When Madelyn Cline and Lukas Gage stepped out together in West Hollywood, the internet did what it does best: jumped to conclusions.
The Outer Banks star, 28, and The White Lotus actor, 30, were photographed arriving at The Bird Streets Club on Saturday night, January 31. Madelyn wore a fitted mini dress with draped detailing and a cowl neckline, while Lukas opted for a dark jacket and black pants—effortless, coordinated, and instantly gossip-worthy.
Things escalated when celebrity gossip account DeuxMoi posted a photo of the pair on February 2, captioning it: “from friends to flames.”
Except—according to both Madelyn and Lukas—that narrative couldn’t be further from the truth.
Madelyn quickly shut down the speculation in the comments, writing:
“Loml but also i feel like there are better pictures of me,”
Lukas followed up with a dose of humor, explaining:
“@madelyncline and me i had an IPL that day,”
IPL, or Intense Pulsed Light therapy, is a cosmetic treatment designed to stimulate collagen and address skin concerns—often leaving temporary redness.
Speaking with E! News, Madelyn elaborated on the moment, explaining she was trying to cover up the treatment’s aftereffects with makeup:
“i literally dont even know how to bake.”
The two stars went on to clarify that while they share a close bond, it’s firmly platonic. Madelyn revealed that she did once have a crush on Lukas when they first met while filming What Breaks the Ice in 2021—but those feelings didn’t evolve into romance.
Instead, she now refers to him as her “Gemini sister.”
Lukas enthusiastically agreed, telling E! News:
“I really f–king am, for life. You’re a very loyal friend, too. You’ve had my back.”
Their playful rapport continued as they joked about their careers. Lukas teased Madelyn with:
“What did you do last summer?”
—a wink to her 2025 slasher film I Know What You Did Last Summer. Madelyn fired back:
“Not you, unfortunately.”
Lukas closed out the exchange with a final joke:
“That lavender marriage is going down.”
In other words: no romance here—just two friends, good outfits, and the internet doing what it does best.
And honestly? That might be the most refreshing part.
