Isn’t the idea of young love enchanting? Yet, equally attracting is the notion of enduring friendships and mature affection. Recently, speculation has surrounded Hollywood stars Martin Short and Meryl Streep, who have shared the screen in the Emmy-nominated series Only Murders in the Building for the past two seasons. There has been much chatter about whether their relationship extends beyond friendship and professional collaboration.
However, according to Streep’s representative, these rumors remain unfounded. In a statement to Vanity Fair before the 2024 Emmys, Streep’s rep clarified that they are simply friends.
Speculation swirls around Martin Short and Meryl Streep’s relationship, but representatives insist it’s purely platonic
The speculation began heating up in January when Short and Streep appeared quite affectionate at the Golden Globes. This followed an October 2023 revelation that Streep had separated from her husband, Don Gummer, more than six years earlier after a lengthy marriage. Known for her discretion, the 75-year-old actress has managed to keep her personal life under wraps while maintaining her status as a celebrated figure in modern cinema. Despite the Golden Globes appearance, their representatives have consistently maintained that their relationship remains platonic.
Martin Short, who is 74, was married to Nancy Dolman from 1980 until her death from ovarian cancer in 2010. Since her passing, he has not publicly been involved in another relationship but continues to speak fondly of her. In a 2019 interview with AARP the Magazine, he shared that he still feels a connection with her, saying, “I believe that when people die, they zoom into the people that love them.”
In Only Murders in the Building, Short and Streep portray colleagues who evolve from friends to romantic partners, which mirrors the intrigue surrounding their real-life relationship.
Comedian Bill Maher has even weighed in, humorously encouraging the possibility of a real-life romance between the pair. In response to Short’s insistence that they are “just very close friends,” Maher joked about the power of a Hollywood power couple.
Their bond continued to attract attention in February when they were seen dining with friends in Santa Monica and later attending the Broadway show Merrily We Roll Along, which won the Tony for best musical revival.
Fans have speculated whether they might be the “two of my friends who hooked up” that Selena Gomez and Taylor Swift discussed at the Golden Globes.
The speculation intensified in August when Short and Streep were seen holding hands at the Only Murders season four premiere, sparking further excitement online. Despite this, their representatives reiterated that they remain just friends.
This year, Only Murders in the Building has received 21 Emmy nominations, including nods for Streep as outstanding supporting actress in a comedy and Short as outstanding lead actor in a comedy, a category in which he was also nominated for the show’s previous seasons.
