You’ve seen the photos. Two guys walking through Venice Beach, maybe a bit too close for "just friends" in the eyes of the internet, or grabbing groceries in London while the rest of the world was stuck indoors. For a solid two years, the Richard Madden and Froy Gutierrez paparazzi shots were basically the Zapruder film for a very specific corner of the internet.
People analyzed everything. The grocery bags. The shared hoodies. The fact that they were seemingly living in Emilia Clarke's house.
But then, the trail went cold. No more sightings. No big "coming out" post. Just... silence. Honestly, the way the public handled these photos says more about our obsession with celebrity privacy than it does about the actors themselves. If you're looking for the definitive breakdown of what we actually know—and what was just wishful thinking—you're in the right place.
The Lockdown Chronicles: How it All Started
It started in February 2020. That was the first time Richard Madden and Froy Gutierrez were papped together in the Venice neighborhood of Los Angeles. At the time, Madden was coming off the massive success of Bodyguard and Rocketman, while Froy was the rising star from Teen Wolf.
Then the world shut down.
While most of us were learning to bake sourdough, Richard and Froy were apparently hunkered down together. Tabloids like The Sun quickly pointed out that they were staying in a $4.5 million home owned by Madden’s Game of Thrones co-star, Emilia Clarke.
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How did fans know?
Prose and detective work, mostly. Froy posted a photo of his cereal on a kitchen counter. Internet sleuths compared that counter to an Architectural Digest feature on Emilia’s house. Match found.
Key Sightings Timeline
- February 2020: First spotted walking in Venice, CA.
- May 2020: Seen together at a Black Lives Matter protest in LA.
- September 2020: Papped in London, England, carrying trash bags and groceries.
- April 2021: Spotted strolling through Hampstead Heath, London, with Marks & Spencer bags.
That April 2021 sighting was pretty much the last time the "paparazzi era" of this duo existed. After that, the narrative shifted.
Why the Richard Madden and Froy Gutierrez Paparazzi Photos Caused Such a Stir
The fascination wasn't just about two handsome actors hanging out. It was about the mystery. Richard Madden has a very specific way of handling his personal life: he doesn't talk about it.
When asked by the New York Times about his relationship with actor Brandon Flynn (whom he lived with before Froy), Richard’s response was a masterclass in deflection. He basically said he keeps his private life private and has never talked about his relationships. He’s stuck to that script ever since.
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For fans, the Richard Madden and Froy Gutierrez paparazzi photos filled a vacuum. Because Richard wouldn't confirm or deny anything, every grainy photo of them at a local park became "evidence."
It’s kind of a weird dynamic. We live in an era where we feel entitled to know who everyone is sleeping with, but Madden belongs to that old-school Hollywood breed that believes the mystique is part of the job.
Where Are They Now?
If you’re looking for a happy ending or a dramatic breakup, the reality is a bit more "real life" and a bit less "movie script."
By mid-2023, it became pretty clear that the "roommate-ship," as some fans called it, had ended. The most concrete evidence came in June 2023, when Froy Gutierrez was photographed kissing Shadow and Bone actor Zane Phillips at a Pride party in New York.
They weren't hiding it.
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As for Richard? He’s been linked to various people since, but mostly he’s just been working. Citadel took up a huge chunk of his time, and he’s been spotted solo or with long-time friends in London.
The Industry Pressure Factor
There’s a lot of talk in the industry about why actors like Madden stay "in the gray area." One Reddit theory that gained a lot of traction suggested that studios put immense pressure on leading men to maintain a certain image for international markets.
Whether that’s true or just cynical speculation, it’s a factor. If you're being looked at for James Bond—a rumor that has followed Richard for years—the "traditional leading man" baggage is real.
The Takeaway on Celebrity "Privacy"
The saga of the Richard Madden and Froy Gutierrez paparazzi photos is a perfect example of how the internet creates its own reality. We saw photos of two men living together and doing normal things, and we built a three-year narrative around it.
Maybe they were a couple. Maybe they were just best friends who decided that quarantining in a mansion was better than being alone in a flat. We will likely never know for sure because they didn't owe us an explanation then, and they certainly don't now.
What to Keep in Mind Moving Forward
If you're following celebrity news and want to be a "responsible" consumer, here are a few things to remember:
- Paparazzi photos are a snapshot, not a story. A 1/500th of a second shutter speed can make two people looking at a phone look like they're having an intimate moment.
- Respect the "No Comment." If an actor says they don't talk about their private life, dragging them into the spotlight often just makes them retreat further.
- Follow the work. At the end of the day, these guys are actors. Richard’s performance in Citadel or Froy’s turn in The Strangers: Chapter 1 is what they actually want to talk about.
The best way to stay updated on their actual careers—minus the speculation—is to follow their official project announcements on trade sites like Deadline or The Hollywood Reporter. That's where the real news happens.