Vampire Diaries Throwback: Candice Accola and Steven R. McQueen’s 2010 Kiss Resurfaces—Fans React to Off-Screen Romance Between Caroline and Jeremy’s Actor

It’s the kind of throwback fans never expected—but once they remember it, they can’t unsee it.

Back in 2010, The Vampire Diaries was at the peak of its supernatural reign on The CW, and the stars of the hit series were just beginning to step into the spotlight off-screen as well. But not all drama stayed in Mystic Falls.

Candice Accola, who played the fierce and lovable vampire Caroline Forbes, made headlines after being spotted in a steamy makeout session with none other than her co-star Steven R. McQueen—the actor who portrayed Jeremy Gilbert, Elena’s younger brother.

The surprising part? Their characters had no romantic storyline together on the show—yet sparks were clearly flying behind the scenes.

A Night Fans Haven’t Forgotten

The now-infamous moment reportedly took place at a private party following one of the show’s early events in 2010. Paparazzi and fan sightings confirmed that Candice and Steven were seen kissing and getting cozy throughout the evening.

Photos were scarce, but fan gossip and blog reports quickly lit up the Vampire Diaries fandom.

“They were all over each other. It wasn’t just a friendly hug,” one eyewitness claimed at the time.

Though neither actor publicly confirmed a relationship, the chemistry between them seemed hard to ignore—at least for that one unforgettable night.

Wait… Caroline and Jeremy?

To fans of The Vampire Diaries, the pairing felt strange. Caroline Forbes and Jeremy Gilbert never had a romantic connection on-screen. In fact, Caroline was more closely tied to characters like Matt, Tyler, and eventually Klaus, while Jeremy was wrapped up in his own dark storylines involving Bonnie and a few tragic love interests.

But off-screen? That’s where things got unpredictable.

“It just shows how different real life is from the show,” one fan wrote on Reddit. “We were so busy shipping Klaroline and Beremy, we didn’t see THIS coming.”

Why This Throwback Still Shocks Fans

In recent years, fans have gone back to early 2010s TV moments with fresh eyes—and this little-known fact about Candice and McQueen’s off-screen chemistry keeps resurfacing.

Some fans call it “the scandal that never was,” since it quietly faded away after that brief night. Others say it added an exciting layer of mystery to the cast’s real-life dynamics.

“Honestly, that cast had more twists behind the scenes than in the actual plot,” joked one longtime fan.

Where Are They Now?

Candice Accola (now known as Candice King) later married musician Joe King of The Fray in 2014 and has two children. She has since continued acting and remains active on social media, with a large fanbase still following her from her Vampire Diaries days.

Steven R. McQueen went on to appear in Chicago Fire and other TV projects. He’s kept a lower profile in recent years but remains a fan-favorite thanks to his brooding, tortured role as Jeremy Gilbert.

Just Another Mystic Falls Mystery

Whether it was a one-time spark or something more, the Candice-McQueen kiss of 2010 remains a fan-fueled legend in the Vampire Diaries universe.

And if there’s one thing the show taught us—it’s that even behind-the-scenes, nothing is ever quite what it seems.

Want more behind-the-scenes Vampire Diaries throwbacks? Check the comments below.