Sorry, Bughead Fans, But Lili Reinhart & Cole Sprouse Probably Aren't Dating

If you're a Riverdale fan hoping Bughead is happening onscreen and off, you could be waiting a long time for the actors to reveal their relationship status. Cole Sprouse addressed Lili Reinhart dating rumors in the vaguest way possible in a recent interview with Entertainment Weekly. While the Jughead actor would neither confirm nor deny the dating rumors, he did say that as an actor, they made him feel like he was doing his job. Hey, if the audience is responding so passionately to a fictional couple that they want their relationship to transcend the screen, then the performers clearly have chemistry.

Sprouse told EW,

"I think as professional actors we can pat ourselves on the back for that and go, 'This was a success.' It was such a success that people want to see it in real life."

However, Sprouse was also quick to point out that fans have been eager to see a number of the actors together, not just him and Reinhart. While the call for other real-life pairings might not be quite as loud, the actor's not wrong in pointing out that there are quite a few people out there who ship Reinhart with Camila Mendes, and KJ Apa with Sprouse.

"People have wanted every actor on this show to be in a union that they could make real and talk about," Sprouse said in his interview with EW. "So I think that kind of discussion, especially because it's based so much on rumor and hearsay, needs to be taken with a grain of salt. We're all still human lives that are interacting with the source material."

Still, the rumors aren't coming from nowhere where Sprouse and Reinhart are concerned. The belief that the Jughead and Betty's love was so strong it had roots in real life too began in March when Reinhart shared a photo Sprouse had taken of her on Instagram. Since then the two were reportedly spotted holding hands and kissing at EW's Comic-Con party. Of course, neither of these things means they're a couple, but it hasn't stopped their fans from hoping there's a behind the scenes romance happening.

For her part, Reinhart hasn't commented one way or the other on the matter. And Sprouse's take isn't particularly revealing. Although, it does offer up an inside look at his acting process — which is something, even if it's not the kind of revelation real-life Bughead shippers are looking for.

Sprouse explained to EW,

"But, truthfully, it’s very pleasing that people talk about Lili and I in that way because it means that we’re resonating so strongly from our character perspective that people really want that to be true."

Whether they're dating or not, these co-stars are friends, as their social media pages reveal, much to their fans' delight. They tease one another, goof around on set, and even hang out in their free time on occasion. It's not proof positive that anything romantic is going on, but their friendship does help illustrate why Bughead works so beautifully — these two clearly work and play well together.

And it's clear that as far as Sprouse is concerned, shippers can keep on shipping. His relationship status is no one's business but his own, but he doesn't mind that Riverdale fans seem to derive joy from speculating about his love life. Even though his EW interview didn't confirm that Sprouse and Reinhart are the real deal, it didn't exactly dash the rumors either. There might just be hope for a real-life Bughead relationship yet.