In a rare moment of candid reflection, Gossip Girl star Penn Badgley opened up about the challenges of dating his on-screen love interest Blake Lively — and it wasn’t all as glamorous as the Upper East Side made it seem.
During a recent podcast appearance, Badgley revisited his time on the hit teen drama and the real-life relationship that mirrored his character Dan Humphrey’s fictional romance with Serena van der Woodsen, played by Lively. While fans adored the couple both on and off screen, Badgley now reveals it wasn’t as picture-perfect behind the scenes.
“It was a struggle,” he admitted. “Not because of who she was — she’s amazing — but because we were young, working crazy hours, and trying to separate reality from fiction.”
The two quietly dated from 2007 to 2010, managing to keep much of their relationship out of the tabloids — something Badgley now credits Lively for. “Blake had this ability to keep things private in a world that constantly wanted to expose us,” he said. “She helped me learn how to navigate the chaos.”
Despite the challenges, he looks back at the relationship with gratitude, not bitterness. “It was formative,” he shared. “We grew up together in a way — in the spotlight, under pressure. That’s not easy for anyone.”
Lively, now happily married to actor Ryan Reynolds, and Badgley, who stars in the hit Netflix series You, have both moved on — but for fans of Gossip Girl, the Dan-and-Serena love story (and the real one behind it) will always be iconic.
XOXO, Gossip Girl.