Austin Butler is under fire for referring to his ex-girlfriend of nearly 10 years, Vanessa Hudgens, as a friend in a recent interview.
The Elvis star, 31, shared a story about his former long-term love during The Hollywood Reporter’s Actor Roundtable, explaining how his “boyfriend” encouraged him to pursue the role of Elvis in Baz Luhrmann’s biopic.
Speaking to fellow actors Colin Farrell, Brendan Fraser, Jeremy Pope, Ke Huy Quan and Adam Sandler, the Golden Globe winner recalled how his role came about.
Austin Butler is under fire for referring to his ex-girlfriend of nearly 10 years, Vanessa Hudgens, as a friend in a recent interview. Together in the picture in 2019
“The month before I heard that Baz (Luhrmann) was making the movie, I was watching Christmas lights and there was an Elvis Christmas song on the radio and I was with a friend of mine,” he said.
“I sang along and my friend looked at me and said, ‘You have to play Elvis.’ I said, “Oh, that’s such a long shot.”‘
“A few weeks later I was playing the piano,” he continued.
The Elvis star, 31, shared a story about his former long-term love during The Hollywood Reporter’s Actor Roundtable, explaining how his “boyfriend” encouraged him to pursue the role of Elvis in Baz Luhrmann’s biopic.
“I never really sang to any of my friends or anything like that. That same friend was there and I was playing the piano.
She said, “I’m serious. You need to figure out how to get the rights to a script.” Then my agent called and said, “So Baz Luhrmann is making an Elvis movie.”
While Butler didn’t specifically name 34-year-old Hudgens while telling the story, the actress shared a similar story in 2019 when the pair were still together.
“Last December we were driving by and listening to Christmas music, and then an Elvis Presley Christmas carol came on,” she recalled during an episode of Live with Kelly and Ryan.
“The month before I heard that Baz (Luhrmann) was making the movie, I was watching Christmas lights and there was an Elvis Christmas song on the radio and I was with a friend of mine,” he recalls.
While Butler didn’t specifically name Hudgens, 34, in his story, the actress shared a similar story in 2019 when the pair were still together
“He had just dyed his hair dark. He’s naturally blonde, and I was looking at him and he was singing along and I was like, ‘Babe, you have to play Elvis.’”
“Then he was at the piano in January,” she continued.
“And he plays and he sings and I’m like, ‘I don’t know how, but you have to figure out how to play Elvis. Like, I don’t know how we get rights or what we do, but you have to play him.’”
Fans of High School Musical star Hudgens were not impressed with Butler after he failed to mention his ex in his story.
Fans of the High School Musical star were not impressed with Butler after he failed to mention his ex in his story
Many took to Twitter calling him “disgusting” and “disrespectful.”
“He calls Vanessa Hudgens a ‘friend’ PLEASEEEEE,” one of them tweeted sharing an excerpt from the interview, while another wrote in the replies, “he’s so disgusting, I’m sorry.”
“Imagine spending an entire decade with someone, only to call them a ‘friend’ in interviews, I really would have shed tears,” one fan added.
“Vanessa must curse him I don’t know,” another tweeted.
“This is just…absolutely diabolical. Hope she pulls a missing girl,” one added.
Many took to Twitter calling him ‘disgusting’ and ‘disrespectful’
In early 2020, it was revealed that Butler and his long-term partner Hudgens had decided to go their separate ways.
The couple reportedly split in late 2019, but it became official in January of the following year, a source told UsWeekly at that moment.
“Vanessa and Austin have officially split up, and Vanessa has told her loved ones about their split,” the insider claimed.
In early 2020, it was revealed that Butler and his long-term partner Hudgens had decided to go their separate ways. Pictured together at the UNICEF Summer Gala in August 2019
The pair reportedly split in late 2019, but it was officially pictured together in January of the following year at the 2018 premiere of Dog Days
They first started dating in September 2011 and went public with their romance in July 2012 at the premiere of her movie Journey 2: The Mysterious Island.
In December 2017, the couple was rumored to be engaged when Hudgens showed off a diamond ring on her wedding finger, but she later denied the claims.
Butler has since moved on and is dating Kaia Gerber, after they sparked a romance in December 2021 when they were spotted attending a yoga class together.
Hudgens, for her part, is now dating MLB star Cole Tucker. The couple first sparked romantic rumors when they were spotted holding hands in November 2020.
Before dating Butler, Hudgens dated her former High School Musical co-star Zac Efron between 2005 and 2010.
Butler and Hudgens began dating in September 2011 and announced their romance in July 2012 at the premiere of her film Journey 2: The Mysterious Island (pictured)
