Actor Penn Badgley recently took a walk down memory lane, and yes, his famous ex Blake Lively was part of the story.
During the April 23, 2025 episode of the Call Her Daddy podcast with host Alex Cooper, the You star opened up about his real-life romance with his Gossip Girl co-star Blake, a relationship that unfolded both on and off screen during the show’s six-season run.
Reflecting on the challenges of dating someone while also playing their love interest on TV, Penn candidly shared,
“It was the struggle of what happens when you are in this one role for a long time… 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… So I didn’t have the emotional maturity to understand, to differentiate myself just in terms of self-worth”.
But despite their real-life relationship ending midway through the series, Penn emphasized that he and Blake kept things strictly professional for the remainder of the show. Reflecting on their breakup, he shared,
“I remember thinking when I got out of it…That was a way to start it all. I wonder what effects it’s gonna have on me”.
Penn Badgley Reflects On Dating Life After Blake Lively Split
The actor also reflected on how Lively was one of the few serious romantic relationships he had during his younger years. After their split, Penn admitted he didn’t actively explore the dating scene. He said,
“I’ve had a handful of long relationships. And that’s about the extent of it. You know, [I] really did not date. Dating is a bit of a performance, I think… I really longed for that kind of connection, that kind of intimacy”.
Penn Badgley and Blake Lively were in an on-and-off relationship from 2007 to 2010 before ultimately parting ways. Since then, Badgley has found lasting love with wife Domino Kirke, whom he married in February 2017.
The couple welcomed their first child, a son, in August 2020, and in March 2025, they announced they were expecting twins. Reflecting on the unexpected journey to becoming a father of three, Penn shared with Alex during the interview,
“So actually, when we thought we were just going to have one, we were close to being like, no, we’re good. And then we decided, let’s try it… I think we knew like yeah, this is gonna be a lot, but it felt like a known quantity. And then it was just like, oh, this is how it will be, very new”.
For her part, Blake has moved on with actor Ryan Reynolds, whom she married in 2012. The couple shares four children together.
Fans Sarcastically Applaud Penn For Parting Ways With Lively
The online community reacted with a mix of sarcasm and support for Penn, with many users expressing relief that he ultimately parted ways with Blake. Some such comments online read,
“We thought it would be one secret he’d never tell”.
“He dodged a bullet!! 😂😂😂”
“Poor guy… She is terrible woman”.
Sometimes, the most unexpected plot twists don’t unfold on-screen, but in the quiet turns of real life. And for Penn Badgley, it seems the most meaningful chapters are the ones he’s now writing, off-camera.