Lili Reinhart and Cole Sprouse attend the premiere of Lionsgate’s “Five Feet Apart” at Fox Bruin Theatre on March 7, 2019, in Los Angeles, California. Image: Frazer Harrison / Getty Images via AFP
Cole Sprouse opened up about his breakup with “Riverdale” co-star Lili Reinhart back in 2020, admitting it was “really hard” for both of them because their work did not provide them “the luxury of distance to really overcome” the split.
The 30-year-old actor took pauses and deep sighs before answering how he was able to “navigate” his breakup with the American actress, during his conversation with Alex Cooper for her podcast “Call Her Daddy” on March 8.
“It was really hard for both of us and that’s OK,” he said. “I think the work thing got difficult because it was hard to suspend all of the way we felt about each other. And it didn’t afford us the luxury of distance to really overcome that.”
“I know we both did quite a bit of damage to each other and we’re good friends now, which is awesome,” he continued. “We work really well together now.”
Despite the breakup, Sprouse believes that they were “exactly where they needed to be”—with each other—at the time, as they had someone to lean on while going through the “incredible overnight success, and tons of criticism and expectation” from their hit TV series.
“And I think we did the best we could—I really do think we did,” he stated. “And I’m very grateful in very many ways I was able to go through it with someone going through the exact same circumstances as me.”
Sprouse admitted that working with each other was a huge factor as to why his relationship with Reinhart lasted for over two years. He then reflected on his decision of being private about the split, which he said he eventually realized to have caused him more harm than good.
“I was so private that we didn’t make a big deal when we split. So afterwards, I was photographed as a single man dating other women, and I think it caused people to think there was something dubious going on,” he recalled. “I have realized now in hindsight that I probably should have said something almost right away.”
When asked why he was affected by the “rumors and gossip” even when he knew the truth, he responded, “Because I am a sucker for validation that I want people to think I’m a good guy.”
Sprouse opted not to elaborate on the cause of the split, but he revealed that although the decision was mutual, he was the first one to leave the relationship.
Sprouse and Reinhart were first romantically linked in 2017, and were reportedly in an on-again, off-again relationship before permanently breaking up in March 2020. Sprouse only confirmed the split in August of the same year.
Sprouse is currently dating model Ari Fournier. During his interview with Cooper, Sprouse said his relationship with Fournier has awakened him to “what real compatibility and trust looks like in a way I have never had before.” /ra