Amanda Bynes quietly dating again, sharing first look at boyfriend

Amanda Bynes is dating again, according to TMZ, marking a new chapter two years after she split from ex-fiancé Paul Michael. The 39-year-old former Nickelodeon star is said to be seeing Zachary, 40, a business owner who runs an event and security company. People familiar with the situation told TMZ that the relationship is still new and that the pair are taking things slowly, enjoying casual dates as they get to know each other. Bynes was spotted with Zachary in public recently, walking hand-in-hand in Hollywood, underscoring that the romance has moved beyond the initial stages.

Earlier this week, Bynes teased fans with a series of Instagram Stories from a getaway, captioning the posts with hints that she was with her new boyfriend. TMZ identified the mystery man as Zachary, and Bynes added the images to a Stories highlight labeled “BOYFRIEND.” In one image, Zachary sat across the table from Bynes in a black t-shirt, a black snapback and sunglasses, with the caption “Special getaway with my boo.” The shot also showed two packs of cigarettes, a Red Bull and two glasses of drinks on the table. Another post displayed their legs intertwined in bed as they relaxed together, with Bynes wearing white jeans and Zachary in grey boxer briefs and a t-shirt. A video captured Bynes in a grey lace tank top, captioned “Ur my type,” tagging a private account.

The posts suggest the two are enjoying each other’s company in a casual, low-pressure phase. Bynes also reshared a photo from Zachary’s Instagram account, @vipinhouse, that showed a plate of food on a bed with the caption “Staying in.” The public glimpses come as Bynes continues to navigate life post-engagement and with a renewed presence in the public eye.

The development comes two years after Bynes ended her engagement to Paul Michael in 2023. The couple famously became engaged on Valentine’s Day in 2020, not long after they met at a sober living facility. In April 2023, Michael claimed that he and Bynes had broken up just days before she underwent a psychiatric hold following a widely reported period of instability. He said their relationship had its volatile moments, including an instance in which Bynes, he said, disappeared for three days before returning with another man. Michael told TMZ that the couple had ongoing arguments and that Bynes had told him she did not care about him anymore before he moved out.

Bynes has long been open about the challenges she has faced. She was under a conservatorship from 2013 until it was terminated in March 2022, a framework that followed a period of legal and personal upheaval that included multiple run-ins with the law and a notable public mental health crisis. The conservatorship’s end coincided with Bynes’ return to education and work outside of traditional acting roles. She earned a fashion-related degree from the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising in 2019 and has since pursued a variety of creative projects, including a pop-up event in Los Angeles in December 2024.

This year, she signaled further changes in how she engages with fans, announcing plans to start an OnlyFans account to connect more directly with followers through direct messages, while stressing she would not post explicit content. “Disclaimer: I’m doing OnlyFans to chat with my fans through DMs,” she wrote in April, clarifying the account would focus on conversation rather than salacious material.

As Bynes’ romance with Zachary unfolds, representatives for the actress did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Daily Mail reported that the publication had reached out to her team for comment, while TMZ continues to frame the relationship as a developing, casual romance rather than a formal, long-term commitment. The public interest around Bynes’ personal life remains high, but those close to the situation emphasize that the relationship is in its early stages and is understood to be informal for now.

Bynes’ return to a more public life follows a long, well-documented arc that includes a highly visible rise to fame in the early 2000s, a sustained battle with mental health and legal challenges, and a gradual reintegration into public life over the past few years. Her supporters note that she has taken on projects that reflect her interests in design, art, and fashion, and that she has continued to share milestones with her followers in a manner that is measured and mindful of her health and privacy. The latest development—new romance included—appears to be a natural extension of her ongoing personal evolution, as she seeks to balance creative pursuits with a more private, steady relationship in a public life.