“I realized a lesson with that one,” the Dune: Half Two star admitted.

The 32-year-old Dune: Half Two star was requested within the March difficulty of Esquire journal concerning the criticism he received after referring to Hudgens as a “good friend,” regardless of them having been in a critical, nine-year lengthy relationship.

“Oh, yeah, I realized a lesson with that one,” Butler admitted. “I felt that I used to be respecting her privateness in a manner and never eager to carry up a ton of issues that will trigger her to have to speak. I’ve a lot love and take care of her. It was on no account attempting to erase something. I worth my very own privateness a lot. I did not wish to hand over anyone else’s privateness.”

In the course of the media rounds for his Greatest Actor marketing campaign, the actor referred to his ex whereas discussing his Oscar-nominated Elvis position throughout a 2023 Hollywood Reporter Actors Roundtable.

“The month earlier than I heard that [Director Baz Luhrmann] was making the film, I used to be going to have a look at Christmas lights with a good friend, and there was an Elvis Christmas track on the radio and I used to be singing alongside, and my good friend seemed over at me and goes, ‘You have to play Elvis.’ I mentioned, ‘Oh, that is such a protracted shot.’”

The actor continued the story, referring to Hudgens as “good friend” once more.

Vanessa Hudgens Reacts to Joke About Ex Austin Butler’s Elvis Voice

View Story

“A few weeks later, I used to be taking part in the piano,” he mentioned. “I by no means actually sang for any of my buddies or something. That very same good friend was there and I used to be taking part in the piano. She mentioned, ‘I am critical. You gotta determine how one can get the rights to a script.’ Then my agent referred to as and mentioned, ‘So Baz Luhrmann is making an Elvis movie.’”

Butler in fact went on to star because the lead position in Luhrmann’s Elvis which catapulted his profession into superstardom, incomes him a Golden Globe, a BAFTA and an Oscar nomination for his portrayal of the music icon.

Sadly for Butler, the web has its receipts — and what he thought was simply an harmless story, blew up in his face.

Some on social media unearthed a video of Hudgens on Stay with Kelly and Ryan in 2019; Hudgens and Butler had been nonetheless collectively on the time and the 35-year-old instructed the very same story — however she referred to then-boyfriend Butler as “babe.”

Austin Butler Talks ‘Excruciating’ Sickness After Elvis Filming, Vanessa Hudgens Break up

View Story

“He had simply dyed his hair darkish. He is a pure blond, and I used to be taking a look at him and he was singing alongside and I used to be like, ‘Babe, that you must play Elvis,’” she instructed the discuss present hosts.

“Then in January, he was sitting on the piano,” she added. “And he is taking part in and he is singing and I am like, ‘I do not understand how, however that you must determine how one can play Elvis. Like, I do not understand how we get rights or what we do, however that you must play him.’”

Butler and Hudgens dated from 2011 to 2020. Each have since moved on; Hudgens is now married to Cole Tucker whereas Butler is courting Kaia Gerber.

When requested by Esquire about his present relationship, Butler remained tight-lipped on the topic — solely telling the magazine, “I am pleased.”