It was the relationship that basically defined an entire era of the CW. If you were anywhere near the internet between 2017 and 2020, you couldn't escape Lili Reinhart and Cole Sprouse. They weren't just co-stars; they were "Sprousehart," the real-life manifestation of Betty Cooper and Jughead Jones.
Then it ended. And honestly? It didn't end with a neat little bow.
Most people think they know why they split. They saw the headlines. They read the Instagram captions. But the reality of what happened between Lili Reinhart and Cole Sprouse is a lot messier, more human, and frankly, more relatable than the "creative differences" or "busy schedules" excuses most publicists feed us. It was a pressure cooker of fame, mental health struggles, and the absolute nightmare of working with your ex every single day.
The "Work Thing" Nobody Talks About
Working with an ex is a special kind of hell. Imagine having to make out with someone for a scene three days after you've had a screaming match in a parking lot. That was their life.
Cole actually opened up about this on the Call Her Daddy podcast a while back. He admitted that the "work thing" got difficult because they didn't have the luxury of distance. Most of us, when we get dumped, can block the person and never see them again. These two had to show up to the same Vancouver set at 5:00 AM and pretend to be soulmates for the camera.
He basically said they stayed together longer than they should have. Why? Because of the "Sprousehart" of it all. They felt like they had to take care of the people around them—the fans, the show, the brand.
🔗 Read more: Darius Rucker with Wife: What Really Happened and Who He’s With Now
"I think if I had loved myself a little more, I probably would have left a little earlier," Cole told Alex Cooper.
That’s a heavy thing to say about a three-year relationship. It suggests that toward the end, the relationship wasn't about love anymore. It was about obligation.
The Timeline of the Breakup (and the Glitches)
The split wasn't a single event. It was a slow, painful fade.
In early 2020, fans noticed they weren't following each other on Instagram. Lili claimed it was a "glitch." Spoiler alert: It usually isn't a glitch. They officially called it quits in March 2020, right as the world was shutting down for the pandemic. Talk about bad timing.
Cole didn't confirm it until August 2020. He posted a photo of Lili in a forest, wishing her "the utmost love and happiness." It looked classy. It looked "amicable." But behind the scenes, both were going through it.
💡 You might also like: Coby Ryan McLaughlin Nude: Separating Viral Rumors From Reality
Lili later described that period as a "black tunnel." She felt like she was dying. While she later clarified her "withdrawal from love" comments were about her general depression and not specifically a "breakup interview," you can't tell me the end of a multi-year relationship didn't play a massive role in that mental state.
The Current Vibe: Are They Even Friends?
Kinda. Sorta. It’s complicated.
By the time Riverdale wrapped its final season in 2023, they had reached a place of professional respect. They could stand next to each other in interviews without it being a total disaster. But are they grabbing coffee and gossiping? Highly doubtful.
Cole has been with model Ari Fournier for years now, and he seems much more settled. Lili has moved on too, notably linked to Jack Martin—who, in a truly legendary move, actually parodied Cole’s Call Her Daddy interview on TikTok before they were ever public.
If that isn't the ultimate "moving on" energy, I don't know what is.
📖 Related: Chrissy Lampkin: Why Her Real Age is the Least Interesting Thing About Her
Why We’re Still Obsessed with Sprousehart
People still search for Lili Reinhart and Cole Sprouse because their relationship represented the peak of 2010s fandom culture. It was the last gasp of that intense, "shipping" energy where fans felt they owned a piece of the couple's private life.
The lesson here? Fame is a terrible foundation for a relationship. When you're 22 and the entire world is watching your every move, you're going to make mistakes. You're going to "do damage" to each other, as Cole put it.
How to Move on Like a Riverdale Star
If you're looking for actionable takeaways from the Sprousehart saga, here’s how they actually survived:
- Enforce hard boundaries. Both Lili and Cole became much more private after the split. They stopped letting "reliable sources" dictate their narrative.
- Prioritize your own space. Cole’s regret was staying too long. If it feels like "work" to stay in the relationship, it might be time to clock out.
- Use your creative outlets. Lili poured her heart into her poetry book, Swimming Lessons. Cole went back to his photography.
- Accept the "damage." You don't have to have a "perfect" breakup. Sometimes you hurt each other, and the only way to heal is to acknowledge that it was messy.
The story of Lili Reinhart and Cole Sprouse isn't a tragedy, it's just a coming-of-age story that happened to be televised. They grew up. They moved on. And honestly? We probably should too.
Check out the latest updates on the Riverdale cast’s new projects to see where they've headed since the town with "pep" finally closed its doors.