The internet almost broke when the first grainy photos of Madelyn Cline and Pete Davidson surfaced. It was September 2023. They were at the Beverly Hills Hotel. Having breakfast. Just two famous people in baseball caps trying to disappear into their upholstery.
Everyone had questions. How did the star of Outer Banks and the most talked-about man in comedy even meet? Was it a rebound? Was it a "PR stunt"? Honestly, the reality was much quieter than the tabloids wanted it to be.
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By early 2024, the flame had already started to flicker out. While the public didn't get the "official" confirmation until July 2024, the two had drifted apart months prior. It wasn't a dramatic explosion or a cheating scandal. It was just... over.
The Timeline of the Madelyn Cline and Pete Davidson Romance
If you blinked, you might have missed the actual meat of this relationship. Pete had just come off a nearly year-long stint with his Bodies Bodies Bodies co-star Chase Sui Wonders. Madelyn was fresh off a split from singer Jackson Guthy. The timing was perfect for a whirlwind.
They went from breakfast in LA to a 24-hour blitz in Las Vegas. Madelyn was spotted at the Chelsea, watching Pete’s stand-up set. They were staying in the Crockfords Entertainment Suite at Resorts World. High stakes, high luxury, and very high visibility.
- September 2023: First sightings at the Beverly Hills Hotel and the Vegas trip.
- October 2023: Pete hosts the Season 49 premiere of Saturday Night Live. Madelyn is there, sitting with his mom and sister. They’re seen at the afterparty until 4:00 AM.
- January 2024: The last real public sighting. Madelyn supports Pete at the Helium Comedy Club in Philadelphia. She’s wearing a Tommy Hilfiger cap and a fur jacket.
- July 2024: Multiple outlets, including People and The U.S. Sun, confirm the breakup.
For a few months there, it seemed like they were the new "it" couple. But the "it" didn't last. Sources close to the pair eventually admitted that the relationship had been "on and off" for a while before the final curtain call.
Why Did They Actually Break Up?
"The jokes, they write themselves." That’s what Madelyn told NYLON when she finally broke her silence. She wasn't being bitter. She was just acknowledging the circus that surrounds anyone who dates Pete Davidson.
The truth is less exciting than the memes.
Their schedules were a nightmare. Madelyn spends five months of the year on set, often in Charleston or traveling internationally for projects like Glass Onion. Pete’s life is a revolving door of stand-up tours, film sets like Riff Raff, and his own personal mental health journey.
He had recently checked into treatment for PTSD and BPD before they met. When they split, insiders claimed Pete was moving toward a more "reclusive" lifestyle. He wanted to stay in, watch TV, and avoid the "frenzy." Madelyn, meanwhile, was entering a massive career peak.
The Friend Zone and The Aftermath
One thing Pete is weirdly good at? Staying friends with his exes. Well, most of them.
Reports suggest there is zero bad blood here. It wasn't a "toxic" situation. It just "ran its course." In her July 2025 interview with Allure, Madelyn even threw a little supportive shade, saying Pete has a "really cute dog" and "some really great girlfriends now."
By the time those words were printed, Pete had already moved on with actress Elsie Hewitt. In a wild twist that even the most seasoned gossip columnists didn't see coming, Pete and Elsie announced they were expecting a baby in July 2025.
What Madelyn Cline Said About the Split
Madelyn has always been protective of her private life. After the very public fallout of her relationship with Outer Banks co-star Chase Stokes, she learned to keep the door shut.
She told Cosmopolitan she doesn't owe anyone an explanation. That sentiment held true during and after the Pete era. She didn't post him on her main grid. She didn't do a "couple's interview."
She basically confirmed that being in the public eye makes dating nearly impossible. When you're "locked in" on a project, the energy required to maintain a relationship with a high-profile comedian is exhausting.
"I want to experience this life on my terms first, before I do all the relationship stuff," she told Allure in 2025.
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She’s choosing herself. It’s a "thriving-on-my-own" era, as some fans call it. She’s focusing on Outer Banks Season 5 and her own mental health, acknowledging that breakups and stress have physically changed her over the seasons, and she’s finally okay with that.
Misconceptions You Should Stop Believing
There’s a lot of garbage info out there. Let’s clear the air on a few things that people still get wrong about this duo.
- They weren't together for a year. Most reports say 10 months, but Madelyn herself clarified that they actually split much earlier in 2024 than the July announcement suggested.
- It wasn't a "PR stunt" for SNL. While she attended his premiere, she stayed mostly out of the cameras' way. If it was for PR, they would have done a red carpet. They never did.
- There was no drama with Chase Stokes. Fans love to imagine a rivalry, but Chase has been happy with Kelsea Ballerini for a long time. The "Pogues" are fine.
Life After the "Pete Davidson Effect"
If you're looking for the "actionable" takeaway from the Madelyn Cline and Pete Davidson saga, it’s about boundaries. Both of these people are experts at navigating fame while trying to maintain some semblance of a soul.
Pete has moved into a new chapter—fatherhood. Madelyn has moved into a new chapter—total independence.
If you want to keep up with what they're doing now, look at their work, not their Instagram tags. Madelyn is currently filming the final chapters of the show that made her famous. Pete is doing the "dad" thing while still hitting the comedy circuit.
To stay truly updated on where they are now:
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- Watch the final season of Outer Banks to see Madelyn's latest performance.
- Check out Pete’s 2024 Netflix special Turbo Fonzarelli—Madelyn actually has a tiny, uncredited cameo in the end credits footage.
- Follow reliable trade publications like Variety for their upcoming film projects rather than tabloid rumors.
The "frenzy" might be over, but both of their careers are just getting started.