The internet has a way of turning a few grainy paparazzi photos and a deleted Instagram story into a full-blown investigation. If you've been scrolling through TikTok lately, you've probably seen the frantic theories. People are asking: did Rachel Zegler and Joshua break up? It’s a valid question, honestly, especially given how public their lives have become. But there is a massive amount of confusion here because Rachel has been linked to two very different Joshuas in the industry, and the status of those relationships couldn't be more different.
To get to the bottom of the "breakup" rumors, we have to look at the timeline. It’s messy. It’s Hollywood. And as of early 2026, the answer involves a high-profile split that actually happened, a relationship that was mostly fan-fiction, and a brand-new breakup that has fans' heads spinning.
The Josh Everyone Remembers: Rachel and Josh Andrés Rivera
For the longest time, "Rachel and Josh" meant one thing: Rachel Zegler and Josh Andrés Rivera. They were the "it" couple of the musical theater world. They met on the set of Steven Spielberg’s West Side Story back in 2019, and by early 2021, they were official.
They weren't just dating; they were co-workers. They starred together again in The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes. Fans loved them because they seemed genuinely grounded. Josh was the guy who kept her calm during the "Snow White" internet storms. Rachel called him the "love of her life."
But then, the red carpets stopped.
The couple quietly split in late 2024. There wasn't some dramatic "we're going our separate ways" press release. Instead, the clues were digital: fewer tags, no more birthday tributes, and eventually, Rachel moving on to a new production—and a new person. If you're looking for the breakup that changed her life, this was it.
Wait, Did She Date Joshua Bassett?
This is where the Google searches get tangled. Many people asking "did Rachel Zegler and Joshua break up" are actually thinking of Joshua Bassett.
The logic makes sense on paper. They are both Disney stars. They both sing. They both have that theater-kid energy. In 2023 and 2024, rumors flew that the two were an item after they were spotted hanging out and supporting each other's music.
Here is the truth: Rachel Zegler and Joshua Bassett never actually dated.
They are close friends. Bassett has been busy with his own complicated dating history (think Olivia Rodrigo and Sabrina Carpenter) and recently went Instagram official with influencer Amelie Zilber in late 2025. Rachel and Joshua Bassett have a "bestie" vibe that the internet desperately tried to turn into a romance. You can't break up if you were never together.
The 2026 Breakup: Rachel and Nathan Louis-Fernand
If you’re seeing news right now about a Rachel Zegler breakup, it’s actually about her most recent partner, Nathan Louis-Fernand.
Rachel started dating Nathan, a dancer she met while starring in Evita at the London Palladium, in the summer of 2025. They were inseparable for months. They did the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade together. They were the classic "summer in London" romance.
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But as of January 2026, things look bleak. Rachel basically nuked her Instagram of all photos featuring Nathan. On New Year's Day, she posted a series of slides that felt like a punch to the gut for shippers. One slide was a Google search for "how to fumble a baddie." Another was a drawing that said, "I’ll never get a boyfriend."
Basically, she’s signaling that she is very much single again.
Why the Confusion Persists
Celebrity dating is a game of telephone. Because Rachel spent three years with a man named Josh (Rivera), the name is permanently etched into her SEO profile. When she posts a sad song or a "single girl" meme, the searches for "Rachel and Josh" spike because fans are still catching up to the fact that she moved on to Nathan—and has now seemingly moved on from him, too.
It’s also worth noting that Rachel is incredibly online. She knows what people are saying. Sometimes she leans into the mystery; other times, she’s brutally honest about her "fumbled" relationships.
What We Know for Sure
- Rachel and Josh Andrés Rivera: Broken up since late 2024.
- Rachel and Joshua Bassett: Never dated, just good friends.
- Rachel and Nathan Louis-Fernand: Likely broken up as of January 2026 based on social media activity and "I'll never get a boyfriend" posts.
What’s Next for Rachel?
Rachel is currently focused on her upcoming film She Gets It from Me and the ongoing rollout for Snow White. If her recent posts are any indication, she’s leaning into her "single era" to start 2026.
For fans, the best way to keep track is to stop looking for a "Josh" and start looking at her Instagram captions. She usually tells us exactly how she’s feeling, even if it’s through a cryptic meme about fumbling a baddie.
If you want to stay updated without getting lost in the "Which Josh?" rabbit hole, follow her official social channels rather than the fan edits. The timeline moves fast, and in the world of Rachel Zegler, the leading man changes as often as the stage production.
Next Steps for Fans:
- Check Rachel's current Instagram following list; she has recently unfollowed Nathan Louis-Fernand, which is usually the final nail in the coffin.
- Watch for Joshua Bassett's upcoming projects with Amelie Zilber to see that timeline play out separately.
- Ignore 2023-era rumors regarding West Side Story stars, as those chapters are firmly closed.