When the first paparazzi shot of Omar Apollo and Pedro Pascal surfaced in October 2023, the internet basically had a collective meltdown. You’ve seen the photo. Two of the internet’s most beloved figures—one a Grammy-nominated R&B singer, the other the world’s favorite "daddy" actor—just walking down a New York City street like it was nothing. People were immediately obsessed. Was it a date? A business meeting? A random glitch in the celebrity matrix?
The Omar Apollo Pedro Pascal connection isn't just a fleeting social media trend, though. It’s actually turned into one of the most interesting creative crossovers in recent years. While everyone was busy debating their relationship status, these two were actually building a friendship that resulted in some of the most vulnerable art either of them has ever released.
How the Omar Apollo Pedro Pascal Rumors Started
It all started with a beer and a failed magazine article. Seriously.
According to Omar, the two were originally supposed to do a New York Times feature together back in 2022. The concept was basically for Omar to hang out with an actor he admired. He actually jokingly told Apple Music that his first choice was Woody Harrelson, but he ended up with Pedro instead. The article never actually saw the light of day, but the friendship stuck. They realized they had a weird amount in common. They’re both bilingual. They’re both proud of their Latin heritage—Pedro is Chilean-American, Omar is Mexican-American.
Then came the public sightings. Pedro was spotted at a SZA concert in March 2023, absolutely vibing while Omar opened the show. Then he’s commenting heart-eye emojis on Omar’s Loewe fashion campaigns. By the time they were seen leaving a hotel together in Mexico City in 2025, the rumor mill was at a fever pitch.
Honestly, the "are they or aren't they" talk misses the point. Omar is openly gay and has been very vocal about his experiences with heartbreak. Pedro, on the other hand, is notoriously private about his dating life but is a massive ally to the LGBTQ+ community (his sister, Lux Pascal, is transgender). Omar eventually told Highsnobiety that Pedro is "like family," which is a pretty clear way of saying they’ve moved past the "just coworkers" stage into something way more meaningful.
That Voice Memo: The Story Behind "Pedro"
If you want to understand the depth of their bond, you have to listen to Track 13 on Omar’s 2024 album God Said No. The song is literally titled "Pedro."
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It’s not a duet. It’s a two-minute spoken-word voice memo that Pedro sent to Omar.
The backstory is heavy. Omar was working on a song called "Glow," which is all about the messy, crushing weight of grief. He played it for Pedro, and Pedro loved it. Omar then asked him if he’d record a story about a time he felt a "colossal loss." Pedro actually did it. He sent over a raw, shaky recording about a lonely Christmas during the second wave of COVID in Europe.
"I remember just literally being kind of brought to my knees by a park bench," Pascal says in the recording. "And I remember asking the park bench to come alive and save me because I didn't feel like there was any moment past that moment."
It’s incredibly rare to hear a Hollywood A-lister be that exposed. No script. No lighting. Just a guy on his phone talking about the time he thought he wouldn't make it through the night. At the end of the clip, you can hear Pedro say, "I can’t believe I’m sending you this."
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It’s the kind of thing you only send to someone you trust implicitly.
Addressing the "Dating" Speculation
Let’s be real: people want them to be a couple because they look great together. They both have that effortless, slightly chaotic "cool" energy. When they were seen together in Mexico City in mid-2025 with actress Ana de la Reguera, fans analyzed every frame of the Instagram stories.
But here is what we actually know:
- They share a lifestyle: Pedro has joked in GQ that they both love Corona beer and have spent plenty of time "uplifting" each other’s creative journeys.
- The age gap: There is a 22-year age difference between them. While that doesn't rule out romance in Hollywood, it has fueled the "mentor/protege" or "found family" narrative that Omar himself seems to prefer.
- Privacy: Pedro hasn't put a label on his sexuality. Omar, meanwhile, uses his music to process very specific breakups—many of which were the inspiration for the God Said No album, but none of which have been linked back to Pedro by anyone with actual facts.
Basically, they’ve mastered the art of being public enough to be seen, but private enough to keep the most important parts of their friendship for themselves.
Why This Connection Matters for the Culture
This isn't just about two famous guys hanging out. It’s about a new kind of masculinity in the spotlight. You have two men—one a major action star and the other a rising pop icon—who aren't afraid to talk about crying, grief, and needing each other.
In an industry that usually demands "toughness" from its leading men, the Omar Apollo Pedro Pascal dynamic is refreshing. They’re proof that you can be a massive star and still be a sensitive, bilingual "witch" (as Pedro jokingly called Omar) who sends vulnerable voice notes to his friends at 3:00 AM.
What You Can Take Away From This
If you're following this story because you're a fan of the music or the movies, there's a few ways to actually engage with what they've built:
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- Listen to "Pedro" followed by "Glow": Omar designed these tracks to be heard back-to-back. The transition from Pedro's voice memo into the music is where the emotional payoff is.
- Look for the "Found Family" signs: Notice how they support each other’s side projects. Whether it's Pedro resharing Fantastic Four fan art or Omar showing up to film premieres, it’s a masterclass in how to show up for your people.
- Respect the boundaries: It’s tempting to ship them, but the real value is in the vulnerability they’ve already shared. We don't need a confirmation of a romance to appreciate the "heart-shattering" (Omar's words) honesty of their collaboration.
If you haven't heard the God Said No album yet, start with those final tracks. It’ll give you a lot more context than a blurry paparazzi photo ever could.