In an interview, Penn Badgley discussed his experience on “Gossip Girl” and his relationship with Blake Lively.
Although there was a “dark undercurrent” to the event, he claimed that he “never” battled drug addiction.
He claimed that their relationship “in some ways saved me” from that addiction because Blake didn’t drink.
Penn Badgley remarked on his time as a cast member of the popular television program “Gossip Girl” and how his connection to Blake Lively, one of his co-stars, “saved” him at the time.
The “You” actor made a brief mention of his relationship with Lively in a new cover story for Variety that was published on Wednesday.
Badgley and Lively first came into contact while portraying the on-again, off-again lovers Dan Humphrey and Serena van der Woodsen on The CW’s soap opera drama series “Gossip Girl,” which ran for six seasons between 2007 and 2012.
From 2007 through 2010, in the early seasons, the performers were romantically involved.
Badgley described the experience of starring in “Gossip Girl” as two-fold. He called it “fun and fast-paced,” but on the other hand, there was a “dark undercurrent that would bottom out in my later 20s.”
When asked if he was referencing struggles with substance abuse, Badgley said, “To be honest, I never struggled with substance.”
“Blake didn’t drink, and I think our relationship in some ways saved me from forcing myself to go down that road,” he added.”
- Penn Badgley spoke about his time on “Gossip Girl” and his relationship with costar Blake Lively.
- He said there was a “dark undercurrent” of the experience, but he “never” struggled with substance abuse.
- He said that because Blake didn’t drink, their relationship “in some ways saved me” from that addiction.
Penn Badgley reflected on his time spent working on the hit show “Gossip Girl” and how his relationship with costar Blake Lively “saved him” at the time.
In a new cover story for Variety released on Wednesday, the “You” star spoke briefly about his romance with Lively.
Badgley and Lively met playing on-again, off-again love interests named Dan Humphrey and Serena van der Woodsen (who ultimately ended up together) on The CW’s soapy drama series “Gossip Girl,” which lasted for six seasons between 2007 and 2012.
The actors dated during the early seasons, from 2007 to 2010.
Badgley described the experience of starring in “Gossip Girl” as two-fold. He called it “fun and fast-paced,” but on the other hand, there was a “dark undercurrent that would bottom out in my later 20s.”
When asked if he was referencing struggles with substance abuse, Badgley said, “To be honest, I never struggled with substance.”
“Blake didn’t drink, and I think our relationship in some ways saved me from forcing myself to go down that road,” he added.”
Badgley and Lively have opened up about their past relationship in several interviews since their breakup.
“I remember there was one point where we were just afraid of how our personal lives overlapping our work life could be perceived by our bosses,” Lively said in a 2017 feature for Vanity fair timed to the 10th anniversary of the “Gossip Girl” premiere. “[But then] we were like, ‘Oh no, that’s exactly what they want.’ They wanted us all to date. They wanted us all to wear the same clothes that we were wearing on the show. They wanted that because then it fed their whole narrative. People could buy into this world.”
Joshua Safran, the executive producer who later created a “Gossip Girl” spinoff series for HBO Max, claimed that because Badgley and Lively were so secretive about their breakup, he didn’t learn of it until months later.
“I don’t even know how they did it,” he said. “They kept it from everybody which is a testament to how good they are as actors. Because they did not want their personal drama to relate to the show.”
