Lupita Nyong'o spotted cuddling up to Somali rapper K'naan after first post Oscar TV appearance

PUBLISHED: 09:46 EST, 6 March 2014 | UPDATED: 12:09 EST, 6 March 2014

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Rumours have been swirling that Academy Award winning actress Lupita Nyong'o could be dating Oscar winner Jared Leto.

Although pictures have emerged that suggest the 31-year-old actress could be dating a Somali- Canadian rapper, not the 30 Seconds to Mars rocker.

Lupita was pictured arm in arm with rapper K'naan, real name Keinan Abdi Warsame, as she left the Live! TV studios on Monday, which has fueled rumours that the pair could be dating.

Trusting: Lupita trusted Keinan Abdi Warsame to hold her precious Oscar award as she left the Live! TV studios

Keinan, 36, was supporting the actress after her first Oscar win the evening before, where she scooped Best Supporting Actress award for 12 Years A Slave.

Now a successful musician, Somali rapper K’naan had a difficult past, fleeing his native Somlia just as the Civil War was broke traveling to Canada as a refugee when he was 13-years-old.

After arriving in the country he became involved in gang culture, and a string of run ins with the law. After establishing himself as a musician K'naan has spoken out at various United Nations event, criticizing the lack of aid made available to Somalia during the Civil War.

Hand in hand: Lupita brought Keinan along for support for her post Oscar press rounds

Smile: The pair looked happy to be in each others company as Lupita finished her TV interview

In an interview with Radar Online, the Wavin' Flag rapper said he had a tough time growing up in Canada after he moved from Somalia in the 90's, which led him to joining a gang:

'I learned to fire guns at the age of nine or so, but luckily [I] was not out killing people. We zigzagged the streets to escape those trying to kill us.'

The rapper is now a reformed character and has a successful music career, with his song Wavin' Flag chosen as the official anthem for the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

The couple could be seen leaving TV studios in LA after Lupita gave an interview on Live! with Kelly and Michael about her win the evening before.

Friends in high places: K'Naan is pictured here with Chelsea Clinton at the Global Citizen Festival to End Extreme Poverty in 2012

Gentleman: Keinan appeared to be holding the door open for Lupita as she left her TV interview

Supportive: Lupita was spotted cuddling up to Keinan during her round of press after her Oscar win

The award winning actress said of her surprise win: 'It is overwhelming but at the same time this is what I’ve trained for, this is what I’ve availed myself for.'

Adding: 'Well for the first half of the night I was being very, very selfish,' she said. 'I wouldn’t let anyone even take a picture with it. No. No one was holding it. And then…it’s really heavy.'

Although Lupita seemed only too happy to place her trust in rapper K'Naan, as he was pictured holding the prestigous award for her as they made their way to a waiting car.

The award winning actress said of her surprise win during the interview: 'It is overwhelming but at the same time this is what I’ve trained for, this is what I’ve availed myself for.'

MailOnline has contacted both Lupita and Keinan's representative for comment.