If you’ve been scrolling through TikTok lately, you’ve probably seen the frantic edits. People are spiraling. Everyone wants to know the same thing: did Rachel Zegler and Josh break up, or are we all just reading too much into a few deleted Instagram photos?
Honestly, the timeline is a bit of a mess. One minute they’re the "it" couple of the musical theater world, and the next, there are rumors of new boyfriends and cryptic social media posts. It’s a lot to keep track of, especially when both of them are busy becoming massive stars.
Let's get into what we actually know.
The Short Answer: Yes, They Split
To be blunt, it’s over. While they never released one of those formal, gray-background "we have decided to go our separate ways" Instagram Stories, the evidence is pretty undeniable. Rachel and Josh Andrés Rivera, who met while filming Steven Spielberg's West Side Story, seem to have officially called it quits toward the end of 2024.
The signs were there for months. First, the public appearances stopped. Then, the gushing birthday posts disappeared. By early 2025, the digital trail of their romance had been scrubbed cleaner than a Disney movie set.
For a couple that was so public—posting about Valentine's Day "valen-crimes" and calling each other the love of their lives—the silence was deafening.
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What Actually Happened?
Relationships in Hollywood are tough. Relationships where you also work together? Even tougher. Rachel and Josh didn't just date; they co-starred in two of the biggest projects of their careers back-to-back. After West Side Story, they reunited for The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes.
Josh once told People that having Rachel on set was a "great source of comfort." Being in a different country, filming a high-stakes prequel, and having your partner there to grab coffee with sounds like a dream. But maybe the constant "togetherness" took a toll. Or, more likely, their skyrocketing careers just pulled them in different directions.
By the time Rachel moved to London for her West End debut in Evita in mid-2025, Josh was nowhere to be seen. Instead, fans caught Rachel getting very cozy with someone else at a Sabrina Carpenter concert in Hyde Park.
Enter Nathan Louis-Fernand
If you’re wondering why the Rachel Zegler and Josh break up rumors suddenly turned into a confirmed reality, look no further than Nathan Louis-Fernand. Nathan is a professional dancer who starred alongside Rachel in Evita.
The two went "Instagram official" in July 2025. Rachel shared blurry, happy photos that basically served as the final nail in the coffin for the "Josh and Rachel" era.
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Wait, Is She Single Again in 2026?
Here is where things get even more complicated. As of January 2026, there’s a new wave of speculation. It looks like the relationship with Nathan might have also hit a wall.
On New Year's Day 2026, Rachel posted a series of photos on Instagram with the caption "hello twenty-twenty-six." Nestled in that slide deck was a drawing that said, "I’ll never get a boyfriend."
Yikes.
Fans quickly noticed that she unfollowed Nathan and deleted their photos together. It’s a classic move. We’ve all been there—the "purge" is the universal sign for a breakup in the digital age. While a representative for Zegler hasn't commented on the Nathan split yet, she’s definitely acting like a woman who is starting the year fresh and solo.
Why We Care So Much
It sounds cheesy, but people were really rooted for Rachel and Josh. They felt like a real-life Maria and Chino (but, you know, without the tragic ending of the movie). They were both young, incredibly talented, and seemed to truly support one another during Rachel’s controversial rise to fame with Snow White.
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Josh was often the one keeping her grounded. In her 2022 Elle cover story, Rachel mentioned how he’d tell her to stop checking her phone and ignore the "3,000 faceless strangers" hating on her online.
Losing that kind of support system is big. But that’s the reality of being 24 and famous. You grow, you change, and sometimes you realize that the person you met at 18 isn't the person you're supposed to be with when you're headlining the West End.
What’s Next for Rachel Zegler?
Despite the relationship drama, Rachel’s 2026 is looking packed. She’s scheduled to return to the London Palladium in March for a concert production of The Last Five Years alongside Ben Platt.
Ironically, that musical is all about a marriage falling apart.
She’s also got the movie She Gets It from Me coming up. Career-wise, she’s never been better. Personally? She seems to be leaning into her "single era," focusing on her craft and her friends.
What to watch for next:
- Keep an eye on her Instagram Stories for more "cryptic" drawings—that seems to be her preferred way of communicating her relationship status.
- Watch for any public sightings during the 2026 awards season; if she shows up solo, that's your answer.
- Check the casting for her upcoming projects; she has a habit of finding love on set, so stay tuned.
The takeaway here is pretty simple. The Rachel and Josh chapter is firmly closed. They’ve both moved on, and while it’s sad for the fans who loved them together, they both seem to be doing just fine on their own.