It’s normal to wonder if co-stars from hit TV shows are dating IRL, especially if their characters get together onscreen. That’s the exact question brewing in the minds of High School Musical: The Musical fans about series leads Olivia Rodrigo and Joshua Bassett. The duo portray Nini and Ricky, and their onscreen chemistry has fans wanting them to be more than friends offscreen. Keep reading below to find out if Joshua and Olivia are together or not.
FIRST: WHAT MAKES PEOPLE THINK JOSHUA AND OLIVIA ARE DATING?
The co-stars have made appearances on each other’s social media pages, and even have nicknames for each other, which they reference in their posts. For example, Olivia calls Joshua “Joshy,” and he has sometimes referred to her as “Liv.”
Another reason people have been “shipping” them together is because of a recent Los Angeles Times article, in which Joshua revealed that he improvised the famous “I love you” scene with Olivia’s character, Nini. According to the article, he changed the lines to reflect more of their personal relationship, and it was so impactful, it made Olivia tear up!
It’s also worth noting that the two of them did pen an original ballad for the High School Musical: The Musical soundtrack. Since both of them had already dabbled in songwriting, it made things relatively easy. Plus the process was very memorable for Joshua and Olivia.
SO, ARE THEY OR AREN’T THEY? ARE OLIVIA AND JOSH DATING, OR ARE THEY JUST FRIENDS?
To answer the question, they are, for now anyway, just friends. But, if you want a little feel-good tidbit, you can rest easy knowing that Olivia calls Joshua her best friend, and says that she loves him.
She also got emotional in their big scene because she could recall the memories Joshua (as his character, Ricky) was speaking of. The duo’s onscreen chemistry was obviously made easier due to their offscreen closeness, which is like striking gold in the TV world.
And hey, don’t friendships make the best relationships anyway? Even though they aren’t together now, it doesn’t mean that it couldn’t change down the road. Besides, the last relationship post Olivia made was with Ethan Wacker on Valentine’s Day 2019. Since then, she hasn’t been seen with anyone but Joshua and the rest of her HSM castmates. You can see cute behind the scenes photos (including one Olivia took of just Joshua) below:
At least fans can enjoy Olivia and Joshua’s interviews and fun moments together. That makes watching the High School Musical: The Musical even more exciting!
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Kari Highman is a Beauty and Fashion Blogger at Feeling the Vibe Magazine. Otterbein Alum (2017) – English & Psychology. Always learning & creating. Avid fan of mid 2000’s TV & pop music. Comments or tips, email kari@feelingthevibe.com