Madelaine Petsch has publicly pushed back on rumors that the Riverdale cast engaged in on-set hookups, a topic revived after co-star KJ Apa disclosed that he lost his virginity during the show's run. Petsch, 31, addressed the chatter on the Call Her Daddy podcast this week, saying she wanted to set the record straight about the series. "May I set the record straight about "Riverdale," actually?" she asked at the start of her appearance. She then asserted that she did not violate the standard "no on-set romance" vibe she believed existed among the cast, reiterating her stance with a direct denial.
"Recently, an article came out saying that we all f****d each other on the show. I did not touch a single person on that show with a 10-foot pole," Petsch said on the podcast, delivering the clearest public denial to date. She added that she does not engage in relationships that blur professional boundaries and insisted she has never hooked up with a co-star. The actress also explained that the conversation with her colleagues has been shaped by boundaries she’s drawn for her own career path, emphasizing that she does not mix business with romance on the set.
Petsch went on to say that her on-set approach was influenced by Cole Sprouse, who dated Lili Reinhart for several years during the show’s run. She recalled that Sprouse advised her not to pursue relationships with fellow cast members, calling it the best advice she’s ever received. "Okay, got it. I won’t," she quoted herself as replying, indicating she learned to navigate the complex dynamics that can arise when co-workers become romantically involved.
Apa’s own revelations about Riverdale romance had come earlier, when he told Entertainment Weekly in August that he and other co-stars did hook up as part of the show’s off-screen culture. He described a dynamic where relationships formed within the ensemble were common, adding that such entanglements sometimes followed them onto set. "There’s a lot of drama that comes on shows like that. Not to say in like a gossipy kind of way, but it’s just part of the environment, I guess — part of the deal," he said. "You hook up with them, people hook up with each other." He also spoke about waiting to have sex, describing himself as a "proud Christian boy" before admitting that he eventually had sex with an unnamed actor on set, which he said made things "a little complicated" on the production.
Riverdale aired for seven seasons, from 2017 to 2023, on the CW. The series’ ensemble included Petsch alongside actors such as Camila Mendes, Casey Cott, and Charles Melton, with Lili Reinhart and Cole Sprouse among the more widely discussed relationships connected to the show’s cast. The topic of cast romances has long lingered in coverage of Riverdale, where fans have tracked on-screen chemistry, off-screen friendships, and the rumors that often accompany a teen drama with a tight-knit, high-profile cast.
Petsch’s comments come as she continues to navigate public perceptions of her personal life in the context of a show that remains a touchstone for a generation of fans. By addressing the rumors directly, she aims to decouple her professional work from the gossip that has sometimes surrounded Riverdale’s cast members. The actor has previously spoken about the challenges of performing in a high-pressure, youth-focused production, including the industry’s appetite for private details about stars’ relationships. In this period of renewed media attention, Petsch’s stance reinforces a boundary she has set between her career and any informal, off-camera dynamics that may exist among the cast.
As the discourse around Riverdale’s cast continues, the interplay between star power, rumor, and fan interest remains a defining feature of how the show is remembered. While Apa’s disclosures opened the door to renewed conversation about the show’s on-set atmosphere, Petsch’s insistence on privacy and professional boundaries adds a measured counterpoint to the broader narrative. The conversation underscores how former on-screen ensembles grapple with the legacies of their productions and the way those legacies are interpreted by audiences long after shooting has ended.