If you’ve spent any time on MTV Twitter or scrolled through the "The Challenge" subreddit lately, you know the absolute chaos that is trying to figure out if Paulie Calafiore and Cara Maria Sorbello are actually a couple or just really good at messing with our heads. Honestly, it’s a full-time job. One day they’re posting matching gym selfies from a basement in Montana, and the next, Cara is scrubbed from Paulie’s Instagram entirely while he’s off filming a bisexual dating show in LA.
So, let’s get into the messy reality of 2026: Are Paulie and Cara still together? The short answer is yes—technically. But "together" for these two doesn't look like your typical suburban marriage. It’s a shifting, evolving, "invite-only" open relationship that has survived more break-up rumors than any other couple in reality TV history. They have this weird, magnetic pull that keeps them coming back to each other, even when they’re living thousands of miles apart or "experimenting" with other people.
What’s the Current Status of Paulie and Cara in 2026?
As of early 2026, Paulie and Cara are still dating, but they aren't exactly attached at the hip. If you look at their socials, it’s easy to get spooked. You’ve probably noticed the lack of "couple" content. In mid-2025, things looked particularly bleak. Paulie appeared on a Netflix dating series called Pop the Balloon, where he specifically identified as single and ended up choosing a guy at the end of the episode.
Naturally, the internet lost its mind.
But here’s the thing with Paulie and Cara: they love to "troll the trolls." They’ve literally admitted to faking breakups in the past—like that "social experiment" back in 2019—just to see how fast news outlets would report it without fact-checking.
Why the "Single" Comments Don't Always Mean a Split
In recent interviews, Paulie has talked about his journey coming out as bisexual and how that changed the dynamic of his relationship with Cara. While he might call himself "single" for the sake of a dating show or a "branding" move, the two still frequently appear in each other's lives behind the scenes. Cara has been incredibly supportive of Paulie's personal growth, even when it means he's exploring other connections.
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- They still share a deep emotional bond.
- Cara often pops up in the background of his training videos.
- They continue to defend each other against "The Challenge" castmates.
Basically, they are in a non-traditional partnership. It's not the "white picket fence" version of love, but it seems to be the version that works for them.
The Timeline of Trouble: How Did We Get Here?
To understand why everyone asks are Paulie and Cara still together every six months, you have to look at the history. It started in 2018 on Final Reckoning with a massive cheating scandal involving Danielle Maltby. From day one, this relationship was forged in a fire of public scrutiny and "messy" behavior.
Then came the "villain era" on War of the Worlds 2. They were the power couple everyone loved to hate. When they took a long hiatus from the show, people assumed they’d fizzle out. Instead, they retreated to Montana, started a training business, and seemed to get stronger.
The Shift to Separate Lives
The real confusion started around 2024. Cara Maria made her big return to The Challenge (appearing on All Stars 4 and later Season 40), while Paulie seemed more focused on his own ventures in Los Angeles and Florida.
They stopped living together full-time. That’s usually the death knell for most couples. But for them? It just meant more frequent flights. Cara has always been a bit of a loner—she loves her space in Montana with her horses and her gym. Paulie thrives on the hustle of the city.
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Understanding Their "Open" Relationship Dynamics
We have to talk about the "open" part because that’s where most fans get lost. In the past, they’ve described their relationship as "invite-only." This usually means they are primary partners but allow for third parties or separate encounters if everyone is on the same page.
It’s complicated.
For many fans, this looks like Paulie "doing whatever he wants" while Cara waits at home. But Cara has been vocal about the fact that she isn't a victim. She’s a grown woman who has survived some pretty toxic relationships (remember the Abram era?), and she claims this is the most honest she’s ever been in a partnership.
"Regardless of what people think, the point of an open relationship is honest communication. Paulie has always been the only man I wanted, but we don't live by everyone else's rules." — Cara Maria, via social media archives.
Whether you believe that or think it's a cover for a rocky relationship, it's the narrative they’ve stuck to for nearly eight years.
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Why Do People Keep Reporting They Broke Up?
There are a few reasons the "split" rumors never die:
- The Instagram Scrub: Cara is notorious for unfollowing Paulie or archiving photos when she’s "going through it." It’s a very human reaction to a fight, but for a celebrity, it’s a headline.
- Separate Branding: Paulie is trying to distance himself from being just "Cara Maria’s boyfriend." He wants his own identity as an athlete and a bisexual advocate. This means fewer "couple" posts and more solo content.
- The "Social Experiments": Because they’ve lied about breaking up before to "test" the media, nobody ever knows when a split is real or just a prank.
What Most People Get Wrong About Them
Most people assume that if they aren't posting "I love you" every Tuesday, they’re over. But Paulie and Cara have shifted into a "long-game" phase. They’ve been together for eight years. That’s like a century in reality TV time. They’ve seen each other through family losses, career highs, and periods of being "blackballed" from MTV.
They are more like a family unit now than just a boyfriend and girlfriend. Even if they were to "break up" in the traditional sense, they’d likely still be best friends and training partners.
Actionable Takeaways for Fans Following the Drama
If you’re trying to keep track of their status without losing your mind, here’s how to actually tell if they’re done:
- Watch the family ties: Cara is very close with Paulie’s brother, Cody Calafiore. If she stops interacting with the Calafiore family, that’s a much bigger sign of a breakup than an Instagram unfollow.
- Ignore the dating shows: Paulie appearing on a show like Pop the Balloon is often about the paycheck and the "clout." It doesn't necessarily mean his real-life partnership is over.
- Check the Montana gym: As long as Paulie is still showing up in Montana to train at Cara’s home base, they are solid.
- Wait for the official word: Unlike other couples who let rumors swirl forever, these two usually eventually post a long, rambling video explaining exactly what’s going on when things get too loud.
The reality of are Paulie and Cara still together is that they are constantly redefining what "together" means. In 2026, they are two people who love each other but refuse to be tied down by traditional labels. It’s messy, it’s confusing, and it’s exactly what we’ve come to expect from the most polarizing couple in The Challenge history.
Keep your eyes on their training schedules rather than their "following" lists—that’s where the real truth usually hides.