Austin Butler has received negative feedback from fans in recent weeks after it was discovered that he never properly credited Vanessa Hudgens for his role in the hit film “Elvis.” Today, the actor speaks out about his ex-girlfriend.
It all started when the actor was asked on The Hollywood Reporter’s “Actor’s Roundtable” how he got the role of the legendary Elvis Presley. Many fans were taken aback when he only referred to the former Disney actress as a “friend” without naming her.
Today, the 31-year-old actor spoke to The Los Angeles Times and finally acknowledged Hudgens, saying she was one of the main reasons he auditioned.
Butler clarified that the “friend” he was referring to was his “partner at the time,” and the reporter confirmed whether or not it was Hudgens:
“That’s right. We’d been together for so long and she had this sort of clairvoyant moment and so I really, I owe her a lot for believing in me.”
Butler previously stated that a month before learning that Baz Luhrmann was making a film about Elvis Presley, he was going to scout for Christmas lights “with a friend,” who was reportedly Hudgens, but her name was not given.
At the time, the actor stated that a Christmas song by the rock and roll legend was playing on the radio and he sang along, prompting his “friend” to suggest that he play the singer.
Fans did some digging and discovered that Hudgens appeared on a 2019 episode of “Live with Kelly and Ryan” and told a similar story.
Butler received negative reactions from fans after online users compiled the videos and shared them on social media platforms.
A user expressed:
“He irritates me for absolutely no logical reason,”
One wrote:
“Imagine spending entire decade with someone only to refer to them in interviews as a ‘friend’ Iaawd I’d shed real tears,”
According to Marie Claire, the couple dated for more than eight years before splitting in 2020. They reportedly met in 2006 while filming “High School Musical” through mutual friend Ashley Tisdale.
Vanessa Hudgens has not publicly responded as of this writing.