Top 10 Celeb Couples Who Had to Work Together After They Broke Up
#10: Lili Reinhart & Cole Sprouse “Riverdale” (2017-)
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Unfortunately, this real life Betty and Jughead were not to be. Lili Reinhart and Cole Sprouse made their relationship public in 2018 and dated on and off throughout the next two years. But according to an Instagram post made by Sprouse, the two split for good in March of 2020. In September, following a brief hiatus due to the COVID lockdowns, the cast of “Riverdale” were called back to Vancouver to continue filming. Due to local quarantine laws and the rigorous shooting schedule, the cast was essentially trapped together in Vancouver. Which means Reinhart and Cole are quite literally forced to spend time together. Hopefully, they’re on friendly terms! Both Charles Melton and Camila Mendes are certainly used to it, as they split back in 2019, but are still playing the roles of Reggie and Veronica respectively.
#9: Evangeline Lilly & Dominic Monaghan “Lost” (2004-10)
Serving as some of the youngest members of the core cast, both Charlie and Kate, AKA Dominic Monaghan and Evangeline Lilly, began dating in 2004 - the same year that “Lost” made its historic debut. The two stayed together until 2007, which coincides with Monaghan’s departure from the show in the third season finale. However, he would later return in brief guest appearances, including the series finale in which Charlie and Kate help Claire give birth. It seems as if Monaghan still feels some resentment towards the break up, as he threw some shade against Lilly in December of 2013, implying that she was “a cheater” in a tweet.
#8: Rachel Bilson & Adam Brody “The O.C.” (2003-07)
The on-screen love between Seth and Summer blossomed into an off-screen love between Adam Brody and Rachel Bilson. The two dated for three years, from the first season of the show in 2003 to 2006. Luckily, there seemed to be no bad blood between the two, and “The O.C.” was officially cancelled in January of 2007, with the final episode airing that February 22. Bilson then entered a relationship with Hayden Christensen, and the two became engaged and had a daughter together. Brody went on to marry Leighton Meester. Bilson and Brody briefly reunited at the airport in 2019, proving with a playful selfie that there was no stress between the two.
#7: Joey King & Jacob Elordi “The Kissing Booth” franchise (2018-)
Netflix certainly found a niche with the rom-com genre, and “The Kissing Booth” proved an enormous hit with the streamer’s subscribers. In fact, it proved so popular that Netflix ordered an entire trilogy to be made...even if this clashed with the personal lives of its stars. Joey King and Jacob Elordi, playing Elle and Noah, briefly dated between 2017 and 2018. Unfortunately for them, duty (and work) called and they were forced back together for the sequels. King spoke a little negatively of the experience with Cosmopolitan and on the podcast “Mood With Lauren Elizabeth,” calling it a difficult and “wild” experience. Thankfully for them, both sequels were shot at the same time.
#6: Jennifer Lawrence & Nicholas Hoult “X-Men” franchise (2000-)
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Lawrence and Hoult’s relationship began in 2010 while filming “X-Men: First Class.” They dated for about four years until breaking up upon the wrap of “Days of Future Past” in 2014. Unfortunately for them, “Days of Future Past” was not the conclusion of the “X-Men” series, and both Lawrence and Hoult were forced to work together on both “Apocalypse” and “Dark Phoenix.” Luckily, the process didn’t prove too difficult, and there was reportedly no animosity between the two. Both have since moved on, with Lawrence marrying art gallery director Cooke Maroney and Hoult getting together and having a son with model Bryana Holly.
#5: Blake Lively & Penn Badgley “Gossip Girl” (2007-12)
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Along with “The O.C.,” “Gossip Girl” proved one of the most popular teen shows of the 2000s. It also starred a real life couple in Blake Lively and Penn Badgley, who played Serena and Dan. The two dated on and off between 2007 and 2010 - up until the time of the show’s third season. However, “Gossip Girl” went for six seasons, and the now-exes were forced to work together (and kiss each other) for the next two years. Badgley playfully stated on “Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen” that kissing Lively after they had broken up was a bit awkward. However, they professionally soldiered through, and both now have families.
#4: Nina Dobrev & Ian Somerhalder “The Vampire Diaries” (2009-17)
Playing Elena and Damon, Nina Dobrev and Ian Somerhalder were one of the hottest couples in the biz at the time. They began dating quickly after meeting each other on set, but they officially split in 2013. Dobrev would stay in the main cast until the conclusion of season six in May of 2015 - two years after their break up. She later guest starred in the eighth and final season. Fortunately, there was no awkwardness or animosity between the two, and they reportedly remained on good terms. Somerhalder is now married to Nikki Reed, and the couple gave birth to a daughter in 2017.
#3: Jennifer Carpenter & Michael C. Hall “Dexter” (2006-13)
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Despite playing adoptive siblings Debra and Dexter on the show, Jennifer Carpenter and Michael C. Hall were a real life romantic couple. They began dating in 2007 and eloped on New Year’s Eve 2008. Unfortunately, the two made a public statement in 2010 - three years before the conclusion of the show - that they had filed for divorce. It was also around this time that Hall began suffering from Hodgkins’ lymphoma. Luckily, this story has a happy ending. Hall and Carpenter remained on good terms, they finished out the series without issue - however controversial that finish was - and Hall’s cancer went into remission.
#2: Kaley Cuoco & Johnny Galecki “The Big Bang Theory” (2007-19)
The relationship between Penny and Leonard may be a little unbelievable, but the love between Kaley Cuoco and Johnny Galecki was real. However, the public didn’t know a thing about it. The two kept their personal lives fiercely private, and they dated in complete secret from 2007 to 2009. The exes continued to share the screen for the next decade, and they remained friendly the entire time. Cuoco told CBS that the couple knew they weren’t right for each other and amicably split while remaining professional. Cuoco is now married to an equestrian named Karl Cook, and Galecki had a child with his partner, Alaina Meyer, in December 2019. Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions. Alexis Bledel & Milo Ventimiglia, “Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life” (2016) The Exes Reunited for the Miniseries 10 Years After Splitting Jennifer Garner & Michael Vartan, “Alias” (2001-06) They Dated for 1 Year & Split in 2004 - 2 Years Before the Finale Katie Holmes & Joshua Jackson, “Dawson’s Creek” (1998-2003) The Two Dated Throughout the First 2 Seasons Amanda Seyfried & Dominic Cooper, “Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again” (2018) The Title Proves Eerily Topical, As the 2 Reunited After 6 Years for the Sequel Alison Pill & Jay Baruchel, “Goon: Last of the Enforcers” (2017) Baruchel Acted with & Directed His Ex-Fiancée
#1: Sophia Bush & Chad Michael Murray “One Tree Hill” (2003-12)
The love between Sophia Bush and Chad Michael Murray is a real tragedy. Both Bush and Murray quickly fell in love after meeting each other on set in the roles of Brooke and Lucas, and they married in April 2005 - Murray was 23 and Bush 22. Unfortunately, this seemed not to be a case of young love, but misaimed passion. The two stayed married only five months before beginning the process of a messy divorce, which included Bush filing papers for annulment owing to fraud. Bush still speaks negatively of the experience. She has stated that working with Murray after the break-up was difficult. She told Andy Cohen they “had no business being together in the first place,” and she’s also expressed disappointment at being “a Hollywood statistic - another joke marriage.”
