Orange Is the New Black Stars Samira Wiley and Lauren Morelli File for Divorce After 9 Years of Marriage

The couple, who met on the set of the hit Netflix series, welcomed a daughter in 2021 before deciding to end their marriage.

Jan. 30, 2026 at 7:23pm

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Samira Wiley and Lauren Morelli, who met while working on Orange Is the New Black in 2012, have filed for divorce after nine years of marriage. The former couple, who welcomed a daughter in 2021, announced their split in a joint statement to Out magazine on January 30, 2026.

Why it matters

The divorce of Wiley and Morelli, a high-profile Hollywood couple, highlights the challenges that even successful relationships can face, even after starting a family. Their story also sheds light on the personal journeys of LGBTQ+ individuals in the entertainment industry.

The details

Wiley, 38, starred as Poussey Washington on Orange Is the New Black, while Morelli, 43, served as a writer and producer on the show. The two met on set in 2012 and married in 2017 after getting engaged the previous year in Palm Springs, California. In April 2021, they welcomed their first child, a daughter named George Elizabeth. However, the couple has now decided to end their marriage, citing a mutual decision to co-parent their child.

  • Wiley and Morelli met on the set of Orange Is the New Black in 2012.
  • Morelli split from her then-husband in 2014.
  • Wiley and Morelli got engaged in October 2016 and married in 2017.
  • Wiley and Morelli welcomed their daughter George Elizabeth on April 11, 2021.
  • Wiley and Morelli filed for divorce on January 30, 2026.

The players

Samira Wiley

An actress who starred as Poussey Washington on the Netflix series Orange Is the New Black.

Lauren Morelli

A writer and producer who worked on Orange Is the New Black, where she met Wiley.

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What they’re saying

“After nine years together we have decided to end our marriage, however, our lifelong commitment to co-parenting will forever remain.”

— Samira Wiley and Lauren Morelli

What’s next

The former couple has not disclosed any specific plans for the future, but they have stated their commitment to co-parenting their daughter.

The takeaway

The divorce of Samira Wiley and Lauren Morelli, a high-profile LGBTQ+ couple in Hollywood, serves as a reminder that even successful relationships can face challenges, and that the personal journeys of LGBTQ+ individuals in the entertainment industry can be complex and multifaceted.