'You are perfection.' When Cynthia Erivo met Lena Waithe at the Met Gala.

As the cast of Wicked arrived at the 2024 Golden Globes, nominated in a bunch of huge categories, its leading lady Cynthia Erivo had her own happy news to share.

After years of speculation, Erivo is debuted her longtime partner, Master of None star Lena Waithe, who sat beside her at the Wicked table.

What is this feeling? This feels pretty damn official, if you ask me. So how did we get here? This is everything we know about their rumoured relationship.

How did Cynthia Erivo and Lena Waithe meet?

Cynthia Erivo and Lena Waithe's relationship began with a memorable first meeting at the 2018 Met Gala. That evening, Erivo shared their first photo together on Instagram, describing Waithe as her newfound "sis".

"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!" she wrote on Instagram.

"Stuck like glue !!! SHINE QUEEN SHINE!!"

Waithe later revealed she had been a fan of Erivo's work, having seen her twice in The Color Purple and being captivated by the "tiny person with a British accent".

Lena Waithe and Cynthia Erivo together in 2020. Image: Getty.

In a 2022 interview with Variety, Waithe spoke about their first encounter. "I was so excited to meet her at the Met, and we did that whole thing, like, 'Oh my gosh' and exchanged information," said Waithe. "We have just been vibing ever since."

Cynthia Erivo and Lena Waithe dating rumours.

While Erivo and Waithe have never officially confirmed their relationship, several public appearances have fuelled speculation about a potential romance. The first hint came in 2022 when Erivo posted a birthday tribute to Waithe on Instagram, writing "Today is when we celebrate a woman whose heart is bigger than the body that houses it".

That same year, Erivo opened up about her sexuality in British Vogue, discussing her attraction to both men and women without specifically naming Waithe.

The pair have been spotted together at numerous high-profile events. They attended the Alvin Ailey Spirit Gala in New York City hand-in-hand, which many viewed as an unofficial confirmation of their relationship.

More recently, Waithe has been supporting Erivo during the Wicked press tour, attending the Los Angeles premiere and showing her support on social media.

Lena Waithe at the Wicked Los Angeles premiere. Image: Getty.

Who was Lena Waithe married to?

Before her connection with Erivo, Waithe was married to content executive Alana Mayo. The couple got engaged in 2017 and had a wedding in 2019 at San Francisco's City Hall, deliberately choosing to marry in front of Harvey Milk's bust.

However, the marriage was short-lived, with the couple announcing their separation in January 2020, just two months after their wedding. Mayo filed for divorce in November 2020, which was finalised in May 2021.

Lena and Cynthia's relationship faced some controversy when rumours emerged suggesting their connection began before Waithe's divorce from Mayo. However, these allegations remain unconfirmed speculation.

Lena Waithe and Cynthia Erivo photographed together in 2023. Image: Getty.

Despite the public interest in their relationship, both Erivo and Waithe have a private approach to their personal lives, choosing to let their public appearances and subtle social media interactions speak for themselves rather than making official statements about their relationship status.

This year, Waithe showed support for Erivo as they sat together at the Golden Globes. Swoon!

Feature image: Getty.