THE RUNDOWN
- Cynthia Erivo and Lena Waithe first met at the Met Gala in 2018 and have “been vibing ever since.”
- Waithe was previously married to Alana Mayo, a film executive and the president of Orion Pictures.
- Though Waithe and Erivo are usually tight-lipped about their relationship, they often attend industry events and premieres together.
Though Cynthia Erivo has kept her romantic life largely out of the spotlight, the Wicked star has quietly been in a relationship for years.
In a past interview, Erivo explained why she prefers to keep things private. “I’m very tight-lipped with my relationships, because I don’t think that my relationship is for anyone else but for me,” she told Vanity Fair. “I spend so much of my life sharing everything—whether it’s my work or my soul or my life in speeches. I think I give enough of myself that I’m allowed to keep something for me. And who knows, maybe I’ll change my mind at some point. But, I think it’s okay. It’s enough for people to know that I’m a queer person who could have relationships with men or women or neither.”
Still, she has been linked to Lena Waithe since 2018. Ahead, get to know more about her and their relationship.
Waithe is a producer, writer, and actress.
Waithe was born on May 17, 1984, in Chicago. She’s a producer, writer, and actress best known for The Chi, Boomerang, Twenties, and the film Queen & Slim. In 2017, she won the Emmy for Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series for the Master of None episode “Thanksgiving.”
She also currently hosts Legacy Talk, a conversation series on YouTube where she interviews iconic Black women in entertainment, including Jenifer Lewis, Debbie Allen, and Mara Brock Akil.
Waithe has been married before.
Waithe was previously married to Alana Mayo, a film exec and the president of Orion Pictures. Waithe revealed that they had wed in November 2019, but the couple separated just two months later, according to People.
“After careful thought and consideration, we have decided to part ways,” they said in a statement to the outlet. “We have nothing but support for one another and ask that you respect our privacy during this time.”
Their divorce was finalized in 2021.
Waithe and Erivo met at the Met Gala.
In an interview with Variety, Waithe shared she and Erivo met at the Met Gala, exchanged information, and have “been vibing ever since.”
At the time, Erivo shared a photo from the night they met. Dressed in their 2018 Met Gala attire, she wrote, “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!!”
It’s unclear when they officially started dating, but the following year, Waithe attended a screening of Erivo’s Harriet in New York City.
Waithe and Erivo attend industry events together.
Though Waithe and Erivo often walk red carpets separately, they usually sit together inside at several industry events and premieres.
Most recently, in March 2025, they attended the Oscars and sat with Erivo’s Wicked co-star Ariana Grande.
And in February 2025, they were photographed together inside the NAACP Image Awards.
Waithe also attended the Los Angeles premiere of Wicked in November 2024 and walked the carpet solo.
!["wicked" los angeles premiere](https://ur1stop.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/lena-waithe-at-the-wicked-los-angeles-premiere-at-the-news-photo-1757424904.pjpeg ""Wicked" Los Angeles Premiere")
When were Waithe and Erivo last spotted in public together?
Their last public appearance was on March 27, 2025 at the GLAAD Media Awards in Beverly Hills.
