The Vampire Diaries’ Arielle Kebbel confirms breakup with co-star Zach Roerig

After less than a year together, Arielle Kebbel and Zach Roerig have decided to part ways.

The former couple, both 41, who famously portrayed Lexi Branson and Matt Donovan on the TV series The Vampire Diaries, confirmed they were dating April last year, eight years after the show ended. 

A video shared on social media delighted fans, showing Roerig surprising Kebbel with a bouquet of flowers at a meet-and-greet and sharing the moment with a kiss in front of cheering supporters.

However, Kebbel has now shared that the relationship has come to an end. In a February 19 episode of Off the Vine Podcast, hosted by Canadian TV personality Kaitlyn Bristowe, the actress acknowledged the split while reflecting on her current chapter.

Reflecting on the decision, she described it as one of the most difficult choices she’s made, but also one that has allowed her to more fully embrace her independence and personal growth.

“For me, definitely, it was one of the hardest things I've ever done. But it was, now I'm in a place of really leaning into my own life choices. I feel like probably for the first time in my life. In this raw way."

Rather than framing breakups as purely painful and heartbreaking, Kebbel noted it can hold different meanings. For some, they warrant sympathy because of the love and loss involved while, for others, they mark a brave step forward. In her case, she said the experience has ultimately pushed her to prioritize her own path.

Years after the end of The Vampire Diaries, Roerig and Kebbel reunited onscreen in the Hallmark film Love in the Great Smoky Mountains: A National Park Romance.

Both actors remain active professionally. Kebbel’s latest project, I Can Only Imagine 2, is now in theaters, and she is set to appear in the upcoming Yellowstone spinoff television series Marshals, premiering on March 1. 

Meanwhile, Roerig was recently featured in the Netflix series Boots and stars in the Western action‑drama film Day of Reckoning.

screen grab from IMDB photo of Arielle Kebbel and Zach Roerig in Love in the Great Smoky Mountains: A National Park Romance