Do Nina Dobrev And Paul Wesley Hate Each Other In Real Life?

The Vampire Diaries had it all: Hot romance, dark suspense, and heartbreak. Nina Dobrev, who played Elena, and Paul Wesley, who portrayed her lover, Stefan, brought heat and passion to the series that many believed translated into a romance off-screen and in real life. "I remember everyone would walk up to me after the show aired and they'd be like, 'Are you and Paul dating in real life?' Because everyone thought that we had such good chemistry," Dobrev told the podcast, Directionally Challenged in 2019.

However, Dobrev also made some statements in the same interview that left fans confused. "Paul and I didn't get along at the beginning of the show," she revealed. "I respected Paul Wesley, I didn't like Paul Wesley." Furthermore, the actor noted that "there's a fine line between love and hate and we despised each other so much that it read as love," and added that the two "really just didn't get along the first five months of shooting." 

So, what's the truth? Did the on-screen lovers hate each other when the cameras cut? We reveal the story below.

Before fans jump to conclusions about Nina Dobrev and Paul Wesley, it's important to note that Dobrev clarified her statements about Wesley in an October 2019 interview with Chicks In the Office."I was talking about all the wondering things that I love about Paul Wesley and how, for a very brief moment in time, we did not get along," Dobrev said for context. She added, "It's not that we didn't like each other, we just didn't appreciate each other as much as we do now. And then, of course, it got blown out of proportion." 

Dobrev's comment echoes the sentiment she made in the first interview with Directionally Challenged, stating about her and Wesley's evolution, "We ended up getting to a good place and it was fine. But of everyone, I think I probably see him the most and hang out with him the most. We're probably the closest. We hang out a lot and we're really good friends and I love his wife. It's so funny how much has changed because I never thought that he would be one of my best friends." Aw.

It sounds like these two share a deep bond. However, he can't help but wonder — what led to this beef in the first place? Keep reading to find out.

Sufficed to say, it wasn't always rainbows and butterflies in Nina Dobrev and Paul Wesley's relationship. Dobrev said their relationship was like a typical "marriage," even though they were only costars. "When you work with anyone, or are spending a lot of time with anyone, little things are gonna annoy you about them," Dobrev revealed during an appearance on Directionally Challenged. "It's like a relationship, we were basically married — we were together every day, we were kissing and doing all this stuff. But we didn't have sex, so, yeah, just like a marriage!"

She clarified even further during her a convo with Chicks In the Office, this time saying her relationship with Wesley was familial in the beginning. "If you said you and your parents and siblings have loved each other unconditionally, from the moment you were born until the day you died, you'd be a f***ing liar," she explained. "Of course, you become a family on set. You spend every waking moment together, probably real moments than you do with your real family because you're there from 5 in the morning until midnight, six a.m. sometimes ... there's gonna be mood swings."

Considering actors often work closely together on set, it's not so surprising the two got on each other's nerves at times.

It's not uncommon for interviews to get misconstrued, a situation Nina Dobrev poked fun at with Paul Wesley after her podcast appearances discussing the relationship. The two made a little Instagram video skit, showing Dobrev and Wesley hashing out their issues poolside. "Hey, you know, I never got to tell you. I'm sure you saw all the [news]," Dobrev remarked to Wesley, per USA Today. "It was so stupid. You know how much I love you. And that's what I was trying to get across. But, obviously, they took one sentence out of context." She added, "So stupid. I'm sorry either way that it even happened."

Wesley seemed to shrug it off, even throwing in a few jokes for good measure. "Listen, if there's one thing everyone knows about me, it's that I don't hold grudges," Wesley said before pushing the actor into the pool. Ha!

It's clear Wesley and Dobrev are on good terms, and it's wonderful they can joke about their past.