Austin Butler Reveals Why GF Kaia Gerber Isn’t His Date

Bro-ing out! Austin Butler defined why he didn’t attend the 2023 Oscars with girlfriend Kaia Gerber — and why he introduced his greatest pal as his date as a substitute.

Talking with Ashley Graham on the champagne carpet at Los Angeles’ Dolby Theatre on Sunday, March 12, the 31-year-old Elvis star defined that he wished his longtime pal James Farrell “by my facet.”

“I’ve bought my greatest pal right here with me, who can be my agent,” he informed the mannequin, 35, who was cohosting the ABC pre-show with Butler’s ex, Vanessa Hudgens. “And I owe my profession to him, in order a thanks, I wished him to be by my facet tonight.”

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Butler — who’s nominated for the most effective actor Oscar for his position in Baz Luhrmann’s titular biopic of the late Elvis Presley — elaborated on his friendship with Farrell in a purple carpet interview with Leisure Tonight.

“We met after I was 17. James was working on the company as an assistant, I used to be simply doing little TV reveals after which we grew up collectively,” the Carrie Diaries alum shared. “He’s the man that I’m going to for each profession, query.”

Farrell, for his half, informed the outlet that he’s going to be sobbing with delight all through the present. “He’s my greatest pal that I get to work with,” he stated of Butler.

Gerber, in the meantime, attended the premiere of her movie Bottoms on the South by Southwest pageant in Austin, Texas, on Saturday, March 11.

The pair first sparked romance rumors in late 2021, with Us Weekly confirming their relationship that December after the 2 had been noticed taking a yoga class collectively.

Although the couple have largely remained tight-lipped about their romance, they packed on the PDA whereas on the 2022 Cannes Movie Competition that Could. Gerber, 21, was photographed smooching the Golden Globe winner on the purple carpet premiere of Elvis.

In December 2021, the duo had been noticed on a getaway to Cabo San Lucas with Kaia’s dad and mom, Cindy Crawford and Rande Gerber, and her brother, Presley Gerber. One month later, they had been noticed getting cozy after the Sharpay’s Huge Journey actor took house the 2023 Golden Globe for Finest Efficiency by an Actor in a Movement Image – Drama.

Previous to his romance with Gerber, Butler dated Hudgens, 34, from 2011 to 2020 — and credited her for uplifting him to play the position of Elvis.

“The month earlier than I heard that Baz was making the film, I used to be going to have a look at Christmas lights with a pal, and there was an Elvis Christmas music on the radio and I used to be singing alongside, and my pal seemed over at me and goes, ‘You’ve bought to play Elvis,’” he revealed at The Hollywood Reporter’s Actors Roundtable earlier this yr, later clarifying to the Los Angeles Instances that stated pal was his “companion on the time.”

“I stated, ‘Oh, that’s such a protracted shot,’” he recalled. “A few weeks later, I used to be taking part in the piano. I by no means actually sang for any of my buddies or something. That very same pal was there and I used to be taking part in the piano. She stated, ‘I’m severe. You gotta determine how one can get the rights to a script.’ Then my agent referred to as and stated, ‘So, Baz Luhrmann is making an Elvis movie.’”

Talking with the L.A. Instances, he revealed he and Hudgens had “been collectively for thus lengthy and he or she had this kind of clairvoyant second and so I actually — I owe her lots for believing in me.”

Kaia, for her half, had additionally been in a number of high-profile relationships earlier than relationship Butler, together with Jacob Elordi, Pete Davidson and extra.