The Obvious Warning Sign That Blake Lively and Penn Badgley Were Not Meant to Be

Known as Lonely Boy and the It Girl, Penn Badgley and Blake Lively had a brief romance that mirrored their “Gossip Girl” characters. Although they didn’t end up like Dan and Serena, their connection lasted as long as the show’s popularity. However, Badgley believes their relationship was destined to fail partly because he struggled to separate himself from his on-screen persona.

In a discussion on the “Call Her Daddy” podcast, Badgley shared insights about his first public relationship. He found it challenging to distinguish between his identity and that of Dan Humphrey. “When you’re in a long-term role, you feel pressure to continuously justify your existence,” he revealed. He mentioned that being known predominantly as Dan made it hard for him to establish his own identity during that time.

Despite the challenges, there are no hard feelings. Both actors have moved on with their lives—Badgley is now married to singer Domino Kirke, while Lively has found love with Ryan Reynolds, albeit through her writing. Badgley expresses gratitude for Lively’s presence during a tumultuous period in his life, noting that she helped keep him grounded.