Penn Badgley Reflects on Struggles Separating From Gossip Girl Role

Penn Badgley has spoken candidly about the difficulties he faced separating his personal identity from his 'Gossip Girl' character, Dan Humphrey, after the show's six-season run. Appearing on the 'Call Her Daddy' podcast, Badgley said it was particularly challenging because television roles are ongoing, unlike films, making it harder to move on. He reflected on his lack of emotional maturity at the time, noting that public perception of Dan often became conflated with perceptions of himself, affecting his sense of self-worth. The intense celebrity culture of the late 2000s and constant scrutiny of his personal life, especially during the show's peak, added to his struggle to maintain boundaries between his real life and his on-screen persona. Badgley also noted the broader impact of fame, suggesting that the absence of deeper, more nuanced media conversations at the time made it even harder to express his true self. 'Gossip Girl,' which ran from 2007 to 2012, ultimately revealed Badgley's character as the titular blogger, further cementing his association with the role.