In a recent episode of his Podcrushed SiriusXM podcast, Penn Badgley, famous for his role as Dan Humphrey in the original CW series “Gossip Girl,” delved into an iconic wedding scene from the show’s finale. The conversation naturally led to discussions about his real-life ex-girlfriend, Blake Lively.
During the podcast, Badgley and his cohosts engaged in a candid conversation about whether filming the wedding scene was awkward, given the off-camera breakup of the two lead actors.
Badgley’s reply was forthright and somewhat unexpected: “I don’t believe it was uncomfortable for anyone. To the best of my recollection, we were former partners for a substantial portion of the show’s entire duration.”
The pivotal wedding scene occurred in the series finale episode in 2012, where Lively’s character, Serena Van Der Woodsen, tied the knot with Humphrey, affectionately known as “lonely boy” throughout the series. This episode also revealed Humphrey as the enigmatic Gossip Girl.
Badgley, reflecting on their professionalism during the shoot, remarked, “We always were very professional. We had to do all kinds of nutso stuff, including having a fake marriage. In my memory, there was not one bit of strangeness; it wasn’t even a thing.”
While both actors shared the small screen in “Gossip Girl,” Badgley disclosed that his real-life romance with Lively spanned two years. Presently, Badgley is married to singer and actress Domino Kirke, while Lively is happily wed to actor Ryan Reynolds.
“Gossip Girl” was a cultural phenomenon that ran for six seasons, captivating audiences from 2007 to 2012. The series offered a glimpse into the glamorous lives of Manhattan’s Upper East Side teenagers, adapted from Cecily von Ziegesar’s book series of the same name.
Badgley also pondered the show’s prevailing focus on relationships, commenting, “The series revolved around various forms of relationships, so it seems like each of us had experienced virtually every possible dynamic.” He went on to express that, given the extensive duration of the show, the series finale seemed somewhat secondary in importance.
As fans revisit these iconic moments, it’s clear that the chemistry between Badgley and Lively, both on and off the screen, remains a fascinating aspect of “Gossip Girl’s” enduring legacy.
