Keke Palmer has heard everything the internet has to say about her dating life. Now, the actress and entertainer is joining the conversation with a relationship update of her own. Palmer says she has finally found something loyal, refreshing, and willing to give back. However, the new “relationship” may not be exactly what fans expect.
The 32-year-old is teaming up with Panera Bread for its new “Refreshingly Loyal” campaign, which uses the online fascination surrounding Palmer’s personal life to introduce the company’s revamped MyPanera rewards program.
In the new campaign, Palmer reframes the conversation surrounding loyalty by suggesting she has finally discovered a relationship that rewards her. The cheeky reveal is that Palmer is actually referring to MyPanera, which is transitioning to a points-based system nationwide beginning August 19.
“Refreshingly Loyal” allows Palmer to lean into the internet’s ongoing interest in her dating life while remaining in control of the punchline. Instead of directly addressing the speculation that has followed her relationships, she uses it to promote a partnership that promises more transparency, flexibility, and rewards.
The approach is perfectly suited to Palmer, who has become known for turning viral moments and public conversations into comedy on her own terms. This time, the joke is not about whether she has found a new romantic partner. It is about finding a loyalty program that “actually gives back.”
Panera Launches A New Points-Based Rewards System
The updated MyPanera program replaces the brand’s previous rewards structure with a more traditional points system. Members will now earn 10 points for every $1 spent and can decide which available Panera menu items they want to redeem their points toward. Rewards begin at 250 points for eligible items such as a bagel or mini bakery treat. Those who continue accumulating points can redeem as many as 2,000 for a whole entrée of their choice.
According to Panera, rewards that members earned under the previous program will carry over after the new system launches. “From everyday favorites to exclusive offers, we have reimagined MyPanera to deliver more value with every purchase, and the new MyPanera is built to give our guests what they have told us they want most, more transparency, better rewards and more choice,” Joshua Fine, Chief Digital Officer of Panera Bread, said, per a press release sent to The Blast.
“Now, MyPanera is truly living into its name by giving our guests rewards that are flexible, tailored and highly personalized to their preferences,” he added. The company says the change will affect its more than 70 million MyPanera members.
MyPanera Members Can Score A Free Refresher
Panera is also offering members an incentive to try the updated rewards program. From August 19 through September 1, eligible new and existing MyPanera members can receive 500 bonus points after making their first qualifying purchase through the new program. Those 500 points are enough to redeem for a free Energy Refresher or Fresca.
The points will be added to the member’s account within 24 hours of the qualifying order being fulfilled. The promotion is limited to one 500-point offer per member and requires a verified food or beverage purchase from a participating U.S. café.
Members will also receive exclusive app access to Panera’s new Tropical Mango Pineapple Energy Refresher for a limited time. The caffeinated beverage launches alongside the refreshed program on August 19.
MyPanera Will Now Offer Three Membership Tiers
The revamped loyalty program includes three different tiers based on how customers use and spend with the brand.
The standard MyPanera tier remains free and allows members to earn points through the Panera app.
MyPanera+ is available to members who spend $300 during a calendar year. That tier includes additional benefits such as bonus points on delivery orders and a free birthday You Pick Two.
The MyPanera+ Sip Club subscription combines those benefits with up to 30 select beverages per monthly billing cycle. Subscribers can also access exclusive offers on select Sip Club Saturdays.
Keke Palmer’s Rumored Romance With Sean Evans Has Fans Talking
The campaign arrives as Palmer’s relationship with “Hot Ones” host Sean Evans continues to spark speculation online.
The pair’s chemistry has been building publicly for years. Evans previously admitted that he had a crush on Palmer, and the two later shared a playful kiss during her third appearance on “Hot Ones.” Dating rumors intensified in June after they were spotted having dinner together in Brooklyn.
Palmer has since confirmed that she and Evans are spending time together, but stopped short of defining their relationship. She called him “my guy” and said they were taking things day by day. More recently, Palmer described their chemistry as genuine while urging fans not to rush them into anything, joking, “Let it cook!”
As for Palmer’s partnership, it gives her the opportunity to acknowledge the conversation around her love life without providing the kind of conventional relationship update the internet may have been expecting.
She has found loyalty, just in the form of free food, drinks, and points.
