Austin Butler defends calling ex Vanessa Hudgens a ‘pal’
Austin Butler has lastly revealed why he referred to his ex Vanessa Hudgens as a ‘pal’ in a previous interview whereas discussing how he landed the function of Elvis.
After sparking outrage on social media for seemingly downplaying their nine-year relationship, which led to 2020, the Dune: Part Two star, 32, defined his determination to not name the High School Musical actress, 35, by identify truly got here from a spot of affection.
‘I felt that I used to be respecting her privateness in a approach and never eager to carry up a ton of issues that might trigger her to have to speak,’ he defined to Esquire.
He continued: ‘I’ve a lot love and take care of her. It was on no account attempting to erase something.’
The Anaheim native went on to similar as somebody who values their ‘personal privateness a lot’ that he ‘did not wish to quit anyone else’s privateness.’
![Austin Butler has finally revealed why he referred to his ex Vanessa Hudgens as a 'friend' in a past interview while discussing how he landed the role of Elvis](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/02/06/17/80925665-0-image-a-42_1707240445953.jpg)
Austin Butler has lastly revealed why he referred to his ex Vanessa Hudgens as a ‘pal’ in a previous interview whereas discussing how he landed the function of Elvis
![Butler and Hudgens dated for nine years, before their shock split in 2020 (seen above in 2019 at the Vanity Fair Oscar Party)](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/02/06/18/80927061-13052577-Butler_and_Hudgens_dated_for_nine_years_before_their_shock_split-a-8_1707243939685.jpg)
Butler and Hudgens dated for 9 years, earlier than their shock cut up in 2020 (seen above in 2019 on the Vanity Fair Oscar Party)
Ultimately, he sees the flub as a ‘lesson’ he ‘discovered.’
Butler additionally made a uncommon comment about his present romance with supermodel Kaia Gerber, who he started relationship in late 2021.
‘I’m glad,’ he mentioned about their relationship.
As for the general public fascination about his love life, the actor admitted that he understood as a result of he all the time desires ‘to find out about different individuals too.’
‘I wish to find out about Daniel Day-Lewis’s life,’ he mused.
He and Cindy Crawford’s daughter have been first linked following her cut up from Jacob Elordi.
In December 2021, they have been seen taking a yoga class collectively, however held off on making their pink carpe debut till the 2022 Met Gala, which takes place on the primary Monday in May every year.
![After sparking outrage online for seemingly downplaying their past relationship, the Dune: Part Two star, 32, explained his decision not to call the High School Musical actress, 35, by name actually came from a place of love](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/02/06/17/80925697-0-image-a-41_1707240435865.jpg)
After sparking outrage on-line for seemingly downplaying their previous relationship, the Dune: Part Two star, 32, defined his determination to not name the High School Musical actress, 35, by identify truly got here from a spot of affection
!['I felt that I was respecting her privacy in a way and not wanting to bring up a ton of things that would cause her to have to talk,' he explained to Esquire](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/02/06/17/80925687-0-image-a-47_1707240512637.jpg)
‘I felt that I used to be respecting her privateness in a approach and never eager to carry up a ton of issues that might trigger her to have to speak,’ he defined to Esquire
![He continued: 'I have so much love and care for her. It was in no way trying to erase anything'](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/02/06/18/80925685-13052577-He_continued_I_have_so_much_love_and_care_for_her_It_was_in_no_w-a-11_1707243940276.jpg)
He continued: ‘I’ve a lot love and take care of her. It was on no account attempting to erase something’
Last yr, the Golden Globe winner was slammed for referring to his former associate as only a pal whereas talking about his journey to portraying the late King of Rock and Roll in Baz Luhrmann’s musical biopic, Elvis.
During a Hollywood Reporter roundtable, he recalled {that a} month earlier than studying Luhrmann was casting for Elvis, Hudgens had a ‘clairvoyant second’ about his future.
‘I used to be taking a look at Christmas lights and there was an Elvis Christmas music on the radio and I used to be with a pal of mine,’ he mentioned. ‘I used to be singing alongside and my pal appeared over at me and mentioned, ‘You gotta play Elvis.’ I mentioned, ‘Oh, that is such an extended shot.”
‘A few weeks later, I used to be enjoying the piano,’ he continued. ‘I by no means actually sang for any of my associates or something. That similar pal was there and I used to be enjoying the piano.
‘She mentioned, ‘I’m severe. You gotta work out how one can get the rights to a script.’ Then my agent referred to as and mentioned, ‘So Baz Luhrmann is making an Elvis movie.”
Soon after the interview was posted, many took to Twitter to label him ‘disgusting’ and ‘disrespectful’ for leaving her out.
![The Anaheim native went on to same as someone who values their 'own privacy so much' that he 'didn't want to give up anybody else's privacy'](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/02/06/18/80925679-13052577-The_Anaheim_native_went_on_to_same_as_someone_who_values_their_o-a-9_1707243939867.jpg)
The Anaheim native went on to similar as somebody who values their ‘personal privateness a lot’ that he ‘did not wish to quit anyone else’s privateness’
![Ultimately, he sees the flub as a 'lesson' he 'learned'](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/02/06/17/80925669-0-image-a-45_1707240486612.jpg)
Ultimately, he sees the flub as a ‘lesson’ he ‘discovered’
![Elsewhere in the interview, Butler was coy about his relationship with supermodel Kaia Gerber](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/02/06/17/80925689-0-image-a-46_1707240493459.jpg)
Elsewhere within the interview, Butler was coy about his relationship with supermodel Kaia Gerber
In 2019, Hudgens famously shared the very same story throughout an look on Live with Kelly and Ryan.
Hudgens, who was nonetheless romantically concerned with Butler on the time, recalled, ‘Last December, we have been driving alongside and we have been listening to Christmas music, after which an Elvis Presley Christmas music got here on.’
‘He had simply dyed his hair darkish. He’s a pure blond, and I used to be taking a look at him and he was singing alongside and I used to be like, ‘Babe, you’ll want to play Elvis.”
‘Then in January, he was sitting on the piano,’ she continued.
!['I¿m happy,' he said about his love life (pictured with Gerber in April 2023)](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/02/06/18/80928095-13052577-_I_m_happy_he_said_about_his_love_life_pictured_with_Gerber_in_A-a-10_1707243940145.jpg)
‘I’m glad,’ he mentioned about his love life (pictured with Gerber in April 2023)
‘And he is enjoying and he is singing and I’m like, ‘I do not understand how, however you’ll want to work out how one can play Elvis. Like, I do not understand how we get rights or what we do, however you’ll want to play him.”
Butler nabbed the function in July 2019 alongside Tom Hanks, who performed Elvis’ notorious supervisor, Colonel Tom Parker.
Filming kicked off in Australia on January 28, 2020 however would come to a screeching halt simply two months later after Hollywood was shutdown as a result of COVID-19 pandemic.
The shoot resumed in Queensland in September 2020 and wrapped up in March 2021. Elvis was launched in June 2022.