Lili Reinhart stands by ‘Riverdale’ - “I’m not embarrassed of it”

Lili Reinhart is making it clear: she won’t denounce the very show that launched her career. In a recent interview with Marie Claire, Reinhart reflected on her seven-season run on Riverdale and the role it played in her professional growth. She emphasised that while the CW drama often leaned into “crazy” plotlines and over-the-top twists, it remains a foundation she is deeply grateful for.

“Anyone who bashes the work that got them to where they are is doing themselves a great disservice,” Reinhart told Marie Claire, acknowledging that Riverdale might have raised eyebrows but it gave her so much. She added: “Call the show crazy. It was. It gave me so much, and I’m so thankful for it.”

Reinhart also admitted she recognises just how pivotal Riverdale was for her. “I’m not delusional to the fact that I’m sitting in my house because of Riverdale. I’m not embarrassed of it,” she said. The actress played the character Betty Cooper, navigating cults, murder mysteries, superpowers and musical episodes over the show’s 137-episode run.

Now, as she takes on more indie-driven projects such as Hal & Harper, Reinhart says her experience on Riverdale prepared her for anything. “I feel like I could do anything because I had this seven-year runway of experience,” she shared.

This work-forward attitude stands in contrast to some of the criticism the show received over its later seasons. Instead of distancing herself, Reinhart appears to choose respect, not only for the craft and opportunity she was given, but for the audience who embraced her for years.

For those wondering how she views her teen-drama breakthrough now, her message is simply: the platform mattered, and she honours it.