The world of showbiz is often rife with rumors and speculations about the relationships between co - stars. One such long - standing question in the entertainment industry has been whether Lea Michele was in love with Jonathan Groff. To answer this, we need to take a deep dive into their shared history and the events that unfolded during their time together.
Lea Michele and Jonathan Groff first came into the spotlight together when they starred in the edgy Broadway musical "Spring Awakening." In the musical, they played two lovesick teenagers, Melchior (Groff) and Wendla (Michele). The story, which involves Melchior falling for Wendla and taking her virginity in an intimate scene at the end of Act I, was bound to create an intense on - stage connection.
As it turns out, the emotions on - stage seemed to spill over into their real lives. In the upcoming HBO documentary "Spring Awakening: Those You've Known," Michele revealed that she "fell in love with him in more ways than one" while working on the musical with Groff. The material they were given, which required them to portray a deep - seated love, contributed to these developing feelings. Groff himself admitted that they were "grasping onto each other, we were really in love" during their performances.
Michele's feelings became so strong that she decided to make them known. She recalled in the documentary that she "cornered him at a party" and said, "Why don't you love me? Just love me. Why can't you love me? Date me. Love me." However, in that moment, she saw a look in Groff's eyes that made her realize something was amiss. She said, "in that moment, I knew. I realized in that moment, 'this is the end. ' and I need to protect this. This is intense."
It was then that Michele realized Groff wasn't straight. She added that she "never asked him again about his sexuality." According to Michele, Groff "felt safe with me because he knew that I knew and that we could be best friends." This realization didn't put an end to their relationship, though. Instead, it transformed their connection into a strong friendship that has endured to this day.
Groff's upbringing in a "religious" community "surrounded by the Amish" made him hesitant to be open about his sexuality. He once said, "I felt … ashamed of who I was. I guess I was also afraid that if people knew who I was, they wouldn't find what I was doing believable." This context helps to understand why he may not have been able to reciprocate Michele's romantic feelings at the time.
Since then, both Michele and Groff have had their own romantic lives. Michele got engaged to Zandy Reich, the president of clothing company AYR, in 2018. The two had been dating since July 2017. Groff, on the other hand, has had a series of relationships. He dated a mysterious man for three and a half years before coming out as gay in 2009. After that, he was in a relationship with Gavin Creel from 2009 - 2010, Zachary Quinto from 2010 - 2013, and Corey Baker from 2018 - 2020. As of 2025, Groff is allegedly single. In an interview with Out magazine in May 2024, he said he had been single for a couple of years but was "ready and open for anything," including a relationship.
In conclusion, it seems clear that Lea Michele was in love with Jonathan Groff at one point in time. Their shared experience in "Spring Awakening" led to real - life emotions that Michele bravely expressed. Although their romantic connection didn't work out, they were able to build a lasting friendship. Their story is a fascinating chapter in the history of Broadway and the lives of these two talented actors.