Actress Kyla Pratt and her fiancé, tattoo artist Danny Kirkpatrick, are rewriting the rules of romance.
The couple has been together for nearly two decades and has been engaged since 2011. Over the years, Pratt and Kirkpatrick's relationship has made headlines because they refuse to bow to societal pressure to get married despite raising a family and achieving personal and professional successes.
The pair's approach challenges traditional relationship timelines, proving that commitment doesn't always require a wedding ring. During their recent appearance on the 2024 BET Awardsred carpet, Pratt and Kirkpatrick opened up to ENews! about their successful relationship.
Kyla Pratt On Their Relationship And Future Wedding Plans
Kyla Pratt and Danny Kirkpatrick
Photo by Johnny Nunez/Getty Images for BET
In the discussion, The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder star shared the secret to their long-lasting union: consistently putting in the effort and sticking by each other, even when times get rough.
“I just have to say that remembering that it’s a journey. I think that people go into situations thinking that everything is going to be hunky dory, and happy and butterflies every day. But it’s a journey. Our journey hasn’t been perfect, but it’s worth it,” she said.
When asked about their wedding plans, Pratt recalled an incident in which they were compelled to address their engagement publicly after it circulated online. The mother of two revealed that since this experience, the couple has made it their mission to keep their personal lives private and follow their own timeline rather than conform to others' expectations.
“We showed up at the BET Awards, and people were like, ‘Congratulations on your engagement.’ We were like, ‘What are y’all talking about?’ she said. “Then we saw it online, and we just start saying thank you… You’re looking at two gangstas who living their life and loving each other, that's it. We’re good, don't worry about what we’re doing. We good over here. We’re super good.“
This revelation echoes Pratt's previous statements about marriage in past interviews. The One on One star disclosed that she and Kirkpatrick haven't walked down the aisle yet due to the pressures associated with marriage. The 37-year-old explained that she would rather solidify her relationship with her partner than rush into marriage and risk divorce.
Pratt emphasized that when she and Kirkpatrick do get married, it will be for the long haul. With that said, Pratt and Kirkpatrick continue to demonstrate how following their own rules of love can be beneficial.
Feature image by Leon Bennett/Getty Images
RELATED
