Mary Beth Barone Shuts Down Joe Alwyn Romance Rumors With One Post

Joe Alwyn and Mary Beth Barone Step Out Together in New York CityMary Beth Barone was only having conversations with a friend. Less than a week after sparking romance speculation with Joe Alwyn, the Overcompensating actress set the record straight with one simple post. Front and center on her Instagram Sept. 22 was a screenshot of an article announcing she and Alwyn will be starring in a new rom-com called Still We Met. (The Galaxy Brain star will also be writing the upcoming movie loosely based on her own experiences.) And that's not all the update revealed. Additionally, Lena Dunham will serve as executive producer of the movie, which is described as following "a young woman at a crossroads who meets a charming British stranger and spends one unforgettable night wandering New York." Of course, Barone, 35, made sure to add some humor to her clarification as well. In addition to including a silly selfie of her and Alwyn, also 35, in a dimly lit restaurant, the comedian hilariously captioned the post, "Hard launching this project."Following the reveal, Barone's Overcompensating costar Benny Drama—real name Benito Skinner—expressed his relief that the truth finally came to light, quipping in the comments, "U guys can stop texting me now !" Barone and Alwyn—who was most recently linked to Sarah Pidgeon in June and previously dated Taylor Swift for six years—first had people theorizing a romance was brewing between them on Sept. 17, when they stepped out together in New York City. During the outing, the pair were photographed strolling across the Williamsburg Bridge and stopping at a local bar, where Barone even sported Alwyn's baseball hat as they chatted at the counter.Instagram And while this may be the first time Barone—who dated actor Edward Bluemel from 2021 to 2024—has used social media to shut down the rumor mill, it's certainly not her first time using humor to set the record straight on her relationship status. Back in July, the Ride podcast host joked that she was briefly in a fake relationship with Lucas Bravo to drum up "publicity" for her Netflix special Galaxy Brain. "I said, 'How about a marketing budget?'" Barone shared during her July 29 appearance on Late Night with Seth Meyers. "[Netflix] said, "Not that, but we could set you up in a PR relationship. Choose a guy from any of our Netflix properties.'" Photo by Jamie McCarthy/WireImage / Photo by TheStewartofNY/Getty ImagesAfter Netflix told her that "the chef from Emily in Paris is available," Barone recalled, "Our first date was courtside at the Knicks. We went to the Cannes Film Festival, and we had to have sex a few times for legal reasons." She jokingly added, "We're not together anymore, though. We just did the three-month contract." For stars who have actually hard-launched romances on social media, keep reading. Zara McDermott/InstagramZara McDermott & Louis TomlinsonThe Love Island alum and the One Direction singer took the major milestone in their relationship in August 2025, nearly six months after they first sparked romance rumors. Zara shared the sweet PDA-filled selfie to her page alongside a heart emoji, while Louis commented, "I love you x."Instagram/Luke NewtonLuke Newton & Antonia RoumeliotiLuke Newton confirmed his romance with Antonia Roumelioti in a May 9 Instagram post with a snap of him giving him a loving kiss on the cheek. The two, who first sparked romance rumors in June 2024, attended British Vogue and Netflix’s pre-BAFTA TV Awards party together, showing her off as his diamond of the season. BACKGRIDGigi Hadid & Bradley CooperPosting a photo of the two kissing at her 30th birthday party on May 3, Gigi Hadid hard launched her relationship with boyfriend Bradley Cooper a week after the star-studded celebrations. "I feel so lucky to be 30!" the supermodel captioned the Instagram post. "I feel so lucky for every high and low- for all the lessons and gifts both have brought me. To get to feel it all! I’m so lucky to be a mom, friend, partner, sister, daughter, colleague to some of the most unbelievable humans!!"The couple first started dating in 2023, but they only recently went public with it when Gigi told Vogue in a March 11 interview that their relationship is “very romantic and happy.”Instagram/Ice SpiceIce Spice & Sauce GardnerIce Spice gave fans a taste of her and Sauce Gardner’s new relationship in a mirror selfie included in a April 29 photo dump. Relationship rumors between the “Barbie World” rapper and New York Jets player began swirling when Ice Spice attended a Jets game in September. The couple have been spotted out together since then, including at the 2025 Vanity Fair Oscars Party. Instagram/Lucas BravoLucas Bravo & Shailene WoodleyLucas Bravo and Shailene Woodley are popping the champère as they celebrate hard launching. The Emily in Paris actor shared a carousel of photos in April 2025 from their trip to Slab City, California, including shots of them holding hands in the desert, posing for a selfie with cowboy hats and smiling for the camera with Sofi