Penn Badgley Reflects on 'Gossip Girl' Fame's Impact on Personal Life

Penn Badgley recently reflected on the challenges of distinguishing his personal identity from his character Dan Humphrey while filming Gossip Girl, especially given his real-life relationship with co-star Blake Lively, who played his on-screen love interest. During an appearance on the Call Her Daddy podcast, Badgley admitted that as a young actor in his early 20s, he found it difficult to separate his reality from his role, noting the merging of celebrity and character made self-differentiation hard. He emphasized that constant association with his character, both on set and in public, impacted his self-worth and emotional maturity. Despite breaking up with Lively midway through the show's run, Badgley described their working relationship as professional and amicable, stating there was no strangeness on set. He also credited Lively with helping him avoid personal struggles with alcohol during that period. Badgley acknowledged that the legacy of Gossip Girl continues to follow him, shaping public perception even years after the show ended.