It was the Gen Z romance that felt inevitable. You had the king of TikTok's first family and the son of pop-punk royalty. When Landon Barker and Charli D'Amelio first started showing up in the same blurry Instagram Stories back in 2022, it felt like the ultimate crossover episode. But then, as quickly as it started, it was over. Or was it?
People are still digging for the truth about why "Chardon" fell apart. Honestly, looking back at it from 2026, the signs were all there. It wasn’t just one big blowout fight. It was a slow burn of public pressure, family reality shows, and the impossible task of growing up while the entire internet watches your every move.
The Timeline of Landon Barker and Charli D'Amelio
They went public in June 2022. It started with a tattoo—well, a tattoo session. They were spotted leaving Landon’s sister Alabama’s party together, and then Charli was seen at Landon's concert.
By July, they were Instagram official. They were the "it" couple at parties, holding hands at Machine Gun Kelly concerts and appearing on red carpets. But the honeymoon phase didn't last forever. In the fall of 2023, during an episode of The D'Amelio Show, we found out they had actually split briefly in May of that year. Charli admitted on camera that she felt "stupid" for bragging about how perfect he was when things were actually getting messy behind the scenes.
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Then came February 2024. Landon posted that infamous black-background Instagram Story. He said they broke up to "focus on themselves." He promised they were still friends.
Why did they actually break up?
Everyone wants a villain. Fans tried to blame Landon’s "toxic" energy or Charli’s busy schedule. But if you listen to Landon’s music—specifically "Over You"—it sounds a lot more like two people who just drifted into different lanes.
The pressure of the spotlight is heavy. Charli was dealing with the weight of being the world's most famous teenager. Landon was trying to carve out a music career that wasn't just "Travis Barker's son."
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- Privacy was nonexistent. They couldn't go to a Dunkin' without a camera in their face.
- The ex-factor. Remember the drama with Chase Hudson (Lil Huddy)? That beef followed them for months.
- Family dynamics. Being part of the Kardashian-Barker orbit means your life is content. Sometimes, you just want to be a person, not a plot point.
Recent discussions on Reddit and social media in early 2026 suggest that Charli has finally found peace with the split. She’s been vocal about needing to be "completely independent" and thriving without a boyfriend.
The Aftermath: Where Are They Now?
Landon hasn't stopped making music. He’s been seen at various festivals, including BLUDFEST, and continues to lean into that emo-pop sound. His songs are clearly a "therapeutic moment," as he once described his songwriting process. He’s grown up. You can see it in how he carries himself now.
Charli, on the other hand, has leaned more into her business ventures and high-fashion deals. She’s moved past the "TikTok dancer" label. She’s a brand. She’s a mogul.
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The two of them are still "cordial." That’s the word Landon used. It’s a mature way of saying they don't hate each other, but they aren't texting every day either. They shared a dog. They shared a year of their lives. That doesn't just vanish.
What we can learn from Chardon
Basically, you can't force a relationship to survive in a fishbowl if the water is murky. Landon and Charli were young. They were 18 and 19 when they started. Most of us don't have our first loves documented by Hulu and 150 million followers.
If you're following their journey, here are some actionable ways to view their story:
- Prioritize mental health over public perception. Charli mentioned that she stopped posting about the breakup because it "disrupted the healing process." It’s okay to keep things private.
- Growth isn't linear. They broke up, got back together, and broke up again. That’s normal for 20-year-olds.
- Friendship is possible, but space is necessary. They both took time apart before they could even claim to be "friends."
The story of Landon Barker and Charli D'Amelio is a reminder that even "perfect" couples have cracks. They’ve both moved on to bigger things, and honestly, that’s probably for the best.
To stay updated on their individual projects, keep an eye on Landon's Spotify releases and Charli's upcoming fashion collaborations. Understanding the context of their past helps make sense of the art they're creating today.