Cynthia Erivo & Lena Waithe’s Relationship Timeline — Every Moment That Had Us Rooting for Them

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Since Cynthia Erivo has been in the movie scene she’s racked up several roles in front of the lens. She has played the respected abolitionist Harriet Tubman, and she has played legendary “Queen of Soul” Aretha Franklin. Last winter, she took on the misunderstood “Wicked Witch of the West” named Elphaba in the play-adapted film Wicked. 

The singer-actor accrued great reviews for the characters she has played, so much so that she is one Oscar away from becoming an EGOT winner. But there is another important role she has been playing off-camera. The 38-year-old is the partner of Emmy-winning actor, producer, screenwriter, and creator Lena Waithe whom she’s been dating since 2020. 

Here are some of the cutest moments from the power couple’s relationship timeline that exemplify Black love! 

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2018 

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According to Cynthia Erivo’s Instagram account the two met in 2018. She posted a selfie of her and the Queen and Slim creator leaning their heads together while looking at the photo. It was clear that they were at the Met Gala since Erivo was wearing the same fit from that night in the photo. 

She wrote in the caption, “Me and @lenawaithe. 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!!”

In 2020, Waithe, 33, gave her account of how she met and even knew of Erivo. Talking to Variety she said, “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.”

She added, “I remember seeing her on TV when Oprah talked about doing it and her being on the screen, I’m like ‘Who is this tiny person with a British accent?’ But then when I saw her I was like ‘Oh she’s amazing’ and then obviously watched her career grow. So I was so excited to meet her at the Met. And we did the whole thing like ‘Oh My gosh we got to exchange information.’ And we just been vibing ever since.”

At the time of their first meeting, Waithe was engaged to her former partner and film executive Alana Mayo. The two got married in November 2019 and announced their separation in January 2020. By November 2020, Mayo filed for divorce.