Austin Butler has finally put an end to the dating speculation that has been swirling around him and Emily Ratajkowski. After weeks of gossip following their nights out in New York City, the actor has set the record straight on their relationship status in a new interview with Vanity Fair.
"The truth is, I have a lot of friends," Butler said. "We're friends, we had dinner, and we're just friends." His comments come after months of dating rumors that have followed the two around. They were first spotted together at the Caught Stealing afterparty following the film's premiere, and just days later, they were reportedly getting cozy in a booth at Waverly Inn.
The outings triggered a flurry of speculation on social media, with fans wondering if a new Hollywood pairing was in the works. However, Butler's clarification makes it clear that friendship, not romance, is at play.
The dating chatter didn't stop at Emily Ratajkowski. Around the same time, Butler was photographed dining with a mystery woman, leading the internet to assume the companion was TikTok influencer Hailey Kalil, known online as Haleyybaylee. Kalil shut down the speculation with a sense of humor, saying, "It's not me, but I wish it was. Austin, my DMs are open."
Earlier this year, Butler ended his three-year relationship with Kaia Gerber. Despite his history of keeping relationships out of the news cycle, he admitted to Vanity Fair that he's rethinking the way he approaches privacy. And for now, the only thing certain is that Butler and Ratajkowski are simply friends, as he put it.
