Saweetie Used to Get Starstruck by Cousin Gabrielle Union

Saweetie’s dad may be Gabrielle Union’s first cousin, but she still gets stunned around the actress.

“Honestly, I didn’t really connect with her until I was older, but I have to say, when I was a young girl, I would be so shy around her,” Saweetie, 31, exclusively told Us Weekly at the recent Smirnoff Lemonade’s Paint & Sip with Saweetie event. “Because she’s always been so beautiful. So bright.”

Saweetie recalled admiring Union, 52, “from a distance” at family gatherings, gushing that she had a “big crush” on the 10 Things I Hate About You actress. “She’s always just had this really bright light about herself, so I’m happy to call her my cousin,” the “Best Friend” singer told Us.

Saweetie previously opened up about her bond with Union, gushing that the actress “drops as many gems as she can” whenever they see each other.

“I love when she compares this industry I’m currently in to when she broke in,” Saweetie told Access Hollywood in 2021. “And this difference is just … for one, they had more privacy. Sometimes I feel like I was born in a different time period because I love my privacy and I wish I could’ve lived back then when people actually respected people’s space.”

The pair have also shown their support for each other on social media, with Union uploading an Instagram video in 2023 her take on a meal inspired by Saweetie. After preparing the dish, Union FaceTimed Saweetie to show off her creation — and the singer gave her stamp of approval.

When she’s not bonding with Union, Sweetie is partnering with Smirnoff Lemonade — most recently in Los Angeles for the event held at the Honeypot. Her next pop-up event, in New York City on Saturday, December 7, will feature Smirnoff Red, White & Merry and Smirnoff Peppermint Twist.

“Smirnoff just reminds me of the highlight years in college, so it’s nice to have a full circle moment with a brand that I genuinely connect with,” Saweetie told Us. “We’re here at a paint & sip and I’m a California girl. I love my lemonade. Smirnoff, lemonade, it can’t get no better than that?”

While recalling her college days, Sweetie joked that she was “drinking responsibly.”

“Honestly, the sisterhood that I created with a lot of the women that I met. Recently, I went back to my — So I went to two colleges. I went to San Diego State and I went to USC. I recently just went back to SDSU’s homecoming and danced with my old dance team and in that moment, it was so priceless,” she said. “I was like, I love these women around me and I’m so thankful for our relationship.”

With reporting by Lanae Brody