**Is There a Romance Brewing Between Martin Short and Meryl Streep?**

Speculation is rife among fans about a possible romantic relationship between Hollywood icons Martin Short and Meryl Streep. The rumors have intensified since Streep joined the cast of "Only Murders in the Building" in its third season.

A recent social media post by Steve Martin, who stars alongside Short and Streep on the show, has added fuel to the fire. On Oct. 18, the 79-year-old comedian posted a photo on Instagram featuring himself with Short, 74, and Streep, 75. Interestingly, a giant red X covered Martin's face in the snapshot, which was initially published in a Glamour Magazine article. Though Martin disabled comments on the post, a fan page reposted the image, prompting enthusiastic speculation among followers about a possible romantic announcement.

Comments from excited fans ranged from, "Are u confirming this relationship?!" to "I've never been so invested in celebrity couple rumors." A further user pondered, "Is this the couple reveal we've been waiting for?"

The online buzz follows a series of public appearances and outings by Short and Streep that have only fueled the rumors. On Oct. 16, the pair was spotted dining together at Giorgio Baldi in Santa Monica, Calif., as captured by photographers from Page Six. The duo appeared in good spirits, with Short looking stylish in a gray suit while Streep donned a blue patterned silk shirt and dark blue pants. They were also seen leaving together in the same car.

Their publicly affectionate behavior is not new; they were photographed holding hands at the Aug. 22 premiere and afterparty of "Only Murders in the Building" season 4 in Los Angeles. Additionally, the co-stars maintained a close presence during the 76th Primetime Emmy Awards on Sept. 15, further igniting chatter about their relationship.

In response to the swirling rumors, both Short and his representative previously quashed the speculation in January, emphasizing that the two are "just very good friends." Despite the persistent rumors, the actor reiterated this stance on Bill Maher's podcast, stating, "We are just very close friends."

Adding another layer to the story, PEOPLE confirmed that Streep separated from her husband of 45 years, Don Gummer, in October 2023. Their romantic relationship had actually ended quietly six years prior to the public announcement.

Short has repeatedly addressed the speculation regarding his relationship with Streep. "It's always interesting. Show business relationships and spec," he told PEOPLE in May. When prompted about whether he finds the questions about their relationship awkward, he responded, "No. She's fabulous. There's no one who doesn't adore her."

Admitting his initial nervousness about working with Streep, Short recalled, "I remember driving to work and thought, 'Gee, this is odd. I'm a little bit [nervous].' Oh, of course! I'm going to do a two-person scene with Meryl."

While the world continues to wonder, fans will have to content themselves with watching Short and Streep's compelling performances in "Only Murders in the Building" season 4, currently streaming on Hulu.