Before the Ferraris, the "King Kylie" era, or the billion-dollar makeup empire, there was just a teenager in Calabasas trying to figure out how dating worked while the whole world watched. People forget. We get so caught up in the Timothée Chalamet sightings and the Travis Scott drama that we overlook the early 2010s, a time when Cody Simpson and Kylie Jenner were basically the blueprint for teen pop royalty.
It was 2011. Cody was the Australian import with the surfer-blonde hair and the "iYiYi" hit single. Kylie was 14. She was the youngest Jenner, still frequently appearing as a background character in her sisters' shadows on Keeping Up With the Kardashians.
The Twilight Premiere That Started Everything
They didn't meet at some exclusive Met Gala afterparty. Honestly, it was way more "middle school" than that. They were spotted together at the Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 1 premiere. If you want to talk about a 2011 time capsule, that is it.
They looked like any other pair of young teens—nervous, slightly awkward, but clearly into each other. For a few months, they were inseparable. You’d see grainy paparazzi shots of them at the Grove in LA or hanging out at Universal CityWalk. It was innocent. It was cute. And for Cody, it was his first real taste of the "Kardashian Effect."
Why "K-O-D-Y" Didn't Stick
You’ve probably heard the jokes. Cody eventually went on Hello Ross and dropped that famous line: "The whole K-O-D-Y thing didn't really work out for me." He was laughing, but there was a grain of truth there. Dating a Jenner isn't like dating anyone else. Even back then, the PR machine was massive.
Cody later admitted that the pressure of the spotlight—and the specific brand of "celebrity" that comes with that family—was a lot to handle for a kid who just wanted to play guitar and surf. They split after a few months. No big scandal. No cheating rumors. Just two 14-year-olds realizing they were heading in different directions.
Life After the Breakup
It's wild to look at where they are now in 2026.
Kylie, obviously, became a mogul. She went through high-profile relationships with Tyga and Travis Scott, became a mother of two, and evolved into a fashion icon. Cody took a path nobody saw coming. He didn't stay the "teen heartthrob." He actually ditched the music industry for years to become an elite competitive swimmer.
- The Swimming Pivot: Cody actually made the Australian national team. He competed in the Commonwealth Games and spent years staring at the bottom of a pool instead of a camera lens.
- The Return to Stage: After narrowly missing out on the Paris Olympics, Cody is back in the arts. As of early 2026, he’s been making waves in musical theater, taking on lead roles like Sky Masterson in Guys and Dolls.
- Kylie’s Evolution: Kylie has moved away from the "Instagram Face" era into something more refined, often seen in Paris or New York, balancing her massive business ventures with a more private personal life.
What We Can Learn From It
Looking back at Cody Simpson and Kylie Jenner, it’s a reminder that "young love" in Hollywood is often just a stepping stone.
If you're looking for a takeaway, it's that your first relationship—even if it's splashed across Seventeen Magazine—doesn't define you. Cody found his peace in the water; Kylie found hers in building an empire.
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If you want to keep track of their current moves, keep an eye on Cody's transition back into music and theater. He’s proving that you can have a "second act" that has nothing to do with your teenage dating history. For Kylie, watch the 2026 fashion week circuits—her style evolution is far from over.
Check out Cody's latest performances if you're into musical theater; his voice has matured significantly since those 2011 pop days.