Cynthia Erivo has found true love with Lena Waithe.
Erivo and Waithe met at the 2018 Met Gala while Waithe was still together with Alana Mayo. (Waithe and Mayo dated for three years before tying the knot in 2019.)
“I was so excited to meet her at the Met, and we did that whole thing, like, ‘Oh my gosh’ and exchanged information,” Waithe recalled to Variety in a 2020 interview. “We have just been vibing ever since.”
The pair became good friends and were seen together at multiple red carpet events before Waithe announced in January 2020 that she was divorcing Mayo.
“After careful thought and consideration, we have decided to part ways,” Mayo and Waithe shared in a statement to Us Weekly at the time. “We have nothing but support for one another and ask that you respect our privacy during this time.”
Following their divorce, Erivo and Waithe started to spark dating rumors after being seen getting cozy at award shows. After much speculation, Erivo seemingly confirmed their relationship on Instagram in May 2022 by posting a birthday tribute to Waithe.
“Today is when we celebrate a woman whose heart is bigger than the body that houses it. Happy birthday @lenawaithe I …… You know the rest! 💕💕,” Erivo wrote.
Keep scrolling to learn more about Erivo and Waithe’s relationship:
May 2018
Erivo and Waithe met at the 2018 Met Gala.
“I finally found my sis. Lena you are absolutely everything,” Ervio captioned an Instagram selfie of the duo at the event. “You are perfection. What a meeting of minds, glad to have you in my life! Stuck like glue!!! SHINE QUEEN SHINE!!”
October 2019
The pair posed for a photo at the New York screening of Harriet.
January 2020
Waithe announced that she was divorcing Mayo after one year of marriage.
June 2021
Waithe and Erivo were seen having a cute moment together at the BET Awards sparking dating rumors.
May 2022
Erivo went Instagram official with Waithe in celebration of her birthday.
July 2022
Although Erivo never mentions Waithe by name, she came out as bisexual in a British Vogue interview.
“My closest friends have known this of me for a long time. I feel like I knew it when I was around 15 but I didn’t know what to call it,” the Wicked star shared with the outlet. “I didn’t have the vocabulary for it. I knew I was attracted to both men and women. I was attracted to people. I’d have a crush on this person or that person but didn’t know how to put it in words.”
October 2023
The couple posed together at the opening night of Merrily We Roll Along on Broadway.
November 2024
Waithe supported Erivo at the Los Angeles premiere of Wicked.
February 2025
Erivo and Waithe attended the NAACP Awards after Erivo sparked engagement rumors when she was spotted wearing a giant diamond ring on that finger at the Grammys. (It was later revealed that the ring was not an engagement ring.)
March 2025
Although they didn’t pose together on the red carpet, Waithe was seen attending the Oscars in support of Erivo who was nominated for Best Actress for her performance in Wicked.
