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Who Is Cynthia Erivo's Partner? What We Know About the 'Wicked' Star's Dating Life

She likes to keep things private

cynthia erivo partner
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The buzz around Wicked has been nothing short of electric, and the powerhouse team behind it is running on full steam. Between global premieres, countless collaborations and nonstop press, it feels impossible not to know about the film adaptation of the beloved musical. And let’s be honest—it deserves all the hype. With Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo leading as Glinda and Elphaba, alongside a stacked cast that includes Jonathan Bailey, Jeff Goldblum, Ethan Slater, Michelle Yeoh, Peter Dinklage and Bowen Yang, it’s already a cultural moment. Naturally, with all the attention on Wicked comes curiosity about its cast—and their off-screen lives. Grande’s personal life has often been front and center (yes, that includes the recent headlines about her romance with Slater, AKA SpongeBob, following her split from ex-husband Dalton Gomez). But when it comes to Erivo's dating partners? The Broadway star is far more private.

Erivo, who skyrocketed to fame with her Tony- and Grammy-winning performance as Celie in the Broadway production of The Color Purple, tends to keep her personal life under wraps. That said, she’s occasionally shared glimpses into her relationships and recently came out as bisexual, making headlines in her own right.

So, what’s the tea on Cynthia Erivo’s dating life, her partner and her journey with queer identity? Let’s dive in.

1. Cynthia Erivo's Dating History

Cynthia Erivo has always kept her private life, well, private. As a result, details about her past relationships are few and far between. However, we do know that the Broadway superstar was romantically linked to British actor Dean John-Wilson back in 2013. According to The Guardian, the duo reportedly first crossed paths while working together on the theater production of Sister Act.

The couple made their red-carpet debut in 2016, when Wilson starred as Aladdin in Disney’s West End production, per BBC News. But by 2017, they had quietly gone their separate ways for reasons that remain unclear.

That same year, Erivo began dating Mario Martinez. In an interview with Vanity Fair, she revealed, “He chased me." Martinez wasn’t in the industry, but their paths crossed often. Each time, he'd ask her out—even while she was with her ex, Wilson.

“Then the last time, I was not with my ex anymore—except this time he did not ask,” Erivo recalls. “He just walked up to me and gave me a kiss.” At the time of the interview, Erivo and Martinez had been together for two years.

2. When Did Cynthia Erivo Come Out As Queer?

Cynthia Erivo first spoke publicly about her sexuality in August 2021, where she self-identified as queer in an interview with The Evening Standard. A year later, in an August 2022 interview with British Vogue, she revealed that she identifies as bisexual.

During a recent appearance on The Kelly Clarkson Show, Erivo expanded on her journey to self-acceptance, reflecting on how she navigated questions about her identity from adolescence into adulthood. "I didn’t have the language to even know what was going on," she shared. "It’s come much later to me now, and it’s wonderful to just be me. It’s made space creatively to let go of whatever I was hiding."

Erivo also discussed the energy she spent concealing her queerness over the years, unaware that she wasn’t fully living authentically. “Once you stop hiding something so integral to you, you can put that energy into creating more wonderful things,” she explained.

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Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Tony Awards Productions

3. Who Is Cynthia Erivo's Partner Now?

Rumors about Cynthia Erivo and Lena Waithe dating started circulating in 2021. The speculation grew stronger when Erivo shared a heartfelt birthday tribute hinting at a romantic relationship with Waithe.

“Today is when we celebrate a woman whose heart is bigger than the body that houses it,” she wrote on Instagram. “Happy birthday @lenawaithe I ……. You know the rest!”

In June 2022, they indirectly confirmed their relationship when they were spotted holding hands at the Alvin Ailey Spirit Gala. As of 2024, the couple are still going strong. Waithe supported Erivo by attending both the Los Angeles and the London premiere of Wicked. She even praised the actress’s performance on her Instagram Story, along with the entire cast and crew.

4. Who Is Lena Waithe?

Lena Waithe is an actress, producer and screenwriter, best known for creating the hit Showtime drama The Chi. She’s also appeared in a range of acclaimed shows, including Master of None, This Is Us and Westworld. Waithe made history in 2017 when she won a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series for her work on the Master of None episode "Thanksgiving."

Waithe previously married Alana Mayo in 2019 after two years of dating. Two months after tying the knot, they announced they had separated in a statement via their reps, per E! News.

cynthia erivo partner lena waithe
Mike Coppola/Getty Images

5. How Did Cynthia Erivo Meet Lena Waithe?

The duo met at the 2018 Met Gala. It’s a moment that Waithe will never forget. “The first time I met her was at the Met Gala, which is where all the cool kids go to meet each other,” Waithe told Variety. “I had seen her in The Color Purple twice, I remember seeing her on TV when Oprah talked about doing it and her being on the screen, I remember [thinking], ‘Who is this tiny person with a British accent?’”

She added, “We’ve just been vibing ever since.”

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Ariana Grande Addresses Cynthia Erivo’s ‘Wicked’ Poster Drama: ‘It’s Very Complicated’



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