It’s over for real-life Hallmark couple and former “Vampire Diaries” co-stars Arielle Kebbel and Zach Roerig. Kebbel confirmed their breakup during a February 2026 appearance on Kaitlyn Bristowe’s “Off the Vine” podcast.
The couple’s romance went public when Roerig publicly professed his love for Kebbel at a “Vampire Diaries” fan event in April 2025. But when Bristowe inquired about the status of their relationship now, Kebbel replied, “I haven’t been in a relationship in quite some time” and went on to share breaking up with Roerig was “one of the hardest things I’ve ever done.”
Arielle Kebbel Says She’s ‘Really Leaning Into My Own Life Choices’ After Breakup With Zach Roerig
When Kebbel, who stars in the new feature film “I Can Only Imagine 2,” revealed she’s no longer in a relationship with Roerig early in her “Off the Vine” interview, Bristowe responded, “I’m so sorry.”
“No, don’t, please,” Kebbel said, and Bristowe quipped, “Well, then, congratulations!” That prompted a deep conversation about whether a breakup is always something to be sorry about, with Bristowe sharing that she’s felt more empowered after some breakups.
“I feel like that’s a very vulnerable and important conversation you just brought up,” Kebbel told Bristowe, “’cause I’ve had this conversation with many girlfriends going through either a breakup or divorce, and some is ‘I’m sorry’ because there’s so much love and grief there and others are ‘congratulations’ because it’s the hardest, best thing you could do for yourself.”
“So, actually, I do understand both,” she continued, “but I think what you brought up is so important because depending on the situation and the backstory, it is either one or the other. You know, it’s not always ‘I’m sorry’ or it’s not always ‘congratulations,’ and I think that people are still kind of learning that.”
HallmarkKebbel then said of her breakup with Roerig, “So, for me, definitely it was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done. But … 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, like … in this raw way, like, raw. And, you know, like, yes, feel-good moments, but whoa — I wasn’t really ready…”
“To crack open like that?” Bristowe interjected, and Kebbel answered, “Yes, and get to know myself in a way that’s — like, what it has taught me now is the gratitude of what I’ve learned and also what do I need to explore to completely change patterns for myself in the future for my heart, for my soul, for what I want moving forward. And I don’t think I was ever really able to be that honest with myself until now.”
Fan Videos Revealed Arielle Kebbel & Zach Roerig Romance in April 2025
Kebbel and Roerig had a long history together, given that she played Lexi Branson on the first season of “The Vampire Diaries,” which Roerig starred in from 2009 to 2017 as Matt Donovan, per IMDb. But until attendees at a “Vampire Diaries” fan convention filmed and shared video of Roerig professing his love for Kebbel at the I Was Feeling Epic 3 convention in April 2025, the couple had not disclosed their romance publicly.
In one video, seen above, Roerig surprised Kebbel with a giant bouquet at the event. Looking shocked, she then wrapped her arms around him for a long, sweet kiss and the fans gathered cheered for them.
Roerig could be heard speaking to fans about Kebbel in the video. Though his statement was cut off, he said that he got to “meet this woman, fall in love with her, and get to work with her.” In another fan post Kebbel was seen with her arm around Roerig, who was seated at a table with fans.
It’s not clear if the duo reconnected on the set of “Love in the Great Smoky Mountains” or if they were already dating at the time. The movie marked Roerig’s Hallmark debut, but Kebbel had already appeared in multiple movies on the network, including 2012’s “A Bride for Christmas” and 2015’s “A Bridal Wave” — both co-starring Andrew Walker — as well as 2019’s “A Brush With Love” alongside Nick Bateman.
