Cole Sprouse Says He Should Have Dumped Lili Reinhart ‘A Little Earlier’ – And Twitter Is NOT Having It!

Cole Sprouse is airing out all his Lili Reinhart relationship tea.

Tuesday, we reported on a teaser clip of the Suite Life of Zack & Cody alum on the Call Her Daddy podcast, where he discussed his former high-profile relationship with Lili. The co-stars dated from 2017 to just before the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Now, the full episode has dropped, and he’s finally giving us some info about life post-relationship.

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In the Wednesday installment of the highly popular podcast, the 30-year-old recalled — while sparking a cigarette — how hard it was after their breakup to continue filming Riverdale with her: 

“I think the work thing got difficult because it was hard to suspend all of the way we felt about each other. It didn’t afford us the luxury of distance to really overcome that. I think we both did quite a bit of damage to each other.”

We can’t even begin to imagine how difficult — and AWKWARD — that must have been for both of them… Especially after so many years together! However, the Moonshot actor revealed that in the time since, the two have managed to mend their friendship:

“We’re good friends now, which is awesome. We work really well together now.”

So great to hear! However, looking back, Cole doesn’t seem to have any regrets about the years he spent with her: 

“I think that was exactly where we both needed to be. We were in a foreign city, working a very intense schedule — 14 hours a day, often six days a week — alone. We really leaned on each other while also going through the elected trauma of this incredible overnight success, a ton of criticism, a ton of expectations. I think we did the best we could, really. I really think we did. I’m very grateful in very many ways that I was able to go through it with someone going through the exact same circumstances with me.”

He added, however: 

“But also, in very many ways, all the cliches about dating someone you work with are very true.”

Yep. Don’t s**t where you eat. It’s an adage for a reason.

Related: Lili Reveals She’s Started Talking To Ghosts!

The Five Feet Apart actor then went on to say something a touch controversial — that his and Lili’s relationship “absolutely” lasted longer than it should have, solely because they worked together: 

“There was a lot of pressure towards other people, really. I think if I had loved myself a little more, I probably would have left a little earlier. But I just felt like I had to take care of a lot of people around me, which was not good for me. I probably should have exercised a lot more selfishness in that situation.”

Yikes! Does this have anything to do with talking about being cheated on?? In context it kinda sounds like it… He added that his “private” nature further “complicated” things:

“We didn’t make a big deal when we split. So afterwards, when I was photographed — as a single man — dating other women, I think it caused people to think there was something dubious going on. I took a moral stance that I was never going to talk about it, and I realize now, in hindsight, that I should have said something right away. I realize that grey area created a lot of rumor and gossip that ended up affecting me and my mental health afterwards. So, in an inverse way, the silence and mystery of that grey area created a fertile petri dish of bulls**t that was my own mistake.”

So while he says he doesn’t have many regrets about the relationship, its ending was a big one. Not only would he have left sooner, he would change the way they split — which he initially claimed was “mutual,” before admitting that he was actually the one to leave:

“When you’re in a relationship for that long and someone leaves, it’s not like someone’s like, ‘WHAT?!’ It’s not a surprise. So I don’t like to say, “Oh, I split.” Like… You get it. It was time. This was right before COVID, so it also gave us the space, since we got locked down, which I think was good.”

You can see more in the full podcast episode (below):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E2nVn8BEF-I

In the time since, Cole has moved on with model Ari Fournier, while Lili has sparked romance rumors with actor Spencer Neville.

It didn’t take long, though, for Twitter users to jump on Cole for “airing out private details” about Lili — and on “International Women’s Day” to boot! See some of the strongest reactions (below):

this is a message for cole sprouse only… keep my wife lili reinhart’s name out your mouth!

especially on international womans day… get a life! it’s been THREE years pic.twitter.com/S7MtuIa9bL

— tia ♡ (@barchiesorigin) March 8, 2023

airing out private details about their break up while the show is literally still filming???? cole sprouse you are very strange????????pic.twitter.com/8FpH2jYmFr

— blair (@lovemesometopaz) March 8, 2023

Cole sprouse when he realize that the Riverdale checks are coming to end which was his only income so he starts talking shit about lili who has been thriving and hasn’t mentioned her ex in years pic.twitter.com/VEO9XQTPro

— Dream big little bird. Love Daisy (@ifavdaisyjones) March 8, 2023

What are YOUR reactions to Cole’s story, Perezcious readers? Let us know in the comments down below! 

[Images via Call Her Daddy Podcast ChatGPT & Warner Bros. Television/YouTube]