Madelaine Petsch may play Riverdale’s sass queen, Cheryl Blossom, but off-screen, she’s no stranger to bringing that same energy to the internet. From spicy clapbacks and “did-she-really-say-that?” interviews to eyebrow-raising brand deals and fan callouts, Madelaine has built an online rep that’s as unfiltered as it is chaotic.
Whether she’s shading old co-stars, doubling down on unpopular opinions, or just dropping moments that have the timeline divided, one thing’s clear: subtlety isn’t her strong suit. So, in petty internet fashion, let’s scroll through some of Madelaine Petsch’s wildest, most controversial, and downright pettiest online moments.
1. “I did not f*** a single person on Riverdale” – Denying Co-Star Hookup Rumors
Madelaine Petsch doesn’t do vague; she does viral. In September 2025, the Riverdale star dropped her most iconic mic-drop moment yet during her appearance on the Call Her Daddy podcast.
Alex Cooper brought up KJ Apa’s earlier comments about how teen drama casts often end up “hooking up” off-camera. In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, he said,
You sort of just have sex with them, and then you just sort of see what happens, it’s just part of the deal.
Petsch, who decided she was not letting that narrative slide. Appearing on the Call Her Daddy podcast, she shut the rumors down with the bluntness of a sledgehammer. She said,
Recently, an article came out saying that we all f–ked each other on the show. I did not touch a single person on that show with a 10-foot pole.
The Sightless actor did not stop and repeated it again,
May I repeat that one more time? I did not f–k a single person on ‘Riverdale.’ I never touched them. That’s what happened. Thank you for coming to my TED talk.
She also revealed that Cole Sprouse once advised her not to hook up with co-workers, advice she says she followed religiously. However, Sprouse was dating co-star Lili Reinhart during that time.
The clip went viral on TikTok within hours, spawning memes, “Cheryl Blossom energy” edits, and a flood of reactions debating whether she was shading her co-stars or just clearing the record. Either way, it was peak Madelaine — blunt, chaotic, and unapologetically online.
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2. Becoming the Face of Shein Despite Ethical Scandals
Before TikTok was even flooded with Shein hauls, Madelaine Petsch found herself at the center of a major fast-fashion controversy. In Fall 2019, the Riverdale star teamed up with Shein for a limited-edition capsule collection, complete with promo videos, curated outfits, and that signature red-carpet aesthetic she’s known for.
Fans were not having it. By 2019, Shein’s reputation was already under fire for its alleged labor violations, environmental damage, and stolen designs. So when Madelaine started posting glam shots in Shein fits and promoting discount codes, the backlash was instant.
To make matters worse, Madelaine had previously spoken in interviews about mindful consumption and supporting cruelty-free brands, a point fans didn’t let slide. Though Madelaine never publicly addressed the backlash, the internet never forgets. Even years later, that Shein collab still resurfaces whenever influencers are called out for tone-deaf brand deals.
It was a classic case of good PR gone bad and one of Madelaine’s earliest lessons in how loud the internet can get.
3. Israel–Palestine Instagram Story Backlash
In October 2023, during the escalation of the Israel–Hamas conflict, Madelaine Petsch sparked one of her most polarising internet moments. She posted an Instagram story urging followers who had supported Black Lives Matter to also speak out about Israel, writing, “you can’t stand for some hate and stand for another” and tagging “#antisemitism.”
Petsch followed up with another story, attempting to clarify her position, stating she empathized with innocent civilians on both sides and condemning “terrorism and hatred” in all forms.
Despite her clarification, screenshots of the initial post circulated widely on X (Twitter), Reddit, and fan communities, generating intense discussion. Supporters praised her for standing against anti-Semitism, while critics debated the framing and timing of her post, making it one of her most talked-about and sensitive online moments.
4. Ridiculing Riverdale’s Wild Plotlines – “Witch Lasers” and a Corpse
If you thought Cheryl Blossom was wild on screen, wait until you hear Madelaine Petsch off-screen. On the Call Her Daddy podcast in September 2025, she spilled the tea on some of Riverdale’s most absurd storylines.
First up: a season in which Cheryl literally kept her twin brother’s corpse in her house. And it didn’t stop there; later, her character became a witch who shot lasers from her hands to stop a comet.
Madelaine, never one to mince words, called the whole thing her “Roman Empire” moment and admitted she begged the writers not to make her do that.
I told you I didn’t want to see lasers coming out of my hands. What did he do in the season finale of season six? I’m like scarlet witching up in the air singing and crying with lasers shooting out of my hands at a comet. At a comet that ends up wiping out all of Riverdale, which is why we’re in the ’50s in season seven.
Fans went wild when the show’s finale episode was out. They shared clips and memes about “Cheryl Blossom vs. the comet” and debated which plotline was the most ridiculous.
I am never ever gonna get over the subs for the riverdale s7 premiere captioning the cutaway to cheryl melting the comet as her screaming “GUYS!!!!!!!!” instead of skies like it’s just soooooo fucking funny pic.twitter.com/zBVaZEXkc6
Either way, it became an iconic internet moment, proving Petsch isn’t afraid to roast the very series that made her famous, all while giving fans the kind of candid behind-the-scenes commentary only social media could amplify.
