The Truth About Nina Dobrev And Shaun White
Nothing starts celebrity dating rumors like a bike ride through Malibu... and the internet was definitely buzzing after Nina Dobrev and Shaun White enjoyed a ride together recently, according to E! News. The pair was all smiles in paparazzi photos, and it appeared White was holding Dobrev's dog while they pedaled around town.
The Vampire Diaries star sported a black puffer coat, black jeans, and sneakers while the three-time Olympic gold medalist kept it more casual in a long-sleeve white t-shirt, black shorts, and black sneakers.
This wasn't the first time the couple has hung out, a source told E! News. They've apparently been spending a fair amount of time together, though they aren't officially dating. "Nina and Shaun have been spending a lot of time together recently," the insider shared. "Their relationship doesn't have an official title right now, but that's pretty normal for Nina."
While biking around Malibu on March 22, Dobrev and White stayed a safe distance apart — most likely to follow safe social distancing as outlined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in an effort to control the spread of COVID-19.
Nina Dobrev's rocky dating history
Back in November 2019, Nina Dobrev and Grant Mellon split after less than a year together, per E! News. The former couple was initially linked in early January of that year, but stayed under the radar for the first several months. After going public with their relationship at Lakers games and the Cannes Film Festival, the two started to drift apart.
"Nina hasn't brought him around to any of her events in over a month and hasn't mentioned Grant," a source told E! News at the time. "She has been partying and hanging out with friends without him. Nina seems to be doing fine but none of their friends have seen or talked to Grant."
Perhaps the actress' most public breakup was with Vampire Diaries co-star Ian Somerhalder. According to Us Weekly, the two started dating in 2010 after meeting on the show. With the on-screen pair dating off-screen as well, the show's fans were heavily invested in their relationship and were devastated the pair called it quits in 2013.
The couple's 10-year age gap was blamed for the breakup. A source told Life & Style Magazine that Somerhalder was talking about marriage, while Dobrev wasn't ready to make that type of commitment. Dobrev was also linked to Scream Queens actor Glen Powell in 2017, though their relationship didn't last long.
Shaun White and the infamous lawsuit
Nina Dobrev's rocky dating history is rather tame compared to what the athlete has been through. Right before the 2018 Olympics — where Shaun White would become the first American to win gold medals at three consecutive games — news of a sexual harassment lawsuit against him hit the news.
Page Six reported in 2016 that former bandmate, drummer Lena Zawaideh, accused the snowboarder of several years of sexual harassment. In the formal complaint, Zawaideh claimed White forced her to view sexually explicit and graphic images of male genitals, forced her to watch sexually disturbing videos including ones that "sexualized fecal matter," and made sexual remarks to her.
Though the matter was settled in 2017, it became headline news as White got ready to hit the press circuit for the 2018 Olympics. White called the complaint "bogus" and refused to address the lawsuit or settlement when asked by reporters, according to The Washington Post. "Many years ago, I exchanged texts with a friend who is now using them to craft a bogus lawsuit," the Olympian claimed to TMZ through his lawyer in 2016.
Despite any past drama, it sounds like White and Dobrev have moved forward. And fans will just have to wait and see whether a romantic relationship unfolds between them.