Samira Wiley and Lauren Morelli Announce Amicable Divorce After Nine Years of Marriage

Samira Wiley, celebrated for her role as Poussey Washington in the Netflix series Orange Is the New Black, and her wife Lauren Morelli, a writer on the same show, have announced their decision to divorce after nine years together. A representative confirmed to Out magazine on January 29, 2026, that the couple is "amicably filing for divorce." In a joint statement, Wiley and Morelli said, "After 9 years together, we have decided to end our marriage. However, our lifelong commitment to co-parenting will forever remain."

The couple share a four-year-old daughter named George Elizabeth, born in April 2021. Wiley announced George's arrival on Instagram at the time, writing, "Welcome to the world, baby girl. We love you and we thank you for giving us the best first Mother's Day two ladies could ask for." This announcement underscores their dedication to their child amid the personal change.

Wiley and Morelli first met in 2012 on the set of Orange Is the New Black, where Wiley portrayed the beloved character Poussey Washington and Morelli contributed as a writer. At that time, Morelli was married to Steve Basilone. Morelli has shared that her work on the series, which explored diverse LGBTQ+ themes, played a key role in her journey of self-discovery regarding her sexuality. She previously told Out magazine, "I had started questioning my sexuality as a result of being in the writers’ room and talking about all the themes on the show. I was still very confused, but I knew the attraction between us felt magnetic." Morelli divorced Basilone two years later and came out as a lesbian.

Their relationship progressed publicly when they announced their engagement in 2016 and married in 2017. In 2021, marking their fourth wedding anniversary, Wiley posted on Instagram about Morelli, stating, "4 years down. Whole lot more to go. Life is f**king breathtaking with you, @lomorelli__. Happy Anniversary, babygirl." Morelli reflected on a pivotal moment early in their romance, saying, "I remember walking down the street in New York and finally being able to hold her hand, and how huge that felt… It had been such a journey to discover my sexuality, and to claim it in this public way was incredible for me."