Former Gossip Girl star Penn Badgley opens up about his past relationship with co-star Blake Lively, which spanned from 2007 to 2010.
According to Daily Mail, the 38-year-old actor admitted on the Call Her Daddy podcast that dating while playing on-screen lovers proved challenging due to the blurred lines between fiction and reality.
Badgley, who portrayed Dan Humphrey opposite Lively's Serena van der Woodsen, explained how their real-life romance became complicated by their characters' relationship on the hit CW series. The actor revealed he struggled to maintain his identity separate from his character during the show's successful run.
The Independent Spirit Award winner described the unique challenges of maintaining a personal relationship while portraying romantic interests on television. Their relationship faced additional pressure from constant public attention and celebrity status.
Badgley shared his perspective on the emotional toll of the experience. He explained:
What starts to happen when you're in this one role for a long time — the aspect of celebrity being a part of it, a huge part of it — there is not enough separation, I think, for anybody. You're seen as this person, you're called their name out on the street. You also constantly have to be that person at work.
The actor acknowledged his difficulty in separating his self-worth from public perception of his character Dan Humphrey during this period.
Their relationship began during the early seasons of Gossip Girl, which aired from 2007 to 2012. The series, based on Cecily von Ziegesar's novels, followed the lives of privileged Manhattan teenagers.
Lively initially had reservations about working with Badgley. She once told Glamour magazine:
At first I was so upset that they hired him. I actually poisoned the whole cast against him. But then they noticed that he wasn't a jerk and was actually a really nice, charming person. Almost immediately I realized that too, but it took me about a week to admit it.
The couple maintained their relationship for three years while working together on the show.
Badgley has since found happiness in his personal life, marrying singer Domino Kirke in 2017. The couple are expecting twins this summer, joining their four-year-old son James and Kirke's 16-year-old son from a previous relationship.
Meanwhile, Lively is currently involved in a legal dispute with It Ends With Us director Justin Baldoni, scheduled for trial in March 2026. Interestingly, Baldoni maintains a friendship with Badgley, having appeared twice on his Podcrushed podcast.
The actor continues his successful career, currently starring in the fifth and final season of You on Netflix.
Penn Badgley's revelations about dating Blake Lively during their Gossip Girl years highlight the complexities of maintaining romantic relationships under intense public scrutiny. The relationship, which lasted from 2007 to 2010, faced unique challenges due to their dual roles as both real-life couple and on-screen romantic interests. Their story reflects broader themes about the impact of fame on personal relationships and the difficulty of maintaining individual identity while portraying beloved characters. The experience significantly influenced both actors' subsequent careers and personal lives, with each finding their own path forward in the entertainment industry.
