The actor is no stranger to loss, grief and death. But it's this one reason that keeps him wanting to be by himself.
From The Matrix to Speed to John Wick, Keanu Reeves is a man of talent. But there's another side of him that garners even more attention and it involves his innate chivalry and gentle kindness. With impeccable manners, humble comments, and chiseled features, there are very few women who wouldn't be able to fall for his genuine charm. And it is all these qualities that have him as one of the most popular celebrities in Hollywood.
Being so much in demand, especially with the ladies, it can be hard to believe that Keanu has remained single but he has. Though he has dated many women in the past, it was one special woman who had his heart and losing her devastated him.
"Grief changes shape, but it never ends. People have a misconception that you can deal with it and say, 'It's gone, and I'm better.' They're wrong. When the people you love are gone, you're alone," said the actor in 2006 when talking to Parade magazine, reported MSN.
And the woman he loved was Jennifer Syme.
It was during a party in 1998 that Keanu and Jennifer first laid eyes on each other. The party was thrown in honor of his band called Dog Star. At the time, Keanu had already established himself in the film industry but Jennifer, eight years his junior, had just stepped into the glamorous world. Once they met though, it was like the world around them had disappeared, leaving just the two of them together.
So it was only natural that they started dating. While Keanu preferred keeping their personal life under wraps as was the case for him usually, it didn't take long for it to come out to the public. Head over heels in love, they were taken to the next step in their relationship when after a year of dating, the happy couple found out they were pregnant. With their first child on the way, they found out they were having a girl and had decided to name her Ava. Excited, they began preparing a beautiful setting with a number of toys, clothes, and trinkets to introduce her to.
But then something unexpected happened. Keanu, who had already dealt with a troubled childhood and other heartbreaking experiences, was not at all prepared for what came next.
Ava was supposed to arrive the eve of Christmas 1999 and she did. Unfortunately, they found out that she was stillborn. The grief and pain slowly drove the couple apart mentally and unable to bear the loss, they went their own ways, according to People. However, they continued to remain close friends even if they weren't involved romantically.
Fate had a different idea in store for them though. In 2001, the bond the couple had was cut forever. Jennifer who had been driving home back from a party suffered an accident and lost her life at the young age of 29.
"I miss being a part of their lives and them being part of mine. I wonder what the present would be like if they were here – what we might have done together. I miss all the great things that will never be," Keanu told Parade Magazine.
He was not the same after that. "All you can do is hope that grief will be transformed and, instead of feeling pain and confusion you will be together again in memory, that there will be solace and pleasure there, not just loss," said the legendary actor to Parade Magazine.
Having been through so much, it's not a surprise that he isn't in a relationship with anyone and hasn't been since he lost the love of his life. According to People, a friend close to the actor stated, “Sometimes, it’s almost like he doesn’t trust himself to have a relationship with anyone.”
References:
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-389527/Tragic-Keanu-tells-grief-loneliness.html
https://www.cheatsheet.com/entertainment/who-has-keanu-reeves-dated.html/
https://heightline.com/jennifer-syme-keanu-reeves%E2%80%8E-wife-death/
https://keanu-reeves.livejournal.com/83197.html
https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/keanu-reeves-tragedy-quote
https://people.com/archive/too-much-sorrow-vol-55-no-16/
