Who Is Rex Orange County Dating? Romance & Personal Life

Rex Orange County, the stage name of Alexander James O’Connor, has audiences worldwide not only with his dreamy blend of hip-hop, jazz, and bedroom pop but also with glimpses into his personal romantic life. The British singer-songwriter, born on May 4, 1998, has been relatively open about his relationships, particularly during his formative years as an artist. His romantic experiences have significantly influenced his music, with many of his most beloved tracks drawing inspiration from his personal relationships and emotional journey.

The 27-year-old artist from Grayshott, England, first gained widespread attention following his collaborations with Tyler, the Creator on the Grammy-nominated album “Flower Boy” in 2017. However, it was his personal life, particularly his long-term relationship with fellow musician Thea Morgan-Murrell, that provided much of the emotional foundation for his early work. Their relationship, which began during their time at the prestigious BRIT School, became a central theme in his music and public persona.

Rex Orange County’s approach to love and relationships has evolved significantly since his teenage years, reflecting both personal growth and the challenges that come with fame. From writing love songs about his high school sweetheart to the complexities of adult relationships in the public eye, his romantic journey offers insight into how personal experiences shape artistic expression. His music serves as a diary of sorts, chronicling the highs and lows of young love, heartbreak, and the search for meaningful connection in an increasingly complex world.

Early Romance: The Thea Morgan-Murrell Chapter

Rex Orange County’s most significant and publicly documented relationship was with Thea Morgan-Murrell, known professionally simply as Thea. The couple first met while attending the BRIT School together in 2015, when both were pursuing their musical ambitions. Their relationship began during a formative period in both of their lives, as they were developing their artistic identities and the transition from teenagers to young adults in the music industry.

Thea, a British singer-songwriter in her own right, became not only Rex’s romantic partner but also his creative collaborator. The couple worked together on several tracks, including “Sycamore Girl” and “Never Had the Balls,” showcasing their musical chemistry alongside their personal connection. Their relationship was characterized by mutual support and shared artistic vision, with both artists understanding the demands and challenges of pursuing careers in music.

Throughout their relationship, Rex was notably open about his feelings for Thea in his music. Many of his songs from the Apricot Princess era contained references to their relationship, with tracks that celebrated young love and the joy of finding someone who understood his artistic ambitions. The documentary footage from 2018 showed Rex as “a 19-year-old British kid visiting New York City” who was “in love, and holds his girlfriend’s hand tenderly when they ride the train.”

Their relationship lasted approximately five years, spanning some of the most crucial years of Rex’s career development. During this time, he released his breakthrough albums and gained international recognition, with Thea often accompanying him to events and supporting his growing career. However, the pressures of fame, touring, and individual artistic growth eventually took their toll on the relationship.

The Breakup and Its Aftermath

On November 24, 2020, Rex Orange County confirmed the end of his relationship with Thea through a simple but direct Twitter announcement: “i am not in a relationship.” The statement was characteristically understated for an artist who had previously been quite open about his romantic life, suggesting a desire for privacy during what was undoubtedly a difficult personal period.

The breakup marked a significant turning point in Rex’s personal and artistic life. Having spent his late teens and early twenties in a committed relationship, he was now single life as a successful artist in his early twenties. This transition coincided with a period of increased scrutiny and fame, making the personal challenge of moving on from a long-term relationship even more complex.

The end of his relationship with Thea also represented the closing of a chapter that had been central to his artistic identity. Many fans had come to associate Rex Orange County’s music with the joy and optimism of young love, largely inspired by his relationship with Thea. The breakup forced both the artist and his audience to confront the reality that relationships, even those that seem perfect from the outside, can come to an end.

Following the breakup, Rex’s music began to explore different themes and emotions. His subsequent releases showed a maturation in his songwriting, moving beyond the simple joy of young love to explore more complex emotional territories, including loneliness, self-reflection, and personal growth.

Current Relationship Status: Privacy and Focus on Music

As of 2025, Rex Orange County appears to be single and has maintained a much more private approach to his personal life compared to his earlier career. Following his breakup with Thea and the legal challenges he faced in 2022, the artist has chosen to keep his romantic life largely out of the public eye. This shift represents a significant change from his earlier openness about relationships and suggests a more mature approach to balancing his public persona with his private life.

The legal issues that arose in 2022, when Rex was charged with six counts of sexual assault (charges that were later dropped when the case was dismissed by the Crown Prosecution Service), likely contributed to his decision to maintain greater privacy. The experience of having his personal life scrutinized in such a public and serious manner appears to have influenced his approach to sharing personal information with fans and media.

Currently, Rex Orange County seems focused primarily on his music career and artistic development. His most recent album, “The Alexander Technique,” released in 2024, shows continued evolution in his sound and lyrical content. Rather than focusing heavily on romantic relationships, his recent work explores broader themes of personal growth, mental health, and artistic expression.

Impact of Romance on His Musical Evolution

Rex Orange County’s romantic experiences have profoundly shaped his musical output throughout his career. His early work, particularly the album Apricot Princess, was heavily influenced by his relationship with Thea and captured the euphoria and optimism of young love. Songs like “Sunflower” and “Best Friend” became anthems for fans experiencing similar romantic feelings, establishing Rex as an artist who could authentically capture the emotions of young relationships.

The evolution of his romantic life has paralleled the maturation of his musical style. While his early work was characterized by bright, optimistic melodies and lyrics celebrating love and companionship, his more recent releases have incorporated more complex emotional themes. This progression reflects not only his personal growth but also his development as a songwriter capable of exploring a broader range of human experiences.

His approach to writing about relationships has also become more nuanced over time. Rather than simply celebrating romantic love, his recent work examines the complexities of human connection, including the challenges of maintaining relationships in the public eye and the personal growth that comes from both love and loss.

The influence of his romantic experiences extends beyond just lyrical content to his artistic vision. His collaborations with Thea demonstrated his ability to work creatively with a romantic partner, while his subsequent solo work has shown his capacity for independent artistic expression. This evolution suggests that his romantic experiences have contributed to his development not just as a person but as a complete artist.

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