JUST IN: BREAKING: Kim Kardashian Sparks Relationship Rumors with Fine Art Photographer Mert Alaş After a Cozy Lunch Date, Tells Fans, ‘We’re Just Friends Enjoying Each Other’s Company’

BREAKING: Kim Kardashian Sparks Relationship Rumors with Fine Art Photographer Mert Alaş After a Cozy Lunch Date, Tells Fans, ‘We’re Just Friends Enjoying Each Other’s Company’

Kim Kardashian has once again sent the internet into a frenzy—this time, not with a fashion statement or a business move, but with a cozy afternoon outing alongside acclaimed fine art and fashion photographer Mert Alaş.

The SKIMS mogul was spotted having an intimate lunch with Alaş at a chic West Hollywood bistro on Saturday, where the two were seen laughing, chatting closely, and sipping on rosé as paparazzi snapped away from a distance. The images quickly made their way online, sparking immediate speculation about whether romance is blossoming between the longtime collaborators.

Fans took to social media to question the nature of the outing, especially given Mert’s frequent appearances on Kim’s Instagram feed over the years. The duo has worked together on numerous high-fashion shoots and are often seen at industry parties, but Saturday’s lunch had a distinctly personal vibe.

Kim, never one to let the rumors run wild without a response, addressed the buzz later that evening via her Instagram Stories. “We’re just friends enjoying each other’s company,” she wrote, alongside a black-and-white candid of the two mid-laugh. “Mert has been a creative force in my life for years—nothing more, nothing less.”

Despite the clarification, fans and pop culture sleuths are still speculating. “She said the same thing about Pete at first,” one fan commented. Others were quick to defend the pair’s friendship, pointing out that Alaş, known for his elite photography work and deep roots in the fashion world, has close ties with countless celebrities—many of whom he considers family.

A source close to Kim also chimed in, telling People, “Kim is single and focused on her businesses and her kids. She adores Mert, but it’s strictly platonic. They’ve known each other for over a decade.”

Still, with both Kim and Mert being notoriously private about their personal lives, the intrigue around the nature of their bond is only likely to grow. Whether it’s just a friendship or something more quietly developing, the lunch date has certainly kept Kim’s name in the headlines—and fans guessing what’s next.

As for Kim? She’s unfazed. The reality queen turned business mogul continues to live life on her own terms—and with whoever makes her laugh over lunch.