In recent viral photos of actress Nina Dobrev and actor Zac Efron enjoying time together on a yacht have stirred up a wave of speculations among fans, especially in the wake of Dobrev’s recent split from fiancé Shaun White. However, sources close to the stars have clarified that the longtime friends are not romantically involved.

The images, which were first highlighted by The Sporting News, showed Dobrev socialising on a boat with close friends, including Keleigh Teller, Miles Teller, Chance Crawford, Kelsey Merritt and Zac Efron.

The outing came shortly after news broke that Dobrev and Olympic snowboarder Shaun White had ended their five-year relationship and engagement.

The photos of Dobrev and Efron in particular went viral, prompting fans to question if there was more than friendship between the two actors. However, an insider told US Weekly there is no romantic relationship between them.

“Nina and Zac are not dating and have been good friends for over a decade”, the source said. “There friends always joke that they should date, but that is not what is going on. They have been with each other through many phases of life and have always had each other’s back”.

Despite the relaxed and intimate vibe captured in the images, the source noted that Dobrev has been leaning on her close circle of friends for support following her breakup.

“She has truly felt a lot of love and support” the source added. “Everyone has been lifting her spirits and she has been in better place after taking some time away following her split from Shaun”.

The breakup, which made headlines earlier this month, came as a surprise to fans. Just days before the news emerged, the couple had been spotted holding hands at a Los Angeles farmers market.

On September 11, reports confirmed the end of their relationship. The two got engaged in November 2024, but according to insiders, they eventually realised their future goals no longer aligned, leading to an amicable decision to part ways.