Austin Butler has offered insights into his recent comment referring to ex-girlfriend Vanessa Hudgens as a "friend".
In a candid interview with Esquire published on February 6, the 32-year-old actor addressed the now-viral remark made during discussions about his role in the upcoming film Elvis.
The comment resurfaced over a year after Butler faced criticism for describing Hudgens as a "friend" while recounting her suggestion that he should portray Elvis Presley.
Reflecting on the public reaction to his comment, Butler shared the reason behind not mentioning Hudgens' name.
"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. I have so much love and care for her. It was in no way trying to erase anything," he explained.
Acknowledging their nearly decade-long relationship, Butler reiterated his commitment to maintaining their privacy, stating, "I value my own privacy so much. I didn’t want to give up anybody else’s privacy."
The actor's initial mention of Hudgens as the inspiration behind his audition for the role of Elvis resurfaced during The Hollywood Reporter's Actors Roundtable in January 2023.
Following fan scrutiny, Butler clarified during an interview with The Los Angeles Times that Hudgens was indeed the "friend" referenced in his earlier comments. "I was with my partner at the time... We’d been together for so long and she had this sort of clairvoyant moment and so I really, I owe her a lot for believing in me," he affirmed.
Since their split in 2020, both Butler and Hudgens have moved on to new relationships. While Hudgens tied the knot with baseball player Cole Tucker in December 2023, Butler has been romantically linked with model Kaia Gerber since early 2022.
However, a seemingly awkward encounter between the former couple at Vanity Fair's Oscar Party in March 2023 garnered mixed reactions from fans.
In a video shared on social media, Hudgens appeared to swiftly pass by Butler without making eye contact, while he continued to engage with fans nearby.