If you’ve spent any time on Hulu lately, you probably have a love-hate relationship with Lucy and Stephen. Honestly, it’s mostly hate. The central couple of Tell Me Lies is a walking, talking manual on how not to do a relationship. They manipulate, they gaslight, and they ruin lives. But the weirdest part? The actors playing them are actually thriving. Grace Van Patten and Jackson White together is a reality that feels almost impossible when you’re watching their onscreen counterparts dismantle each other’s sanity.
It’s 2026, and while the fictional toxicity of Season 3 is reaching a fever pitch, Grace and Jackson are still going strong. They aren't just another flash-in-the-pan Hollywood fling. They’ve been together for nearly four years now, surviving the "showmance" curse that usually kills off co-star couples before the first season even finishes airing.
The Audition That Almost Didn’t Happen
You’d think it was sparks at first sight. It wasn't.
Grace has been pretty vocal about the fact that she kind of didn't like Jackson when they first "met" over a Zoom chemistry read. Can you blame her? He was auditioning for Stephen DeMarco—the ultimate villain of college dating. He had that specific, irritating energy down so well that she actually thought he might just be like that in person.
"I was like, 'Alright. It's fine. Maybe we won't get along,'" she told Alex Cooper on Call Her Daddy recently. She basically accepted that they would be professional coworkers who shared no vibes. But then they met in person. The energy shifted. Jackson, who is actually the son of Katey Sagal (yes, Peggy Bundy), turned out to be way more grounded than his character.
They started dating before they even began filming Season 1. By the time they were on set, they were already a "thing," though they kept it under wraps for months. It wasn't until November 2022, when they showed up at the CFDA Fashion Awards holding hands, that the world finally caught on.
Why the "Toxic" Label Is Totally Wrong
People constantly ask them how they go home and eat dinner together after filming scenes where they’re screaming or betraying one another. It's a valid question. If I spent my day being gaslit by my boyfriend for a camera crew, I’d probably need a week-long solo retreat.
But Grace and Jackson have a different take. They call the show their "couple's therapy."
- Trust: Because they’re so secure in real life, they feel safe enough to go to "dark places" on camera.
- Separation: They have a strict rule about not talking about work once they’re home.
- The Dog: Jackson’s dog, Fred, is apparently the glue of the relationship. Grace joked in an August 2025 interview that she’s mostly in it for the dog.
It’s a bizarre contrast. Onscreen, they’re the reason people delete Tinder. Off-screen, they’re spotted in Manhattan (most recently in January 2026) looking like a normal, polished couple in leather trenches and neutral tones. They aren't "flaunting" it, but they aren't hiding it either. They’re just... living.
🔗 Read more: Gracie Bon Before Weight Loss: What Really Happened
Managing the Microscope in 2026
The fan obsession is intense. When you play characters that people feel so strongly about, the line between reality and fiction gets blurry for the audience.
Jackson has admitted he goes "full super villain" as Stephen, which makes the public’s perception of him a bit skewed. People see him on the street and probably want to yell at him for what he did to Macy or Bree. Having Grace by his side—the literal victim of his character's schemes—actually helps humanize him.
They’ve also had to deal with the fact that they aren't the only ones on set catching feelings. It recently came out that Sonia Mena (Pippa) and Spencer House (Wrigley) have also been quietly dating for years. The Tell Me Lies set is apparently a hotbed for actual romance, which is hilarious considering how miserable every character on the show is.
The Real Life Timeline
If you're trying to keep track, here's the "too long; didn't read" version of their history:
✨ Don't miss: Early Giada De Laurentiis: What Most People Get Wrong
- Late 2021/Early 2022: The Zoom chemistry read where Grace thought he was "fine" but not necessarily her soulmate.
- Spring 2022: They start dating before production even begins.
- November 2022: The hard launch at the CFDA Awards.
- 2024-2025: They navigate Season 2 and the press tours, confirming they are "wildly different" from their characters.
- January 2026: Season 3 drops, and they are seen together in NYC, still very much an item.
What This Means for Season 3 and Beyond
Working together for four years has given them a shorthand that most actors never get. In their latest joint interviews, they’ve talked about how they can "compartmentalize" almost instantly. They leave the set, they order dinner, and they watch TV. They don't dwell on the "super dark" confessional scenes or the manipulation.
Grace mentioned to NYLON that having the same schedule is the secret sauce. When she's stressed about a scene, he’s there because he was in the scene. They share the same anxieties. That kind of mutual understanding is rare in Hollywood, where one partner is usually filming in Bulgaria while the other is in Atlanta.
Actionable Takeaways for Fans
If you're following the Grace Van Patten and Jackson White together saga, here is how to keep up without falling for the "Lucy and Stephen" trap:
- Follow the Dog: If you want a real glimpse into their life, look for Fred the dog in social media backgrounds. That's usually the sign they're hanging out.
- Trust the Interviews, Not the Edits: Fan edits on TikTok often make them look as dramatic as the show. Stick to their long-form interviews (like People or NYLON) to get their actual vibe.
- Separate the Art: Don't harass Jackson for Stephen's crimes. The man is just a very good actor who happens to be dating his "victim."
- Expect Privacy: They’ve both said they don't want to be a "content couple." Don't expect daily "get ready with me" videos.
The reality is that Grace and Jackson are boring in the best way possible. They’re stable, supportive, and grounded. They might play the most toxic couple on television, but in the real world, they’re probably the most functional duo in the industry right now. It's a weird paradox, but it works for them.
✨ Don't miss: Why Blue Ivy Carter and Beyonce Are Redefining What It Means to Be a Dynasty
Next Step: You can check out the first three episodes of Tell Me Lies Season 3 on Hulu right now to see the contrast for yourself. Just remember—that’s not actually them.