Tukker member Sophie Hawley-Weld. Their getaway comes one month after Lucas confirmed their relationship, telling People that, “I’m really happy.”The Big Little Lies actress was first suspected to be dating Lucas when photographed on a romantic stroll in Paris, France, his arms wrapped around her while holding hands. GAMR/Khrome / BACKGRIDChanning Tatum & Inka WilliamsTwo months after confirming their relationship at an after-party for the 2025 Oscars, Inka Williams made her and Channing Tatum’s relationship Instagram official. The Magic Mike star planted a kiss on her forehead as she wished him happy birthday in the caption of the April 2025 post. “Happy life to the handsomest, kindest, funniest, stoopidest most gorgeous human ever,” she captioned the Instagram story. “Merci for making life more beautiful.”Instagram/Madelaine Petsch Madelaine Petsch & TygaMadelaine Petsch and Tyga went Instagram official in an April 21 photo dump from the Riverdale alum. She shared a look into their romance, posting a picture of her and the “Faded” rapper together at Coachella as she rests her head on Tyga’s shoulder as well as another of the duo hugging while staring into the night sky.The duo first sparked romance rumors in February when they sat courtside at the Los Angeles Lakers vs. Charlotte Hornets basketball game on Feb. 19. Later that month, they also attended Vanity Fair’s Instagram Young Hollywood party together. Mike Marsland/WireImageNicola Coughlan & Jake DunnIn true Lady Whistledown fashion, Nicola Coughlan confirmed romance rumors between her and Jake Dunn circling the town in an Instagram post in February. Wishing the Renegade Nell actor a “Happy Birthday,” she shared a photo of him to her Instagram Stories. The duo sparked romance rumors during the All Points East music festival last summer, with speculating fueling months later following an outing in London. Instagram/Sam AsghariSam Asghari & Brooke IrvineOne month after he was legally separated from ex-wife Britney Spears, Sam Asghari made his relationship with Brooke Irvine official, sharing a sweet series of photos to ring in the new year. Katie Maloney / InstagramKatie Maloney & Nick MartinThe Vanderpump Rules alum went Instagram official with Nick Martin with a sweet birthday tribute in December, alongside a snap of her looking into his eyes. The rocker reposted the photo, writing “Our Casa Vega Xmas Card.”Despite keeping his identity hidden before the celebratory Instagram story, she previously shared with fans that she was in love.“I have a boyfriend,” Katie revealed in an October episode of her costar Dana Kathan’s podcast Disrespectfully. “He just makes me feel really special, and he’s really special.”InstagramJoe Manganiello & Caitlin O’ConnorThe Magic Mike actor made his relationship with Caitlin O’Connor official in February 2024 after making their red carpet debut two months prior. The hard launch came seven months after Joe and Sofia Vergara announced their divorce after seven years married. In a photo dump captioned his “week in review,” Joe shared some photos from his celebration with the Winning Time actress, including a sweet selfie of her standing in front of flowers and a heart-shaped box of candy. Kevork Djansezian/Getty ImagesHalsey & Avan JogiaHalsey and Avan Jogia spooked fans with a Halloween post in 2023, confirming rumors of their romance. In the photo carousel, Halsey is seen holding the Victorious alum’s hand while her back is turned away from the camera. The two were first spotted kissing on a date one month earlier in Hollywood, and now, the two are engaged. She confirmed as much in September by responding to a post on X that read, “Halsey says she hopes to marry boyfriend Avan Jogia.”As for her edits, she simply wrote, “***fiancé Avan Jogia.”InstagramJana Kramer & Allan RussellHard launching on Instagram, Jana Kramer shared a photo of her laughing with her soccer star Allan Russell as he wrapped his arms around her. She captioned the January 2023 post, “Back where is all started.”More than a year later, the duo, who share son Roman Russell, tied the knot in a July 2024 ceremony in Scotland, though she later revealed they had legally married earlier that year in January. “Just to have that little something for us,” Jana, mom to Jolie Caussin and Jace Caussin with ex Mike Caussin, explained in a March 2025 episode of her Whine Down podcast, “that was special to us, that we didn't announce to everybody.”InstagramCharlie Puth & Brooke SansoneCharlie Puth announced in October 2022 he was dating someone on The Howard Stern Show, revealing he was “definitely” in love. However, it was not until one month later in December when he shared who that special someone was in an Instagram post. The ”We Don’t Talk Anymore” singer posted a picture with Brooke Sansone for his 31st birthday. “Ohhhhh I’m NOT a loser… ‘cause I didn’t lose her!!!”, he wrote under the pictures of the duo kissing in a photobooth. “(Happy birthday to me.)”The duo went on to tie the knot in September 2024.For the latest breaking news updates, click here to download the E! News App