Los Angeles, CA — After months of speculation, actor Austin Butler has officially set the record straight about his rumored relationship with model Emily Ratajkowski.
Clarifying the Rumors
In a new interview with Vanity Fair, the Elvis star addressed the viral photos of him and Ratajkowski dining together in New York City this past September, explaining that their relationship is purely platonic.
“The true answer is that I have a lot of friends and we’re friends and we had dinner,” Butler, 34, told the publication. “And that we’re friends.”
The pair were seen sharing drinks and conversation at The Waverly Inn in the West Village, later spotted together again at an afterparty for the premiere of Butler’s latest film, Caught Stealing.
Despite online speculation, Butler said he wasn’t going to let public perception dictate his personal life.
“I just wanted to hide,” he admitted, before adding, “I’m going to live a constricted, small life because I’m afraid of what other people are going to say or what they’re going to think?”
Butler’s Busy Year and New Priorities
The actor, who also starred in the upcoming film The Eddington, was recently seen in Paris promoting Caught Stealing, where he was photographed alongside costar Zoë Kravitz. Butler’s recent projects have kept him in the spotlight, but his comments suggest he’s focusing on personal growth beyond Hollywood.
In the same interview, Butler spoke candidly about his outlook on relationships and his desire to grow as a person.
“You get one life,” he said. “So how can I allow that to hopefully make me a better friend and a better partner — and a better husband one day, and a better father one day, God willing?”
Relationship History
Butler’s romantic life has long drawn attention. He dated model Kaia Gerber for three years before their split in late 2024, with sources telling TMZ the relationship “simply ran its course.” Before that, he was in a high-profile eight-year relationship with actress Vanessa Hudgens, which ended in 2020.
Meanwhile, Ratajkowski, who divorced film producer Sebastian Bear-McClard in 2022, has also been linked to several public figures since, though she has recently kept her personal life private.
Looking Ahead
Butler shared that he’s currently more focused on his craft and family than romantic rumors. He previously told E! News that he’s happily taken on the role of “fun uncle” to Ashley Tisdale’s daughter, Jupiter, saying, “I feel so honored to be a part of her life.”
While the internet may have hoped for a new Hollywood couple, Butler’s words leave no ambiguity — he and Ratajkowski are just friends.
What do you think about Austin Butler’s take on fame and privacy? Share your thoughts in the comments on InvestRecords.com.
