In a significant development within the entertainment industry, Samira Wiley, renowned for her role in the groundbreaking Netflix series Orange Is The New Black, and her wife Lauren Morelli have announced they are ending their marriage. The news comes over a decade after the show that famously brought them together first aired, marking the conclusion of a relationship that began on the set of the acclaimed drama.
A Decade-Long Journey Comes to an Amicable End
A representative for the former couple confirmed to media outlets that Wiley and Morelli are amicably filing for divorce. In a joint statement, they expressed, "After nine years together we have decided to end our marriage, however, our lifelong commitment to co-parenting will forever remain." This declaration underscores their dedication to their four-year-old daughter, George Elizabeth, whom they welcomed after tying the knot in a heartfelt ceremony in 2017.
The Show That Changed Everything
The origins of their relationship are deeply intertwined with Orange Is The New Black, a series that not only catapulted Wiley to fame but also served as a pivotal catalyst for Morelli's personal journey. Morelli, who worked as a writer on the show, has openly discussed how the experience helped her come to terms with her sexuality. In a 2014 essay for Identities.Mic, she revealed, "I realized I was gay in fall 2012, one of my first days on the set. It wasn't so much one thing, but the sum of many small details."
At the time she joined the production, Morelli was married to Stephen Basilone, a man, but the process of writing same-sex love stories for the show led to profound self-discovery. She poignantly added, "I went through it all on set: I fell in love with a woman, and I watched my life play out on screen." This introspection ultimately led to her divorce from Basilone in 2014 and the beginning of her romance with Wiley.
A Relationship Built on Trust and Support
Reflecting on their early days together in a 2021 interview with Cosmopolitan UK, Wiley described the unique foundation of their bond. She admitted to serving as both a "confidante" and "therapist" for Morelli, who was navigating her coming-out journey while crafting narratives for Orange Is The New Black. Wiley explained, "So much of falling in love with Lauren was her own coming-out story. For the first part of our relationship, it was more of a confidante kind of relationship where she was having lots of questions about who she was."
She further elaborated on the unconventional progression of their love, stating, "We built the relationship backwards – the trust and love was all there, and the other stuff came later. Which was a unique way to enter into it, but I wouldn’t change it for the world." This deep emotional connection blossomed into an engagement in 2016, followed by their wedding the next year, officiated by Wiley's parents in a ceremony they described as the best day of their lives.
Legacy and Public Intentionality
The couple has always been mindful of their public presence, particularly as a visible queer couple in the spotlight. In the same interview, Wiley highlighted their deliberate approach to sharing their story, saying, "It was a hard decision. But then we felt like there are so many young girls and boys who don’t see queer couples on the covers of magazines in a wedding being proud of who they are... Those are things that some queer people have never seen. And I want them to know it's a possibility."
Their relationship, which began against the backdrop of a transformative television series, has now reached a new chapter. While their marriage is concluding, Wiley and Morelli's commitment to co-parenting and their shared history—from the set of Orange Is The New Black to their public advocacy—remains a testament to the enduring impact of their bond.
