Austin Butler Opens Up About Referring to Vanessa Hudgens as a 'Friend' in a Rare Statement

Austin Butler has confessed his enduring affection for his former girlfriend Vanessa Hudgens. The star, known for his portrayal of Elvis in an award-winning role, explained the reason behind referring to the High School Musical star as a "friend" during an earlier conversation on the same topic.

In an interview with Esquire on Tuesday, February 6, the 32-year-old stated, “Yes, I gleaned a lesson from that. I believed I was honouring her privacy by not bringing up subjects that might trigger her to respond. My feelings for her are deep and supportive. My goal was never to negate anything, but to respect her privacy as much as I cherish my own. I have no desire to invade anyone's privacy."

Austin and Vanessa, who is now 35, had a captivating relationship from 2011 to 2020. Their break-up shocked and saddened their fans and since then, both have been careful when addressing their former relationship.

In a 2023 roundtable discussion hosted by Hollywood Reporter Actors, Austin brought up his portrayal of Elvis again and revealed that Vanessa was the one who first suggested he could play the role of the iconic rock 'n' roll star. However, Austin referred to Vanessa as a "friend" which led to backlash from fans who thought his word choice was dismissive.

In the discussion he stated, “In the month before I discovered Baz [Luhrmann] was creating this film, I went to see Christmas lights with a companion. An Elvis Christmas tune was playing on the radio, and I began to sing along. My companion then suggested that I should play Elvis. Acknowledging that it was a long shot, I agreed. Later, I performed on the piano for Vanessa and a group of our friends. She insisted seriously that I consider how to obtain the rights to a script. Shortly after, my agent informed me that Baz Luhrmann was indeed making a film about Elvis."

After allegations of snubbing Vanessa, who had shared the identical anecdote during a 2019 episode of the talk show Live with Kelly and Ryan, Austin faced backlash. Vanessa, a California native, had praised Austin's modern-day portrayal of Elvis, particularly after he dyed his natural blonde hair dark brown.

Vanessa recalled, "In January, he was seated at the piano. As he played and sang, I realized that somehow he needed to secure the role of Elvis."

Once the biopic was released in 2022, Austin found it difficult to shake off the Elvis accent, which Vanessa pointed out. She responded with “Crying” to an Instagram account that had joked about Austin's persistent Memphis accent by comparing him to Lady Gaga's Oscar campaign acting.

Both Austin and Vanessa have moved on and are currently in new relationships. It was confirmed by Us Weekly that from October 2021, Austin began dating his present girlfriend, Kaia Gerber. After initially being discreet about their relationship, Austin and 22-year-old Kaia made their red carpet debut as a couple at the Met Gala, where they appeared radiant and in love.

Vanessa started a new chapter in her life with a wedding ceremony in December 2023, when she married Cole Tucker in Tulum.