Nina Dobrev and Ian Somerhalder had great chemistry as Elena and Damon on The Vampire
Diaries - and it wasn't exactly shocking when the pair started dating in 2011.
But not all celeb couples are built to last, and the romance was off, by 2013.
Here's why.
While some couples feel age isn't a factor when it comes to love, a difference in life
experience could make it difficult to stay together long-term.
Although these two looked as though they were close in age, in actuality, Dobrev was 24
and Somerhalder was 34 when their three-year relationship came to an end.
It's likely the two were at very different places in their lives due to their ages.
This was more than apparent based on the speed at which Somerhalder moved on.
After his 2013 split with from Dobrev, he started dating actress Nikki Reed.
The two confirmed their relationship in 2014, and became engaged after just six months of
dating.
The couple then tied the knot in 2015, two years before welcoming their daughter.
"I couldn't be happier if I tried."
Inevitably, Dobrev was asked to comment about seeing her ex happily married to someone else.
But she told E! News,
"They look happy and I am happy […] so I don't see why there should be a problem with
that.
The drama is in the media, it's not with us."
"I think what's more awkward is people's anticipation of it being awkward."
Unlike a lot of high-profile relationships that hit the skids, Dobrev and Somerhalder
managed to end their three-year relationship amicably, with the two maintaining a close
friendship.
As Dobrev explained to E! News in 2015,
"If you're with someone for that long, obviously, there's the qualities in them that you enjoy,
and it doesn't change because you're not together anymore."
Acknowledging that their chemistry on the show did not take a dip after their split,
Nina added that the two have a mutual respect for one another in work, and in real life.
"I have an enormous amount of respect and love for him and everyone.
It doesn't change.
It shouldn't.
Otherwise, why were you with them?"
Adding to the impressively smooth breakup story, E! News spoke with sources who supposedly
worked on The Vampire Diaries, who claimed there were no backstage fights when the breakup
happened, and that the pair remained quote "professional" and "supportive."
If you need further evidence that they're still on great terms, look no further than
their shared People's Choice Award for "Favorite On-Screen Chemistry."
In their acceptance speech, Dobrev observed that their characters went from hating to
loving each other, so it's nice to see that the opposite didn't happen with the characters'
real-life counterparts.
If you're wondering how these two managed to stay on good terms, part of it might be
due to Dobrev's personal philosophy.
She told Nylon in 2014,
"I try to be good to everyone, whether it's a love, a friend, an ex.
I'll always try to treat people the way I want to be treated."
"I've learned now that nothing is ever the end of the world, it's just a moment, and
it too shall pass."
Considering she even hangs out with Somerhalder and Nikki Reed, it's clear Dobrev is intent
on taking the high road.
The trio grabbed dinner in 2017, with both ladies posting about the evening, and Nikki
writing:
"So here's to putting an end to all those fake stories of on set jealousy, betrayal,
made-up-friendships lost [and] women hating women."
As Reed and Somerhalder demonstrate, not every Hollywood romance has to end terribly.
Sometimes, people learn and grow from relationships and just move on.
If you think Somerhalder and Dobrev have been blowing smoke about how chill they are since
their breakup, we present you with this evidence: Dobrev reprising her role as Elena Gilbert
for The Vampire Diaries finale in 2017.
In the episode, Elena and her ongoing love interest, Damon, quote, "got to live happily
ever after," according to USA Today.
"Damon?"
"Elena."
"What's going on?"
After the series wrapped, Dobrev revealed on Watch What Happens Live,
"I think the show had a satisfying, awesome… for me it was great, because I got to go back
and be a part of the finale and say goodbye and pay homage to the characters.
So I was really happy with that for sure."
It's no secret that fans of The Vampire Diaries were passionate, especially when it came to
the romance between Elena and Damon.
Known as "Delena" fans, their enthusiasm grew exponentially when Dobrev and Somerhalder
got together in real life.
Although there's nothing wrong with shipping a celeb couple, perhaps the fandom put too
much pressure on the pair, making their relationship more work than fun.
Our suspicion rests on what Somerhalder had to say about Delena fans in 2019, when he
claimed,
"Delena fans were actually really problematic.
Yeah, they were mean to like my family and me, and it just got really weird for a little
while.
I shipped Elena and Damon like crazy until the ship just got negative."
Yikes.
Due to the negativity, Somerhalder ended up shipping Elena with Paul Wesley's Stefan Salvatore,
in the end.
We can't say for certain, but Dobrev and Somerhalder don't seem like the type of people who would
stay in an unhappy relationship just to save face.
So we're going to go out on a limb here and say it's possible their breakup was motivated
by their attitudes, as Dobrev demonstrated on Watch What Happens Live.
It all started when a fan called into the show, asking whether Nina finds it quote "weird"
that she's close with both Somerhalder and his wife, Nikki Reed.
To that, Dobrev replied:
"I don't think that's weird at all.
I think that's great."
"It’s awesome!"
"Why can't everyone be friends?"
"They are happy - and so am I, and what's bad about that?"
Clearly, Dobrev doesn't care what fans think about her so-called modern friendship.
And that's just fine with us.
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