Says his former Riverdale colleague and spouse serve as inspirations for his and girlfriend Ari Fournier’s relationship dynamic.
“I don’t believe it’s a mere coincidence that Ari and I have grown so close to you and Mark because I believe you both embody a type of masculinity and femininity that we deeply admire, particularly in 2024,” expressed Sprouse, 31, to Ripa, 53, during the Tuesday, March 2, segment of SiriusXM’s “ppp1” podcast. “The definitions of masculinity and femininity are evolving swiftly for our generation and younger ones, and we view both of you as a true testament to the significance of that.”
Sprouse proceeded to express his gratitude for his current relationship, which commenced in 2021.
“Here’s what I can share, and I’m certain you grasp this with Mark as well,” he elaborated. “When genuine compatibility enters your life, it renders nearly everything in the past as a valuable lesson or a stepping stone to where you are now, and I believe this is the initial instance in my life, at least, where I have felt so entirely and authentically myself in a relationship, and I believe this profoundly reflects on her and her demeanor.”
When Ripa broached the subject of marriage, the actor remained elusive about their plans but highlighted that he is the sole unmarried Sprouse following his twin brother, Dylan Sprouse, tying the knot with Barbara Palvin in July 2023.
“I’m continuously bombarded with this question, and I must say that Ari, with her perpetual grace and poise, has never imposed any pressure on the situation, especially from a public standpoint, and I appreciate that,” Cole revealed. “We are approaching it one day at a time.”
Ripa enthusiastically mentioned that when the couple decides to take the matrimonial plunge, she and Consuelos, 53, who have been married for nearly 28 years, would be honored to be part of it as they are both ordained ministers.
Cole humorously responded that if they were to exchange vows, he wouldn’t be able to pick between Ripa and Consuelos. “I envision it as you standing on Mark’s shoulders, both of you draped in one enormous trench coat, and simultaneously officiating would be ideal,” he quipped.
Cole and Fournier initially sparked dating speculations in February 2021 when they were seen together at brunch in Canada. Fournier later disclosed via Instagram that their inaugural date actually took place a month earlier in January. Since then, they have made their relationship public on Instagram, commemorated birthdays jointly, embarked on vacations, and most recently graced the red carpet at Cole’s movie premiere this past February.
Their romance blossomed subsequent to Cole’s split from Lili Reinhart, his co-star. The duo portrayed on and off love interests Jughead Jones and Betty Cooper, respectively, throughout the show’s seven seasons. Meanwhile, Consuelos portrayed Hiram Lodge from seasons 2 to 7, with Ripa making a brief cameo as his mistress.