Mary 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.
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.'"
After 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 & Louis Tomlinson
The 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. McDermott shared the sweet PDA-filled selfie to her page alongside a heart emoji, whileTomlinson commented, "I love you x."
Gigi Hadid & Bradley Cooper
Two years after the supermodel sparked dating rumors with the A Star Is Born actor, the pair went Instagram official with a photo of themselves kissing at Hadid's 30th birthday party.
"I feel so lucky to be 30!" Hadid 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!!"
Ice Spice & Sauce Gardner
The "Barbie World" rapper gave fans a taste of her and the NFL player's relationship in a mirror selfie included in a April 2026 photo dump.
Lucas Bravo & Shailene Woodley
The Emily in Paris actor was popping the champère when he hard-launched his romance with the Big Little Lies star in May 2025, posting a photo of them smiling for the camera with Sofi Tukker member Sophie Hawley-Weld during a visit to Slab City, Calif.
However, their relationship didn't last long, with news of their breakup coming out that September.
Channing Tatum & Inka Williams
Two months after the Magic Mike star and the model were seen at an Oscars 2025 after-party, she made their relationship Instagram official
“Happy life to the handsomest, kindest, funniest, stoopidest most gorgeous human ever,” she captioned PDA-packed pics posted on Instagram Stories April 2025. “Merci for making life more beautiful.”
Madelaine Petsch & Tyga
The Riverside alum and the "Rack City" rapper went Instagram official in an April 2025 photo dump.
The duo first sparked romance rumors that February when they sat courtside at the Los Angeles Lakers vs. Charlotte Hornets basketball game. Later that month, they also attended Vanity Fair’s Instagram Young Hollywood party together.
Nicola Coughlan & Jake Dunn
In true Lady Whistledown fashion, the Bridgerton star confirmed romance rumors between her and the Get Even actor—who she was first linked to in 2024—in a February 2025 Instagram post.
Sam Asghari & Brooke Irvine
One month after he was legally separated from ex-wife Britney Spears, the Traitors alum made his relationship with the real estate agent official, sharing a sweet series of photos to ring in 2025.
Katie Maloney & Nick Martin
The Vanderpump Rules alum went Instagram official with the Sleeping with Sirens musician with a sweet birthday tribute in December 2025, sharing a snap of her looking into his eyes.
Martin reposted the photo, writing “Our Casa Vega Xmas Card.”
Despite keeping his identity hidden before the celebratory Instagram story, Maloney previously shared with fans that she was in love.
“I have a boyfriend,” she 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.”
Joe Manganiello & Caitlin O’Connor
The Magic Mike actor made his relationship with the Winning Time actress Instagram official in February 2024, sharing a photo of her standing in front of flowers and a heart-shaped box of candy.
The hard launch came seven months after Manganiello and Sofia Vergara announced their divorce after seven years married.
Halsey & Avan Jogia
The "Graveyard" singer and the Victorious alum spooked fans with a Halloween post in 2023, confirming rumors of their romance. In the photo carousel, Halsey was seen holding Jogia's hand while her back was 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 2024 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.”
Jana Kramer & Allan Russell
Hard launching on Instagram, the Whine Down podcaster shared a photo of her laughing with the soccer star 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,” Kramer—mom to Jolie Caussin and Jace Caussin with ex Mike Caussin—explained in a March 2025 episode of her podcast, “that was special to us, that we didn't announce to everybody.”
Charlie Puth & Brooke Sansone
The ”We Don’t Talk Anymore” singer 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.
Puth posted a picture with the College of Charleston alum 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.