Lili Reinhart reveals dark side of Riverdale fame

American actress Lili Reinhart has opened up about her seven-year journey on Riverdale, revealing that much of her time on the popular series has become difficult to remember.

The actress discussed her experience during a recent appearance on the In Your Dreams podcast. Reinhart said the intense period surrounding the show’s rise to fame had a lasting impact on her.

The 30-year-old actress explained that she remembers surprisingly little about her years on the series. She described the experience as traumatic and said the rapid rise of Riverdale brought an overwhelming amount of attention.

Reinhart said the show quickly became a major part of pop culture. She recalled how much was happening at the same time as the series gained popularity.

The actress also reflected on the role social media plays in the lives of young stars. She said she was grateful that TikTok was not widely popular when Riverdale was at its peak.

Although Reinhart enjoys using TikTok herself, she believes the platform can magnify public attention far beyond what happens in real life. She said young actors working on popular shows today face an especially intense level of online scrutiny.

Reinhart expressed sympathy for performers in their 20s who suddenly find their personal lives heavily discussed across social media. She said the constant attention and public commentary can become overwhelming.

Despite the challenges, Reinhart said she remains grateful for her time on Riverdale. She played Betty Cooper throughout the show’s run from 2017 to 2023 and became closely associated with the character.

The actress also acknowledged that people still call her “Betty” when they meet her. While she does not always enjoy being identified solely with the character, she understands that fans usually mean it affectionately.

Reinhart said she feels privileged to have been part of a series that connected strongly with audiences and left a significant mark on pop culture.

The actress has since continued expanding her film career. Her latest project is The Love Hypothesis, in which she stars alongside Tom Bateman. The film is based on Ali Hazelwood’s bestselling novel and premiered on Prime Video on September 23, 2026.