5. Clapping Back at Trolls Attacking Vanessa Morgan
In July 2020, Vanessa Morgan, Madelaine Petsch’s Riverdale co-star, announced her pregnancy amidst a high-profile divorce from baseball player Michael Kopech. Naturally, the internet had thoughts, and not the nice kind.
Instagram users flooded Morgan’s posts with insensitive and misogynistic comments like, “Where’s your husband though?” and “Don’t disrespect our pitcher like that.” Enter Madelaine Petsch, who wasn’t about to let her friend take the heat alone.
A post shared by Vanessa Morgan (@vanessamorgan)
In a now-viral Instagram reply, she wrote,
Honestly if I see one more comment like this I’ll lose it. Vanessa is a beautiful mother to be and the hate and disrespect I’m seeing on this post about her bringing a new life into this world is disgusting.
Petsch’s post perfectly blended fierce loyalty with zero filter; she didn’t just defend Vanessa, she called out the trolls directly, making it clear that online harassment wouldn’t slide.
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6. Highlighting Cole Sprouse’s Dating Hypocrisy
During her September 2025 appearance on the Call Her Daddy podcast, Madelaine Petsch didn’t hold back when sharing behind-the-scenes gems from the Riverdale set.
She recalled that Cole Sprouse, one of her co-stars, once gave her what he claimed was “the best advice” about working on a show. She revealed,
You know what’s really ironic about all this is Cole sat me down during the pilot and was like, “If I can give you one piece of advice, Mads… Don’t Hey, don’t hook up with any of your co-stars, okay?”
Classic workplace wisdom, right? Petsch couldn’t help but spill the tea on the irony — Cole Sprouse was literally dating co-star Lili Reinhart while giving her the “don’t hook up with co-stars” lecture. Of course, she played it smart and stuck to the rule, keeping things totally professional on set.
Fans ate it up. The anecdote went viral almost immediately, with memes and TikToks. Some praised Madelaine for her candor and humor, calling it peak Cheryl Blossom energy. Either way, it became a quintessential Madelaine Petsch internet moment: clever, humorous, and impossible to ignore.
7. Feeling “Shunned” by Other Vegans for Attending Fashion Shows
Madelaine Petsch has been vegan her whole life, but even a plant-powered queen can get a little heat online. In an April 2020 interview with Elle, she opened up about feeling “shunned” by fellow vegans for attending fashion shows featuring animal products.
Petsch explained that the vegan community can sometimes get a little… intense and radical, and that shaming people only discourages them from exploring a plant-based lifestyle. She said,
It’s things like that that make people afraid of being vegan. Even if it’s just one vegan meal a day, why wouldn’t we be trying to incorporate more people and make them feel comfortable?
This moment spotlighted the struggle between sticking to your vibes and dealing with clout-chasing community pressure. Petsch’s message was clear: You can live your values without getting dragged or feeling guilty. It sparked real talk about making ethical choices, being inclusive, and staying true to yourself, even when the social media crowd is watching.
8. Sparking Romance Rumors with Rapper Tyga
In February 2025, Madelaine Petsch unexpectedly made headlines for her off-screen social life. She attended Vanity Fair’s “Young Hollywood” party and a Lakers game alongside rapper Tyga, and the pair were photographed sitting together and posing for pictures.
Moreover, she also seemingly confirmed the rumors by posting pictures with him on Instagram during Coachella 2025.
Fans immediately jumped to conclusions, with gossip columns and social media buzzing about a potential romance. Tyga’s past relationships with high-profile stars like Kylie Jenner and Avril Lavigne fueled the speculation, especially given the age differences and public scrutiny surrounding his dating history.
The reactions were classic internet chaos: some users tweeted, “Madelaine Petsch and Tyga was not on my 2025 bingo card,” while others expressed concern over her association with a controversial figure.
NOT madelaine hard launching with tyga at coachella 😭 pic.twitter.com/ZVJ9Fu6p7H
Finding out that madelaine petsch is dating tyga ruined my week like why the fuck would you date his stinky ass pic.twitter.com/QpHntQQQYY
Meanwhile, some dismissed it as harmless Hollywood fun, noting that attending events together doesn’t automatically mean a relationship. Petsch herself never publicly confirmed anything, letting the speculation play out online and in gossip outlets.
Even without a statement from her, this moment became one of those “wait, what?” entries in her timeline of internet moments proving that wherever Petsch goes, the internet will follow, analyze, and, of course, meme it.
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Madelaine Petsch’s internet presence proves one thing: whether she’s shutting down rumors, roasting Riverdale’s wildest plots, defending friends, or navigating controversial brand deals, she does it with zero filter and 100% Cheryl Blossom energy. Her online moments are messy, chaotic, funny, and sometimes a little extra, but that’s precisely what keeps fans talking.
Which moments had you clutching your phone, laughing, or shaking your head in disbelief? Drop your favorite Madelaine Petsch moment in the comments below!
