Austin Butler has shed light on the reason he chose to label his former girlfriend, Vanessa Hudgens, as a mere "friend" during a previous interview where he discussed the process of securing the role of Elvis Presley.
Apology and Explanation
In a surprising turn of events that caused quite a stir on various online platforms, 32-year-old Austin Butler sheds light on why he chose to refrain from mentioning Vanessa Hudgens' name.
The "Elvis" actor told Esquire in an interview, "I felt that I was respecting her privacy in a way and not wanting to bring up a ton of things that would cause her to have to talk."
"I have so much love and care for her. It was in no way trying to erase anything."
Austin reportedly views the mistake as a valuable experience from which he gained insight.
Austin Butler's Viral Interview
Austin Butler, who is a recipient of the Golden Globe Award faced heavy criticism last year.
The musician-turned-actor was under fire for downplaying the significance of his past relationship, referring to his former partner as nothing more than a "friend."
During his interview with The Hollywood Reporter, he reminisced about a decisive experience just a month before discovering Luhrmann's search for the perfect actor to portray Elvis.
"I was looking at Christmas lights, and there was an Elvis Christmas song on the radio, and I was with a friend."
"I was singing along, and my friend looked at me and said, 'You gotta play Elvis.' I said, 'Oh, that's such a long shot.''
Austin went on to say, "A couple of weeks later, I was playing the piano. I never really sang for any of my friends or anything. That same friend was there, and I was playing the piano."
"She said, 'I'm serious. You gotta figure out how to get the rights to a script.' Then my agent called and said, 'So Baz Luhrmann is making an Elvis film.'"
Several fans expressed their outrage and condemnation towards him for excluding Vanessa Hudgens.
Reason For Breakup
Austin Butler and Vanessa Hudgens began dating in September 2011. They were together for nine years before their breakup was confirmed in January 2020.
The former couple reportedly broke up due to conflicting schedules and long-distance relationship challenges.
Additionally, there were rumors suggesting that their busy schedules led to them drifting apart over time.
READ MORE: Austin Butler Relationship Upgrade: Is The 'Elvis' Star In A Rush To Marry GF Kaia Gerber?
