Penn Badgley, the star of the Netflix series “You,” recently spoke candidly about his past relationship with Blake Lively and how it helped him become a better person.
In an interview with People, the 34-year-old actor opened up about his time with Lively, whom he dated from 2007 to 2010 while they were both starring in the popular TV series “Gossip Girl.”
Badgley revealed that he learned a lot from Lively during their time together, as she was already a big star when they began dating.
“By the time we started shooting ‘Gossip Girl,’ she was already a big deal,” Badgley said. “I remember there was a point when we were just afraid of how our personal lives overlapping our work life could be perceived by our bosses.”
Despite the challenges, Badgley credits his relationship with Lively for teaching him valuable lessons about love and relationships.
“She was documenting her life in photographs in a way that people then hadn’t done yet,” he said. “I was learning from her. You never know what people are really like after the credits roll.”
Although their breakup was difficult for him, Badgley said it was a pivotal moment in his life.
“That relationship was a pivotal moment for me in my life,” he said. “It was a time when I became more aware of my own imperfections and flaws. It was like a mirror that I needed to look into. It saved me from becoming a more cynical person.”
Badgley’s honesty about his past relationships has been praised by fans on social media. In a 2018 interview with Vulture, he spoke about his brief romance with Emma Stone and the challenges of dating in the public eye.
“I think that’s why dating actresses can be tough,” he said. “The fact that you’re in a building where people are like, ‘Oh, are you two dating?’ … it’s like high school.”
Today, Badgley is married to singer Domino Kirke, and the couple welcomed their first child in 2020.
Overall, Badgley’s reflection on his past relationship with Lively offers a refreshing take on the ups and downs of love and personal growth.
