All About ‘Fallout’ Star Ella Purnell’s Musician Boyfriend, Max Bennett Kelly
Since her rise to fame, Yellowjackets actress Ella Purnell has managed to keep her private life mostly to herself. She has shared a little about her relationship with her boyfriend of roughly three years, Max Bennett Kelly, though. The couple has kept their story of how they met to themselves but are very supportive of the other’s career. They’ve even collaborated.
Ahead, all there is to know about Kelly and his relationship with Purnell.
Kelly is a musician.
Kelly is a singer-songwriter who got his start performing with a band he started with friends in high school. He later decided to pursue a solo career.
As he told Afterglow in a June 2023 interview, “I had no idea what I was doing as a solo artist at first. You can kind of trace my progression to be like, I wanted to do music, so I started a band with my friends in high school. We learned how to do music together, and when we went to college together we really took the band seriously then. That’s how I learned to do shows and everything. I felt sort of seasoned by that point, because I’d been in a band for like eight years. But, when I moved to L.A. during Covid, the band broke up. I was faced with this choice where I was like, ‘Well, I want to do music, but I don’t have a band anymore. What [should] I do?’”
In 2020, he released his first single, “Tukwila Soda Lime.”
In May 2023, he announced his debut EP, Junk Male, which released on June 23.
“The very worst of me, in 6 songs,” Kelly wrote in the caption of the Instagram post sharing the news.
Kelly and Purnell created a short film together.
Following the release of his debut album, Junk Male, Kelly put out a short film with the same title. Not only does the creative couple star in it, but Purnell is credited with directing, co-producing, and co-writing the project. Kelly is listed as the movie’s creator, co-writer, co-producer, art director, and sound effects designer. In the short, Kelly plays a boxer named Hollywood Thompson, and Purnell plays his love interest, Decency “Dee” DiMartini.
The night before the Junk Male film was released, Kelly shared a message with his fans on Instagram. He praised Purnell in it.
“I can’t believe it’s actually happening. kinda feels surreal to spend almost a year on something and then boom it’s just out. couldn’t have done it without ella, she really brought this film to life. so professional so bold ugh i’m so proud. seriously such an amazing director and i’m very happy we got to do this together:),” he wrote.
Purnell also made an Instagram post about the movie.
“Junk Male release day is finally here!!! Holy poop I can’t believe it. This really was a labour of love, blood, sweat and tears, and I’m so excited to finally be able to share it with you guys,” she wrote alongside some behind-the-scenes photo. “This short film was the first thing I ever directed, and what an incredible experience to be able to do that with all my friends and my amazing partner.”
Purnell shared a tribute to Kelly in June 2023.
On June 13, Purnell posted a series of photos to Instagram featuring her and Kelly. She wrote a lengthy note to her partner, thanking him for helping her through a difficult time. The actress, who had been in the middle of moving, had her U-Haul truck with all of her belongings stolen from her driveway.
“This man has been my rock this past week,” she started. “There’s just no way I could have gotten through this without him. He’s dealt with everything like a total champ. All the annoying stuff—the phone calls, the police reports, the insurance stuff, the organization of total chaos, all the paperwork, even getting some of my stuff back, done all the driving, the cooking, literally keeping me alive—not to mention the emotional labour, taking care of me when I couldn’t cope, keeping a smile on his face and a positive attitude, taking hit after hit on my behalf & protecting me from the world. I’ve never seen anything like it. I had to write this post because of how overwhelming this gratitude feels. How overwhelming his love is. It’s emotional being loved like this—being in the light of someone so kind and generous and gentle. Max, I adore you. You are so wonderful, so vibrant, so funny, so talented, so smart. I love the way your brain works. I love the way you interact with the world. The way you treat people. The way you dance. I love everything about you. It’s a joy to know you, let alone do life with you. I am so lucky, it’s insane. Thank you for being you, for holding it down and making me laugh and knowing what I need before I even know I need anything. Thank you for slowing me down and reminding me to breath. Thank you for supporting all of my crazy ideas and big dreams. You bring out the best in me, and then some.”
“Thank you for catching me when I nearly fell off the Grand Canyon (2nd to last pic lol). Thank you for standing up for me and inspiring me in everything you do and teaching me so much. Thank you for all the late night conversations and philosophical debates and hours & hours of silliness, it’s nice to know we’ll never run out of things to talk about. You feel made for me, and I feel made for you, and I know that’s gross and corny but I don’t care because that’s how you make me feel. You are the greatest partner. Words can’t do it justice. ily <3,” she added.
Kelly and Purnell posted Instagrams for each other’s birthdays.
On Jan. 11, 2023, Purnell posted part of a film strip from a photo booth that showed her and Kelly kissing.
“Happy Birthday to my love 🌹 you are the best thing to ever happened to me. X,” she captioned the post.
On September 19, Kelly shared a carousel of photos featuring Purnell for her birthday. He wrote, “happy birthday to the loml:) the most lovely travel partner, jenga player, barbecue hoster, fire starter, car stickerer, film director, nice maker, cookie eater—thank you for making life feel more alive. i love u!”
Kelly and Purnell attended the Fallout world premiere together.
Purnell stars in the Amazon Prime Video original series, Fallout, which debuts on April 12. The world premiere took place on April 9, and Purnell brought Kelly as her plus one. The appearance marked their red carpet debut.
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