Kendrick Sampson Talks Love, Life And Parenting On 'LOVERS'

BLD PWR activist/ actor Kendrick Sampson is giving fans a candid look into how he views love, romance, relationships, and fatherhood, and his unconventional approach has sparked plenty of conversation online. Sampson is going viral after opening up about his personal views during a Sept. 23 appearance on Shan Boodram’s LOVERS podcast, where he discussed everything from his relationship with sex to whether marriage and monogamy could fit into his life.

When Boodram asked whether he was currently romantically partnered, Sampson made his position clear: He has “no goal” of finding a romantic relationship right now. That doesn’t mean he has ruled one out completely, however.

Sampson also revealed that he has “a complicated complex relationship with sex” and that he views pleasure, sex and love as separate concepts that can take different forms.

“Do I think I’ll be satisfied with one person? No. Do I think I can? Do I think I can have a wife? Do I think I can be monogamous? Hell yeah!” he admitted to Boodram. “I can be disciplined. If I decide on it, I’ma do it.”

But romance—or the lack of it—wasn’t the only revealing topic Sampson discussed.

For now, the actor said much of his energy is focused on his family and his activism work through BLD PWR (Build Power), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization he co-founded.

BLD PWR focuses on using pop culture, education, and activism to build a community of storytellers and activists committed to advancing social change. The organization works with grassroots groups on a range of issues, including racial, gender, immigration, economic and environmental justice.

That extensive work takes up much of his time and dedication, which is why Sampson believes he just doesn’t have much to give to a relationship at this stage of his life. 

“I’m full time running a nonprofit grounded in Black radical liberation. Full time. Do I think I can have kids with my wife and be successful in it? Yeah, I do. I think it would take more effort than I’m willing to give. I want to put that effort elsewhere. I want to put that effort in these other areas that I’m still not getting right,” the 38-year-old actor admitted. 

Sampson Has A Different Vision For Parenthood. Here’s What He Said On LOVERS.

Sampson’s views on having children may be even more unconventional than his approach to romance. Later in the interview with Shan Boodram, the Hollywood heartthrob revealed his ideas on family, and for him a relationship isn’t necessarily needed to build one. He said having a relationship with his “homegirls” could be a better fit for the stage of life he’s currently in. He believes parenting should center on the child’s well-being, not romance.

“I just look at love differently,” Sampson continued. “In my head, if I’m going to have a partnership, I don’t want a child in there. I want a child. I definitely want children, but I want children with my homegirls. I want my homegirls to know that we ain’t ever going to have a romantic nothing, and the only thing we worried about is the health of the child.”

He continued:

“It ain’t complicated by what I feel and what mood I’m in, how you betrayed me, how you slept with someone, how you cheated. I don’t want the romance. You haven’t been shown enough romance, and so now the kid is suffering? I would rather be in a relationship where we know we got kids. ‘It takes a village.’ This is the village.”

Sampson referenced a couple Boodram had previously interviewed, Lawrence and Brandy, who created a parental agreement before having a child. Boodram explained that the pair lived together and that he supported her throughout the pregnancy without their relationship becoming romantic.

The actor also brought up Black maternal mortality in Texas and the challenges that can come with navigating medical systems, doulas, and natural childbirth.

“When they say it takes a village, it really do,” he said. “And I’ve had conversation with homegirls. And I’m like, I think you’d be an incredible mom. That’s the only thing I’m looking at. Hey, if you ever [want to], you know what I’m saying? I’m here for you.”

For Sampson, romance appears to serve a different “function” entirely. He described romantic relationships as requiring a separate “set of skills,” including learning how to comfort one another, bring each other pleasure, and figure out how two people can successfully share a life.

Social Media Had Plenty To Say About Kendrick Sampson’s LOVERS Appearance With Shan Boodram.

Unsurprisingly, Sampson’s comments quickly sparked discussion online, with many social media users applauding the actor for being open about his perspective.

“KNOWING your capacity and operating in that dynamic is a skill set that EVERYONE should practice,” one person wrote.

“‘More Effort Then I’m Willing To Give’” is the Transparency we all need in different aspects of our lives,” another penned.

A third person added:

“Hearing this level of transparency is extremely refreshing to ears weary of hearing lies & manipulation. And there’s someone out there that can and is willing to meet him exactly where he is because she also resides there. Love this exchange!!”

Not everyone was convinced, however.

Some commenters suggested that Sampson’s approach to love, family and relationships could be connected to unresolved “deep-rooted issues.”

“I hope he heals. He talked about a bunch of nothing!” one person wrote on YouTube.

Sampson wasted no time offering a little perspective to the naysayers online, writing on Instagram:

“I see some of ya’ll triggered by me talking thru it… I get it. It’s a clip, watch the whole convo.”

How His Parents Shaped His View Of Love.

During the latest episode of LOVERS, Sampson also offered some insight into where his perspective may have come from.

Early in the interview, he explained that his parents’ divorce forced him to develop his own “definition of love.” According to Sampson, his parents “stopped believing in love or having faith in it” after their marriage ended.

He said he particularly noticed a change in his mother following the divorce.

“She wasn’t dating like that. She was like, ‘I got these kids’ And love became more about function. Love became more about what I can do for you, what I could provide, how I make sure you are good. I’m always going to have your back. But it wasn’t words and it wasn’t like intimacy and love like that.”

So, What Would It Take To Date Kendrick Sampson?

For anyone wondering what it would actually take to build a romantic relationship with Sampson, the actor offered an answer.

He said he’s “really good at being alone,” meaning a potential partner would need to understand that his independence is an important part of who he is.

He said his romantic partner would need to “know that when I’m fully present with you, I know I feel like I’m an extrovert, I know I feel like I’m fully invested because I am because I made a decision to do it… when I’m gone I’m gone.”

The actor mentioned that when he’s been transparent about his feelings in the past, some women have initially said they were “okay” with his approach to love, but ended up wanting more, which can be “frustrating.”

Ultimately, Sampson’s comments paint a picture of someone who has spent considerable time thinking about what love means to him — and, perhaps more importantly, what he is and isn’t willing to give his time and energy to.

What do you think about his perspective on love, family and children? Sound off in the comments section.

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