In a candid interview on “Call Her Daddy,” Penn Badgley revealed the emotional challenges he faced while dating his Gossip Girl co-star Blake Lively.

The two actors, who portrayed Dan and Serena on the popular show, were also in a real-life relationship from 2007 to 2010.

When asked if he could separate his on-screen and real-life relationship, Badgley admitted it was a struggle, especially given the intense media attention.

He explained, “When you’re constantly in the public eye, it feels like you’re always proving something.” At the time, celebrity culture made it difficult to differentiate between his role as Dan and his own identity.

Badgley shared that the pressure to maintain a public image affected him, particularly as he was in his early 20s and didn’t have the emotional maturity to handle it.

Despite the difficulties, Badgley emphasized that he and Lively remained professional throughout their relationship and after their split. He said, “We had to do all kinds of nutso stuff… but there was never any weirdness.”

The two continued to work together on set without any issues, even when their characters got married on the show.

Reflecting on the experience, Badgley described the Gossip Girl years as fast-paced and fun but acknowledged the dark undercurrent that would affect him later in life. He’s now happily married to Domino Kirke, with a son and twins on the way.