Micro-rejections in Relationships: What They Are and How to Handle Them

Last night, the Golden Globes aired, and stars like Zoe Saldana, Kylie Jenner, Cynthia Erivo, Timothée Chalamet, Demi Moore, Elle Fanning, and more graced the event. Demi Moore took home her first Golden Globe for her role in The Substance (a fantastic movie—check it out if you haven’t already!).

Adding to the excitement, rumors of Zendaya and Tom Holland’s possible engagement began swirling. Zendaya was spotted subtly flaunting her left hand in some interesting poses—was she dropping hints? If the news turns out to be true, we’ll be covering their relationship timeline in our She’s Married newsletter, so don’t forget to sign up!

Now, onto something that has us buzzing here at She’s SINGLE: since their public debut as a couple during Beyoncé’s Renaissance World Tour in 2023, Kylie Jenner and Timothée Chalamet have appeared to be deeply in love, and we’re absolutely rooting for them. However, it hasn’t escaped our attention that Chalamet is quite private when it comes to his romance with Jenner.

Related articles: Demi Moore Stuns In New Movie, 'The Substance': Film Review
Related articles: Golden Globes Affection: Kylie Jenner and Timothée Chalamet's Heartfelt Moment

In a recent interview, Chalamet shared, “I look for scripts where Florence and I end up getting married.” Florence Pugh, who stars alongside him in the Dune films, plays his on-screen wife in the upcoming installment. Fans of Little Women might recall that the two also portrayed a married couple in the 2019 adaptation. While the comment was clearly made in jest, it does raise some eyebrows, considering his highly publicized relationship with Kylie Jenner.

At the Golden Globes, Chalamet did a couple of things that had us questioning the seriousness of his relationship with Jenner. During an encounter with Demi Moore, who stopped by their table to greet guests, Kylie was noticeably seen congratulating Moore on her win. However, the actress appeared to ignore Jenner entirely, walking past her to warmly greet Chalamet instead. While Chalamet seemed open to Moore’s friendly gestures, he notably did not take the opportunity to introduce Moore to his girlfriend, Kylie.

Fast forward to another clip where Chalamet was asked, “I know you also brought your partner in crime, Kylie, here with you. What’s it like to have her supporting you on a night like this?” Chalamet responded, “It’s a great feeling to be in a room with so much love and so many peers. And people that are… fantastic. I like seeing the new wave and generation. Also like seeing, uh, everyone that’s been holding it down for decades.”

Is this media training or micro-rejection? While the comments on the video remain divided, we’re here to break it down for you.

“Kylie, you in danger, girl.” – Lisa K. Stephenson (you see what I did there? Demi Moore… all the puns intended, lol).

Related articles: The Business Empire of Kylie Jenner: A Strategic Approach or Overextension?
Related articles: Kylie Jenner and Timothée Chalamet Coordinated in Black at Red Carpet Event Amid Romance Speculation

Micro-rejection in relationships refers to small, often subtle behaviors or actions that make someone feel rejected, undervalued, or dismissed. These instances might not be overtly hurtful, but they can accumulate over time, potentially impacting the relationship's emotional intimacy and trust. We use this example because it’s a clear way to showcase micro-rejection, making it easy to spot in regular relationships. This is not the first time we’ve seen Jenner and Chalamet appear at events together, but they consistently avoid taking the red carpet as a couple. However, they are not opposed to being photographed together inside the events.

On one occasion, Jenner was even seen smooching Chalamet at their table. So why the hesitation? We might chalk this up to media training if, like Tom Holland, Chalamet explained their decision. When Holland was asked why he never takes the red carpet with his now-rumored fiancée, Zendaya, he said: “Because it’s not my moment, it’s her moment, and if we go together, then it’s about us.”

In this short but effective quote, Holland does two things: (1) acknowledges his relationship with Zendaya and (2) makes it clear that they’ve made a conscious decision not to appear together on the red carpet—no one is hiding the other. This shows intentionality, demonstrating care and attention to his partner’s needs, even in small ways. Both Holland and Zendaya are rising stars and are carefully balancing their individual careers while maintaining their relationship. This approach allows them to establish themselves independently without minimizing the importance of one another in their lives.

When dealing with micro-rejections, they often occur behind closed doors and can manifest as minimizing feelings, ignoring small bids for attention, a lack of acknowledgment, and subtle dismissiveness, to name a few. Not responding when your partner shares something exciting or asks for your opinion can be soul-crushing. It’s important to always try to act engaged and interested in what they have to say and what’s going on in their day-to-day life.

Related articles: Going Strong: Justin and Hailey Bieber
Related articles: What Is Stealth Wealth Fashion?

Examples of micro-rejections include saying, “It’s not a big deal” when your partner expresses concern or frustration, or failing to notice or comment on a thoughtful gesture, such as a compliment or an act of kindness. At the Golden Globes, we see Kylie fangirling over her boyfriend, snapping a picture of him while seated at their table—she is clearly smitten. Yet, he doesn’t even seem to acknowledge her, even on a basic friendship level.

Other signs to watch for include your partner rolling their eyes, sighing, or offering half-hearted responses during conversations. I’ve been there, and when I tell you it was heartbreaking, I mean it. I kept thinking that if I voiced my issues within the relationship, we could work past them. However, after a while, my partner felt I was nagging, and his behavior became dismissive. He’s an ex now. Micro-rejections can erode a relationship, diminishing emotional closeness, making one partner feel unimportant or unworthy, and even leading to misunderstandings and resentment.

As it pertains to Jenner and Chalamet’s relationship, one thing seems clear: it probably won’t last long. Jenner appears to love him more than he loves her, and she’s in a position where she’s not being acknowledged by him in interviews. My guess—and I could be wrong—is this: he’s charming, mysterious, and she likes him. He returns from his press tours, and they spend time together. She’s allowed to accompany him to events, and vice versa, but for the sake of his reputation, they cannot be spotted together or made red carpet official.

His team likely views her as a liability to his career rather than an asset, so she plays the background until he’s ready to move on. I know that sounds harsh, but it’s the reality of many relationships where one partner experiences micro-rejections. We’re always rooting for Kylie. She seems unproblematic and appears to be a lover girl at heart. We hope she finds the right person for her one day.

by Lisa K. Stephenson
Image Credit: Christopher Polk/GG2025/Penske Media via Getty Image