Hollywood is weird. One day you’re the internet's favorite "it" couple, and the next, you’ve hit that dreaded unfollow button and the gossip mill is churning at 100 miles per hour. If you’ve been following the Outer Banks cast lately, you know the drama off-camera has been just as intense as the treasure hunting on-screen.
Honestly, the biggest topic in the fandom right now isn't the gold or the Pogues—it's Madison Bailey exes. For the longest time, Madison and Mariah Linney were the gold standard for queer representation in young Hollywood. They were cute, they were "hard-launched," and they seemed genuinely obsessed with each other. But as of late 2025 and early 2026, things have shifted in a major way.
Let’s get into the actual facts of who Madison has dated, who she definitely didn't date (despite what the TikTok edits say), and where her relationship status stands right now.
The Relationship That Defined an Era: Mariah Linney
Most people looking for info on Madison Bailey exes are really looking for the scoop on Mariah Linney. Their story is basically a Gen Z fairytale. In May 2020, Madison came out as pansexual. A month later, she saw a TikTok of Mariah—a former star basketball player for the UNC Charlotte 49ers—and literally "hunted her down" on Instagram.
They didn't just date; they became a public power couple.
Madison once told Entertainment Tonight that she had "zero hesitation" about posting Mariah because she felt Mariah would be in her life forever. For four years, they were inseparable. They did the red carpets, the high-fashion streetwear shoots, and the "day in the life" TikToks.
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The 2025 Breakup: What Went Wrong?
Everything seemed solid until mid-2025. In April 2025, the internet went into a full meltdown when fans noticed both Madison and Mariah had unfollowed each other on Instagram. This wasn't just a glitch. They also started scrubbing photos and untagging one another.
Mariah posted some pretty cryptic stuff on her Stories at the time. One quote mentioned how much it hurts when "your year has not gone to plan." While neither of them ever released a PR-style "we've decided to go our separate ways" statement, the silence spoke volumes. In the world of celebrity social media, a mutual unfollow + deleting the anniversary posts = it’s over.
By the end of 2025, sources close to the production of Outer Banks suggested the breakup was real, though the specific reason—whether it was the distance, the intense filming schedule, or just growing apart in their mid-20s—remains private.
The Rudy Pankow "Dating" Myth
We have to talk about Rudy Pankow. If you search for Madison Bailey exes, Rudy’s name almost always pops up in the "People Also Ask" section. But here is the reality: They never actually dated.
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The "Jiara" shippers (JJ + Kiara) are intense. Because Madison and Rudy have such undeniable chemistry as actors, fans convinced themselves they were a secret couple. This caused massive real-world friction.
- Rudy has been with his girlfriend, Elaine Siemek, since 2020.
- Madison was with Mariah during that same window.
The rumors got so bad that they actually affected the filming of Outer Banks. There were reports that the two actors became distant because of the constant harassment their real-life partners faced from fans. During the filming of Season 4, eagle-eyed viewers even claimed body doubles were used for some of their PDA scenes because the actors were reportedly uncomfortable working together due to the "shipping" drama. Madison even went on Instagram Live once to tell fans to stop the "bullshit" and confirmed she had to call Rudy just to clear the air about the fan rumors.
Other Rumored Flings and New Faces
Before Mariah, Madison kept her private life very under wraps. She rose to fame quickly with the first season of OBX in 2020, and because she was only 21 at the time, there isn't a long list of public "exes" from her pre-fame days in North Carolina.
Austin Tyler: The New Guy?
Fast forward to January 2026. Madison was recently spotted out and about with Austin Tyler. If the name doesn’t ring a bell, his face might. Austin is a stunt performer who has worked on Outer Banks—and hilariously, he’s a stunt double who bears a striking resemblance to Rudy Pankow.
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They were seen shopping together at Byredo (the luxury fragrance spot) in mid-January. They looked cozy, chatting and laughing, which immediately sent the fandom into a frenzy. Is he a "boyfriend"? It's too early to put a label on it, but it’s the first time Madison has been seen looking "couple-y" with anyone since the Mariah split.
Understanding Madison’s Approach to Love
To really understand why the search for Madison Bailey exes is so active, you have to look at how Madison identifies. Being pansexual means she’s attracted to the person, not the gender.
"It's what's on the inside, boo," she famously said in a TikTok.
This openness is part of why fans feel so connected to her. She doesn't hide who she is, but she has started hiding who she’s with. After the drama involving Mariah and the Rudy Pankow rumors, Madison has noticeably pulled back from sharing every detail of her romantic life.
Actionable Insights for Fans
If you're following Madison's journey or looking for updates on her relationship status, here are a few things to keep in mind:
- Check the Follows: In 2026, the first sign of a celebrity breakup isn't a press release; it's a "0" in the following count for their partner.
- Ignore the Edits: TikTok "proof" videos of Madison and Rudy are almost always edited to look more romantic than they are. They are coworkers who had a falling out and eventually found a professional middle ground.
- Respect the Privacy: Madison has been vocal about her struggles with Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD). Relationship stress can be a major trigger, so it’s likely she will keep her next serious relationship much more "low-key" to protect her mental health.
The chapter on Mariah Linney seems officially closed, and while the "Jiara" dream only exists on Netflix, Madison's real-life dating journey is clearly entering a new, more private phase. Keep an eye on those Byredo shopping trips—that's where the real tea is usually found.