Cynthia Erivo and Lena Waithe’s Relationship Timeline Is So Low-Key and Sweet

Cynthia Erivo’s number one fan? Other than you? Lena Waithe, who has been there every! step! of the way! through the grueling Wicked press tour and multiple awards ceremonies like the 2025 Golden Globes—not to mention by Cynthia’s side through countless other moments in her career. While these two have an extremely under-the-radar relationship (they’ve never even officially confirmed they’re together), it’s full of sweet moments and we’re going through them in chronological order.

May 2018

Cynthia and Lena meet for the first time! As Lena put it to Variety, “The first time I met her was at the Met Gala, which is where all the cool kids go to meet each other. 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?....We’ve just been vibing ever since.”

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Cynthia also gushed about the moment on Instagram, saying, “I finally found my sis. Lena, you are absolutely everything. You are perfection. What a meeting of minds, glad to have you in my life! Stuck like glue !!! SHINE QUEEN SHINE!!”

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Straight out of a movie, to be honest!

2019 to 2020

Lena and Cynthia become close friends and start attending events together.

January 2020

Lena and Alana Mayo announce they’re divorcing two months after their marriage. “After careful thought and consideration, we have decided to part ways,” they say in a statement to People. “We have nothing but support for one another and ask that you respect our privacy during this time.”

June 2021

Lena and Cynthia have a cute moment at the BET Awards.

May 17, 2022

Cynthia celebrates Lena on Instagram, writing, “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!

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April 2022

Lena and Cynthia attend the GLAAD Media Awards.

June 2022

And then the Tony Awards + BET Awards!

July 2022

Cynthia opens up to British Vogue about her personal life and—without name-dropping Lena—speaks about being attracted to men and women: “My closest friends have known this of me for a long time. I feel like I knew it when I was around 15 but didn’t know what to call it. 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.”

June 2024

Lena is captured cutely holding Cynthia’s gown.

November 2024

Lena supports Cynthia at the premiere of Wicked!

January 2025

While Lena and Cynthia don’t walk the Golden Globes red carpet, Lena is there to support Cynthia and they’re spotted sitting together.

February 2025

Lena makes a low-key appearance with Cynthia at the 2025 Grammy Awards (where Cynthia delivers a stunning performance).

A few weeks later, the two step out again for the NAACP Image Awards.

Side note: I need to see the result of this selfie w/ Kerry Washington:

March 2025

While they didn’t walk the red carpet together, Lena came to the 2025 Oscars to support Cynthia, who’s nominated for Best Actress for her performance as Elphaba in Wicked.