5 Shocking Revelations About Paul Mescal And Phoebe Bridgers’ Breakup And Who They Are Dating Now In 2025

The whirlwind romance between Irish actor Paul Mescal and American singer-songwriter Phoebe Bridgers captivated the internet, becoming a defining celebrity relationship of the early 2020s. Their connection, which began with a simple Twitter exchange and blossomed into a two-year partnership, ended as privately and cryptically as it began, leaving fans clamoring for details about the split and their current lives.

As of December 2025, both stars have moved on, embracing new, high-profile relationships and focusing on major career projects. This article dives deep into the legacy of their relationship, the subtle clues about the breakup, and the definitive status of their separate lives today, including the details on their new partners, Gracie Abrams and Bo Burnham.

The Mescal-Bridgers Profile: A Quick Biography Snapshot

Before their paths crossed, both Paul Mescal and Phoebe Bridgers had established themselves as critical darlings in their respective fields, known for their raw, emotionally charged work.

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• Paul Mescal (Irish Actor)
  • Full Name: Paul Mescal
  • Born: Maynooth, County Kildare, Ireland
  • Education: Graduated from The Lir Academy at Trinity College Dublin (2017).
  • Breakthrough Role: Connell Waldron in the BBC/Hulu miniseries Normal People (2020), earning him a Primetime Emmy nomination.
  • Acclaim: Received an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor for his performance in Aftersun (2022).
  • Upcoming Projects: Set to star in the highly anticipated historical drama Hamnet (2025) and the blockbuster sequel Gladiator 2.
• Phoebe Bridgers (American Singer-Songwriter)
  • Full Name: Phoebe Lucille Bridgers
  • Born: Pasadena, California, United States (August 17, 1994).
  • Genre: Indie folk, indie rock.
  • Solo Discography: Debut album Stranger in the Alps (2017) and the acclaimed Punisher (2020), which features the hit track "Kyoto."
  • Collaborations: A prominent member of the supergroup Boygenius, alongside Julien Baker and Lucy Dacus.
  • Style: Known for her deeply introspective, melancholic lyrics and distinctive skeleton suit stage wear.

1. The Social Media Spark: How 'Connell's Chain' Started It All

The genesis of the "internet's favorite couple" was a thoroughly modern tale, starting with a fan crush on Twitter in May 2020.

Phoebe Bridgers, like the rest of the world, was enamored with Paul Mescal’s performance in Normal People, specifically his character Connell Waldron’s iconic silver chain. She tweeted, "Finished Normal People and now I’m sad and horny oh wait." Mescal responded, "I’m officially dead."

This playful exchange quickly moved to private DMs, leading to Phoebe Bridgers flying to Ireland to meet Mescal in person later that year. Their first public sighting together was in a small café in Kinsale, County Cork, solidifying the rumors. The pair kept their relationship intensely private for over a year, only officially confirming it in November 2021 by posing together on the red carpet at the LACMA Art+Film Gala in Los Angeles.

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By late 2022, rumors of an engagement were swirling, fueled by Phoebe Bridgers referring to Mescal as her "fiancé" during an intimate gathering. This public perception of a solid, long-term commitment made the subsequent breakup news even more surprising to fans.

2. The Cryptic Breakup and Mescal's "Difficult Territory" Comment

The relationship reportedly came to an end in late 2022, with rumors circulating in December of that year.

Neither Mescal nor Bridgers ever released a formal statement about the split, maintaining the private nature of their romance even in its dissolution. The first public acknowledgement of the difficulty came from Mescal in an interview.

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When asked about the rumored split, Mescal stated that talking about the breakup was "difficult territory" and that "the stuff that is private is private for a reason."

Phoebe Bridgers, known for weaving personal experiences into her music, also offered subtle commentary. Her collaboration with SZA on the song "Ghost in the Machine" contains lyrics widely speculated to be about the breakup, including the line, "You said all of my friends are on my payroll / You’re not wrong, actually."

This highly public, yet intensely private, heartbreak became a central theme for both artists, showcasing the emotional toll of dating in the celebrity spotlight.

3. Paul Mescal's New Romance: Going Strong with Gracie Abrams in 2025

Following the breakup, Paul Mescal kept his dating life low-key, but by mid-2023, he was strongly linked to American singer-songwriter Gracie Abrams, the daughter of filmmaker J.J. Abrams.

• The Timeline: The pair were first spotted together in mid-2023. They maintained a private relationship for nearly a year, mirroring Mescal's previous approach.
• Instagram Official: In a major step for the notoriously private actor, the couple went "Instagram official" with a cozy selfie, confirming their romance to the public.
• Current Status (April 2025 Update): Despite Mescal’s demanding filming schedule for projects like Gladiator 2 and Hamnet, sources in April 2025 confirmed that the relationship is "still going strong," managing the distance and busy schedules.
• Mescal's Comment: Mescal has made rare comments about Abrams, stating that "everything to do" with their relationship is "deeply private," a clear boundary set to protect their bond from the intense media scrutiny he experienced previously.

4. Phoebe Bridgers’ Partnership with Comedian Bo Burnham

Almost immediately after the Mescal breakup rumors began, Phoebe Bridgers was linked to comedian, writer, and director Bo Burnham, known for his critically acclaimed special Inside.

• The Start: Romance rumors between Bridgers and Burnham began circulating in late 2022, shortly after the split from Mescal.
• Public Sightings: The couple has been photographed together multiple times, often showing public displays of affection. They have attended events together and have been spotted on casual outings.
• The Dynamic: Their relationship marks a shift for Bridgers, pairing her with another highly creative, introspective artist who also maintains a strong sense of privacy regarding his personal life. Bo Burnham has even made appearances on stage with Bridgers during her musical performances.
• Creative Output: Bridgers’ work with her band Boygenius continues to flourish, with their 2023 album The Record receiving widespread critical acclaim and multiple Grammy nominations, demonstrating her focus on her creative partnerships.

5. The Legacy: Why the Mescal-Bridgers Romance Still Matters

The relationship between Paul Mescal and Phoebe Bridgers, though brief, left a significant cultural footprint. It was a perfect storm of two rising stars—one a breakout TV actor, the other an indie music icon—whose shared aesthetic of emotional vulnerability resonated profoundly with a millennial and Gen Z audience.

Their story highlights the intense pressure and invasive speculation faced by young celebrities. The speed at which they were labeled "engaged" and the subsequent intense scrutiny of their breakup—with fans dissecting every lyric and cryptic quote—underscores the difficulty of maintaining a normal life in the age of social media and instant celebrity gossip. Ultimately, the legacy of their romance is less about the love story itself and more about the cultural moment it represented: a shared, collective obsession with the private lives of two artists who dared to be publicly vulnerable.