Nina Dobrev and Shaun White have called off their engagement and gone their separate ways after five years together, according to an exclusive report.
A source told the Daily Mail that the pair had been moving in different directions for some time, with competing priorities straining the relationship. The insider said White, 39, who has retired from competitive snowboarding, was ready to marry and start a family, while Dobrev, 36, remained focused on advancing her acting career. "As much as they had the same ideals and wanted to enjoy the same ride, they naturally couldn't come together on a common goal and that was the strain on their relationship," the source said. The Daily Mail reported that both were to blame and decided to end the engagement before their differences deepened.
Dobrev and White began dating in 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, and White proposed in October 2024. The couple frequently shared public glimpses of their relationship, from travels abroad to social outings in Los Angeles. The source told the Daily Mail that the circumstances of meeting and forming a relationship during pandemic lockdowns made the later transition to normal life difficult for both.
Friends and observers noted that their public schedule had shifted in recent months. They were seen together in Los Angeles on Aug. 31, and Dobrev attended the premiere of Eternity at the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival on Sept. 7 without her five-carat engagement ring. She also removed an Instagram post featuring photos from White's candlelit proposal at The Golden Swan restaurant in New York City. Representatives for Dobrev and White did not respond to requests for comment, the Daily Mail said.
Dobrev previously described aspects of the couple's routine in interviews. In January 2024 she told People that they kept the relationship fresh with weekly date nights, taking turns planning surprises. She also discussed the logistical challenges of the partnership, noting that much of their time early on involved traveling to accommodate White's training and competitions, and that the pandemic period was unusual because it kept them together when schedules were otherwise disrupted.
In a separate interview with Vogue about the engagement, Dobrev recounted that White orchestrated a ruse involving a fake invitation to an intimate dinner allegedly featuring then‑Editor‑in‑Chief Anna Wintour to get her to the restaurant where he would propose. She said the elaborate setup left her momentarily stunned and later joyful.
The split highlights a recurring theme for relationships that began during pandemic lockdowns, when couples reported accelerated bonding under unusual circumstances and then faced different pressures as public life resumed. The Daily Mail's account said the couple recognized they had become "stuck in their own ways" and opted to separate rather than attempting to force a future that did not align with both partners' goals.
Dobrev and White's relationship drew attention for its blending of an actor's rising career and an athlete's transition to retirement and business pursuits. White has pursued entrepreneurship and occasional acting since stepping away from competitive snowboarding. According to the Daily Mail source, those post‑career plans included a desire to start a family, a priority that diverged from Dobrev's professional ambitions.
The couple's breakup follows a public engagement of less than a year. With both still in their 30s, the source told the Daily Mail they were "smart enough to get out now while they still are young and while they still can move on from each other without any baggage." The report did not indicate whether either party plans to issue a statement.
This account is based primarily on an exclusive report by the Daily Mail and on past interviews Dobrev gave to People and Vogue that addressed their relationship and engagement.