The Truth About Lili Reinhart And KJ Apa's Relationship

After first premiering on The CW in 2017, "Riverdale" is set to air its seventh and final season in 2023, per Us Weekly. Starring Cole Sprouse, Lili Reinhart, KJ Apa, Madeline Petsch and Camila Mendes, "Riverdale" follows a group of teens "navigating the troubled waters of romance, school and family" who "become entangled in dark Riverdale mysteries," according to IMDb. Over the years, fans of "Riverdale" have become highly devoted to its sometimes fantastical plots (liked faked deaths and almost boiling a fellow classmate alive (via BuzzFeed). However, the core of their interest comes from the various fictional relationships between the main characters, which has also fueled their interest in the actors' real love lives. 

One particularly popular pairing on "Riverdale" involves Apa and Reinhart's characters, Archie Andrews and Betty Cooper. From Season 1, "Riverdale" writers set the groundwork for an eventual relationship between Andrews and Cooper, which blossomed from unrequited love on Cooper's part to a make out session during the Season 5 finale. And while fans of the show have enjoyed the ups and down between Andrews and Cooper, they've also speculated that there might be something deeper between Reinhart and Apa in real life.

The Riverdale cast appears to be incredibly close, ranging from friendships to former or current romantic partners. In the case of Lili Reinhart and KJ Apa, they seem to land solely in the friendship category. Back in 2017, when fan speculation about a possible relationship between Reinhart and Apa was especially high, Reinhart took to her Tumblr account to address the rumors. "It's horrifying how invested some people are in my love life," wrote Reinhart. "Emphasis on 'my.' It is mine. It is private. If a stranger's love life is causing you anger, frustration or anxiety... please reevaluate your priorities." Reinhart also pointed out the difference between "shipping Betty and other characters, and shipping me with literally everyone I make eye contact with." 

Although the "Hustlers" star didn't name any names, Teen Vogue surmised that, given the timing of her statement, she was likely referring to Apa. In the years since, neither Apa or Reinhart has ever revealed themselves to be a couple, despite the enduring fan hope. However, they do appear to be friends. In February 2021, Reinhart left a funny comment on Apa's Instagram post, which garnered much fanfare from "Riverdale" fans. "Seems like there's a ripple effect in the photo but... there isn't one. Just the abs," wrote Reinhart under the photo of a shirtless Apa (via Cosmo).

During the time that "Riverdale" fans have shipped Lili Reinhart and KJ Apa with one another, they've been in public relationships with other people. 

Reinhart may have never dated Apa, but she did enjoy a romance with another one of her "Riverdale" stars: Cole Sprouse, who played Jughead Jones. Reinhart and Cole first went public in 2018 at the Met Gala and dated until 2020 when Cole announced their split via Instagram. "Lili and I initially separated in January of this year, deciding to more permanently split in March," Sprouse wrote (via Us Weekly). "What an incredible experience I had, I'll always feel lucky and cherish that I had the chance to fall in love." As of 2022, Reinhart is dating actor Spencer Neville, via Elle.

KJ Apa, on the other hand, has been dating his girlfriend, model Clara Berry since 2020. In 2021, Apa shared a surprising life update when Berry delivered their first child, per ABC.