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A new round of paparazzi images showing Pedro Pascal with Rafael Olarra in Los Angeles has pushed an already fast-moving celebrity rumor cycle into overdrive, with entertainment outlets, fan accounts, and international media dissecting the pair’s recent public outings.
What is confirmed, based on multiple reports, is straightforward: Pascal and Olarra have been photographed together in New York and Los Angeles across February, including at a movie theater and on a walk in Beverly Hills. What remains unconfirmed is the nature of their relationship.
TMZ’s report, which appears to have driven the latest wave of coverage, said Pascal and Olarra were photographed during a Los Angeles stroll and described visible physical affection, including arms around each other while walking in Beverly Hills.
TMZ also reported that they did not clarify their relationship when approached by a photographer.
That Los Angeles sighting did not emerge in isolation. A week earlier, TMZ reported the two were seen in New York, including at a screening of Wuthering Heights, after what TMZ described as sightseeing and lunch on the Lower East Side over Valentine’s Day weekend. TMZ dated that story to February 17, with later updates added on February 24.
Out Magazine, in a February 18 explainer focused on the rumor cycle itself, framed the story as dating speculation and compiled the public sightings, while also stressing a key point that has often been lost in social media reposts: Pascal has not publicly addressed the rumors or his sexuality.
The publication also identified Olarra as an art director, noting that he has previously been described as a creative director in other coverage.
What Is Confirmed, and What Is Not
@tmz Pedro Pascal and Rafael Olarra couldn’t keep their hands off each other on a stroll in Los Angeles … as rumors about their relationship status continue to swirl. 📷: @backgrid_usa
The central unresolved issue is whether Pascal and Olarra are dating. No public statement from Pascal or Olarra has confirmed a romantic relationship in the sources reviewed.
TMZ explicitly reported they “kept mum” when asked about it, and El País similarly noted that neither man has clarified the nature of the relationship.
That distinction matters because a large portion of the online conversation has shifted quickly from observation to conclusion. Headlines and reposts have leaned heavily on suggestion, while the source material, even when sensationally framed, stops short of confirmation.
Why the Images Traveled So Widely
Part of the speed and intensity of the reaction comes from Pascal’s current visibility. He is one of the most discussed actors in mainstream film and television, and he has cultivated a public image that combines blockbuster status with emotional openness and visible support for LGBTQ+ people, including public support for his sister Lux Pascal.
El País, in a commentary piece, moved beyond gossip framing and argued that the public display of affection between two men, regardless of relationship status, resonated because of what it represented culturally.
The article repeatedly emphasizes that the nature of the relationship is unknown, while arguing that the visibility of male affection in public carries social weight in entertainment culture and beyond.
That helps explain why a paparazzi story rapidly became a wider conversation about masculinity, visibility, and celebrity privacy, not only a tabloid item. In other words, the coverage expanded because it touched two overlapping audiences at once: celebrity-news consumers and readers interested in representation and public norms.
Who Rafael Olarra Is, According to Published Reports
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Out Magazine identifies Rafael Olarra as an art director and says he has been described as a creative director in other publications, adding details drawn from publicly available biographical material and reporting on his work. The same article notes Olarra’s prior high-profile relationship with actor Luke Evans.
That background has become part of the current coverage because TMZ also referenced Evans in its reports about Pascal and Olarra, using it as context while discussing Olarra’s last public relationship.
People magazine’s earlier reporting supports that part of the timeline. In February 2020, People reported that Evans made his romance with Olarra Instagram official, describing Olarra as an art director. In January 2021, People reported Evans confirming the split, citing Evans’ remarks to The Times and noting that the breakup had been the subject of speculation before confirmation.
Privacy, Optics, and the Limits of Public Knowledge
Celebrity reporting has always lived in a gray zone between visibility and consent, and paparazzi stories intensify that tension. In this case, the available reporting relies heavily on photos and on-the-record descriptions of body language, but there is no interview, no statement, and no direct confirmation from either person. TMZ’s own report acknowledges that silence.
That leaves editors and readers with a choice. One approach is to treat the photos as proof of a defined relationship. Another is to report what can be established, describe the context, and stop where the evidence stops.
The more careful reports in circulation, including Out.com’s explainer and El País’s commentary, choose the second path while still acknowledging the public significance of the images and the conversation they sparked.
Where the Story Stands Now
As of the latest reports reviewed, there is no public confirmation from Pedro Pascal or Rafael Olarra about the nature of their relationship.
What is documented is a series of February sightings in New York and Los Angeles, including a theater outing and a Beverly Hills walk, with paparazzi photos that have fueled extensive speculation.
For now, the most accurate summary is also the least sensational one: the images are real, the public interest is intense, and the private facts remain private.
