September 15, 2014
'Orange is the New Black' Writer Divorces Husband, Dates Show's Out Actress
Jason St. Amand READ TIME: 2 MIN.
No, this is not a plot line in the popular Netflix dramedy "Orange is the New Black."
A writer for the show is making headlines this week for divorcing her husband to date one of the show's stars: out actress Samira Wiley, who plays the sassy and goodhearted Poussey.
Writer Lauren Morelli revealed that she is lesbian in an essay for Identities.Mic in May, US Weekly reports, saying that writing for the program's main character, Piper Chapman (Taylor Schilling) and her ex-girlfriend Alex Vause (Laura Prepon) led her to realize her own sexuality just months after she tied the knot with her then-husband.
I realized I was gay in fall 2012, one of my first days on the set. It wasn't so much one thing, but the sum of many small details: how uncomfortable I felt around groups of lesbians or how I considered myself (shrug) a "not very sexual person." When considered alone, these seemed like little quirks that made me me. Wanting to read a book instead of have sex is a perfectly reasonable preference to have, right?
But on set, these small moments came into sharp relief, and I found myself answering to an endless stream of cast members who peppered me with questions like a gaggle of kindergartners curious about their new teacher. "Are you dating anyone?" "You're married?" "To a man?" "But you used to kiss girls?" "Do you miss it?"
I was finally forced to consider a question that had never, ever occurred to me before: Holy shit, am I gay?
According to TMZ, the split was amicable as both Morelli and her ex filed jointly for divorce. The writer is reportedly kept her Lexus and her former husband got the Mazda hatchback.
The writer and Wiley appeared at the Emmy's together, holding hands and dancing together at after parties, US Weekly points out. The new couple has even posted pics of each other together on social media sites like Instagram.
