Vanessa Hudgens & Austin Butler Just Split After Nearly 9 Years Together & We’re So Hurt
These two had officially called it quits after nine years together, but it was Vanessa Hudgens and Austin Butler’s breakup reason that had fans especially heartbroken. With Austin, 28, hard at work in his role as Elvis Presley in the upcoming Baz Luhrmann-directed biopic, it seemed like the actor had taken a nod from his character’s heartthrob ways. Fans noticed how Austin hadn’t posted any photos of Vanessa, 31, on his Instagram since July—a.k.a the same month his role was announced. Was that the beginning of the end?
It seemed so. According to a Us Weekly source, “Vanessa and Austin are officially broken up, and Vanessa has been telling those close to her about their breakup.”
The pair had met on the set of High School Musical back when Vanessa was dating Zac Efron, only to finally start dating in September 2011. Nine years later, things still seemed to be going well for the acting couple. When news broke of Austin’s starring role as Elvis Presley, Vanessa took to Instagram to share her super supportive reaction: “I AMMMM OVERRRR THE F–KING MOOOOOOOOONNNNN,” she wrote in a caption. “I CANT WAIT SO PROUD OF MY HONEYYYYY!!!”
But was that enthusiasm short-lived? Save for a series of Halloween posts featuring her beau, Vanessa and Austin had been noticeably absent from each other’s social media pages. That wasn’t a crazy cause for concern, however, until fans realized that the pair may have spent the holidays apart.
Vanessa appeared to have spent her Christmas and New Year’s season alone. The Knight Before Christmas star posted all about her winter getaway with some girlfriends in Switzerland, and by Dec. 31, the actress appeared at New Year’s Eve dinner dressed in a black gown—by herself.
Fast forward four years later, both Vanessa Hudgens and Austin Butler have moved on. Austin, now 32, has been in a two-year relationship with model Kaia Gerber, while Vanessa, 35, is happily married. Their breakup, though heart-wrenching at the time, ultimately led them on separate paths toward new beginnings and happiness.
