It’s Finally Happening: Gina Rodriguez to Play Stephanie Beatriz’s Love Interest on Brooklyn Nine-Nine

Gina Rodriguez has had quite the queer year, having played the MoC Anya in Annihilation, as well as openly flirting with co-star Tessa Thompson on Twitter. Now, she’s confirmed to be the long-speculated love interest of Stephanie Beatriz in this week’s season finale of Brooklyn Nine-Nine.

Both Beatriz’s and Rodriguez’s shows have suffered a rocky week. Last week, Fox announced that they’d be cancelling Brooklyn Nine-Nine, engendering a social media firestorm of heartbroken fans. One day later, NBC decided to pick up the show for season 6. Then yesterday, we learned the next season of Jane the Virgin would be its last. But fear not: this new B99 teaser is giving us the Stephanie and Gina queer romance we deserve.

In a teaser for the season finale of the detective comedy Brooklyn Nine-Nine, the Jane the Virgin star appears as a ride-share driver who leaves Diaz (Beatriz) completely rattled by her beauty.

This guest appearance has been a long time in the making. Back in February, EW reported that Rodriguez would have a guest appearance on this season of Brooklyn Nine-Nine, and speculated that she would play a love interest opposite Beatriza month earlier, the actress behind Rosa Diaz said she’d love for Rosa’s girlfriend to be either Gina or Kate McKinnon. Rodriguez responded on Twitter, quipping, “Um…can I get an audition @Brooklyn99FOX ?!? *applies lip gloss and puckers lips*”

Gina Rodriguez is an open advocate for the LGBTQ community. In 2016, she took to social media to announce that she is sexually fluid. She tweeted, “I don’t need anyone to define their sexuality to me nor do I feel the need to either. I love hearts. Period.” Beatriz, too, is openly queer. She came out as bisexual in 2016. The following year, her character came out on the show as bisexual, which executive producer Dan Goor says was inspired by the actress’s personal story.

Brooklyn Nine-Nine returns this Sunday for its series finale on Fox. Next season will air on NBC.