Penn Badgley Reveals Why He ‘Struggled’ Dating ‘Gossip Girl’ Co-Star Blake Lively

April 23, 2025
Penn Badgley Subtly Recalls Blake Lively Romance

Penn Badgley and Blake Lively were one of the most talked-about couples during their time on Gossip GirlNetflix‘. Their on-screen romance as Dan Humphrey and Serena van der Woodsen mirrored their real- relationship, but Badgley recently revealed that Lively while filming the show was a struggle2.

The Pressure of Fame and Fiction

Badgley and Lively dated from 2007 to 2010, during the height of Gossip Girl’s popularity. In a recent interview, Badgley admitted that the lines between reality and fiction blurred, making it difficult to separate his personal life from his character.

“When you do a television show, you’re doing it constantly,” Badgley explained. “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”.

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Struggling with Identity and Self-Worth

Badgley also shared that he lacked the emotional maturity to differentiate himself from Dan Humphrey, which affected his self-worth.

“What people seemed to think of Dan seemed to be what people thought of me,” he said, reflecting on how his public persona was shaped by his character.

‘s Perspective

While Lively has not commented on Badgley’s recent statements, she previously spoke about their relationship in interviews. In a 2009 interview, she admitted that she initially did not want Badgley to be cast as Dan Humphrey but later warmed up to him.

Penn Badgley and Blake Lively in ‘Gossip Girl'
and Blake Lively in ‘Gossip Girl’

Life After Gossip Girl

Despite their breakup in 2010, Badgley and Lively remained professional throughout the remainder of Gossip Girl’s run. Lively went on to marry Ryan Reynolds, while Badgley found success in ‘s You.

Badgley has since distanced himself from the superficial celebrity culture that Gossip Girl embodied, choosing roles that focus on depth and complexity.

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Penn Badgley’s reflections on his relationship with Blake Lively offer insight into the challenges of dating a co-star while navigating fame. His experience highlights the pressures of Hollywood, the struggle for identity, and the difficulty of maintaining personal relationships in the public eye.

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