The Role Of Aquaman For His Kids
Even though they don't have a television in their household, Bonet and Momoa's children still know what their parents do. Unfortunately, they're not able to watch a lot of their parents' films of shows because they aren't age appropriate.
When Momoa took the role of Aquaman in the DC Universe, he was excited because it was finally a film that he son and daughter could watch. It also helped that Momoa's son is a huge Batman fan and that his daughter is obsessed with Wonder Woman. Hopefully, Momoa could hook them up with a meet and greet!
They Both Have Quite The Philanthropic Side
Both Momoa and Bonet have tried to use their star power (and financial power) for good. In 2015, Momoa started a social media campaign to save Mauna Kea, a sacred mountain in his home state of Hawaii. The dormant volcano was set to have a telescope constructed atop it. It didn't take long for Momoa to get support from other celebrities like Ian Somerhalder and Emilia Clarke.
Bonet has spent time working with the non-profit foundation Operation Venice Heart, which helps troubled youth who are incarcerated in L.A.
His Tattoos Tell A Story
Momoa doesn't just sport a matching tattoo with his step-daughter Zoe Kravitz, he has so many tattoos that they've actually created a Wikipedia entry about them. Momoa's most prominent tattoo is his tribal half-sleeve that has nine rows of black triangles. The actor has explained the tattoo is his Hawaiian family crest and that the triangles represent shark teeth.
He also has the signatures of his two children tattooed over his left pectoral in red ink. On his right forearm, there is a tattoo that says "Pride fo Gypsies" which is his film production company and Instagram handle.
They Embrace Their Spirituality
Both Bonet and Momoa have come to embrace their spiritual sides over the years. For Bonet, her spiritual journey was accelerated after her divorce from Lenny Kravitz. Although she was raised Jewish, Bonet has felt that to be more of a culture rather than her spirituality.
Momoa has also embraced his spiritual side. He's very open about following his Hawaiian traditions but he's still searched for other meaning in the world. The Aquaman actor has traveled to Tibet to study Buddhist teachings and has said he meditates regularly.
