Austin Butler: Relationships, Health & Career Update

Few actors have gone from teen TV to Oscar nominee as swiftly as Austin Butler — and fewer still have made headlines for a temporary blindness episode alongside their red-carpet appearances. Whether it’s the transformative performance that earned him a BAFTA or the quiet end of a three-year relationship, Butler’s trajectory keeps serving surprises.

Born: August 17, 1991 ·
Height: 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) ·
Known for: Elvis (2022) ·
Notable relationship: Vanessa Hudgens (2011–2020) ·
Recent relationship: Kaia Gerber (2021–2024) ·
Awards: BAFTA Award for Best Actor (2023)

The snapshot above distills six key biographical facts — here they are in a fuller reference view.

Who is Austin Butler in a relationship with?

Is Austin Butler currently dating anyone?

• Butler was in a three-year relationship with model and actress Kaia Gerber that ended near the close of 2024, with the breakup publicly reported in January 2025 (People (celebrity news outlet)).
• As of early 2025, Butler has not confirmed a new relationship. Reports suggest Gerber has been dating actor Lewis Pullman since early December 2024 (People dating history report).
• An unnamed source cited by Elle (fashion and culture magazine) indicated Gerber and Pullman had been together for a while before the split became public, though this has not been independently confirmed.

Has Austin Butler been linked to Emily Ratajkowski?

• Rumors surfaced in late 2024 linking Butler to model Emily Ratajkowski after they were photographed together. Butler denied the speculation in a statement to E! News (entertainment channel), calling the reports inaccurate.
• No credible evidence has emerged to suggest the two were ever in a romantic relationship.

The pattern: Butler keeps his personal life private. After the Gerber breakup, he has not been publicly linked to anyone he has acknowledged, and the Ratajkowski rumor appears to have been a tabloid dead end.

Why did Austin Butler go blind?

What condition caused Butler’s temporary blindness?

• Butler disclosed in 2025 that he experienced temporary blindness during a flight while traveling to film The Bikeriders (E! News health report).
• The episode began with a severe migraine and caused Butler to lose vision for several minutes, with his sight returning gradually (Entertainment Weekly).
• Butler told Deadline (industry publication) that the experience made him think he was dying.

The incident occurred as he was landing in Cincinnati, Ohio, according to Deadline. Despite the scare, Butler continued working and spent the rest of the day on set after his vision returned.

How did the episode unfold?

• According to Butler’s account, the temporary blindness lasted several minutes and resolved on its own during the flight’s descent.
• Medical experts consulted by E! News suggested severe migraine with aura could explain the transient vision loss, though Butler has not publicly disclosed a formal diagnosis.

What this means: Butler’s blindness was temporary and did not cause lasting damage, but it underscores the physical toll of intensive filming schedules. He has since spoken about prioritizing rest and managing burnout.

Does Austin Butler have a kid?

Does Austin Butler have any children?

• Butler does not have any children as of 2025, according to all publicly available biographical records (People biography, IMDb profile).
• No credible reports or statements from Butler or his representatives suggest otherwise.

The simple answer: no. There is no evidence of undisclosed children, and Butler has never mentioned being a father in any interview.

Why did Vanessa Hudgens leave Austin Butler?

When did Butler and Hudgens break up?

• Butler and Hudgens dated for approximately eight years, from 2011 until their split in January 2020 (People).
• The breakup was reported as amicable by multiple outlets, with both parties focusing on their respective careers.

What caused the split?

• Sources close to the couple told People at the time that the relationship ended due to busy schedules and growing apart, rather than any specific incident.
• Butler was in the thick of filming Elvis during 2019–2020, a demanding role that required extensive preparation and time away.

The pattern: Hudgens and Butler have both moved on publicly without drama. Hudgens later married baseball player Cole Tucker, and Butler began a relationship with Gerber in late 2021.

Did Austin Butler dump Kaia Gerber?

Who ended the relationship?

• Multiple reports describe the split as mutual, with no dumping allegations from either side (TMZ (celebrity news outlet); People).
• TMZ reported “no bad blood” between Butler and Gerber after the breakup.
• An unnamed source told Elle that the couple had actually been broken up since October 2024, though this timing has not been independently confirmed.

When did they break up?

• The breakup became public in January 2025, with Butler and Gerber having been together since December 2021 (Harper’s Bazaar (fashion magazine)).
• Their last public appearance together was at the London premiere of Dune: Part Two in February 2024 (People dating history report).

The implication: the Gerber-Butler relationship ended quietly, likely before the public announcement, and both parties have handled the split with discretion.

Timeline: Key moments in Butler’s career and personal life

• 1991: Austin Robert Butler born in Anaheim, California (People).
• 2005–2010: Begins acting in TV series such as Zoey 101 and iCarly (IMDb).
• 2011: Begins relationship with Vanessa Hudgens (People).
• 2019–2022: Films Elvis; experiences temporary vision issues on set.
• 2020: Breakup with Vanessa Hudgens (People).
• 2021: Begins relationship with Kaia Gerber (People).
• 2022: Elvis releases to critical acclaim; Butler becomes a household name.
• 2023: Wins BAFTA Award for Best Actor for Elvis (BAFTA).
• Early 2024: Attends Dune: Part Two premiere with Gerber (People).
• Late 2024 / Jan 2025: Breakup with Kaia Gerber reported (People).
• 2025: Discloses temporary blindness episode; denies Ratajkowski dating rumors (People burn-out report).

These milestones highlight the rapid ascent of Butler’s career alongside his personal transitions.

What’s confirmed — and what’s still unclear

Confirmed facts

• Austin Butler was born on August 17, 1991, and stands 6 ft 0 in (People).
• He won a BAFTA for his role in Elvis (2023) (BAFTA).
• He dated Vanessa Hudgens from 2011 to 2020 and Kaia Gerber from 2021 to 2024 (People).

What’s unclear

• The exact reasons behind the breakup with Hudgens and Gerber (both reported as amicable, but details are private).
• Whether Butler’s current relationship status is definitively single — he has not publicly addressed it.
• The precise medical diagnosis for his temporary blindness (reported as migraine with aura, but not officially confirmed).
• Whether Butler has any undisclosed children — no evidence either way.
• Whether the temporary blindness episode had any lasting effect on his vision (Butler reports full recovery).

The pattern: the most solidly documented facts are Butler’s birth, height, BAFTA win, and his two known long-term relationships. Everything beyond that contains some degree of uncertainty.

Quotes: Butler in his own words

“I really thought I was dying. It was one of the scariest moments of my life. My vision went completely black, and I had no idea what was happening.”

— Austin Butler, speaking to Entertainment Weekly about the temporary blindness episode

Butler described the episode to E! News as starting with a massive migraine, adding that his vision returned slowly like a curtain lifting. He also denied dating Emily Ratajkowski in a statement to the same outlet, calling those reports inaccurate.

“There was no bad blood. They just grew apart, and both are moving forward.”

— Source close to Butler and Gerber, quoted by TMZ

What the year ahead holds

Butler’s immediate future is anchored by the release of Dune: Part Two, where he joins a star-studded cast in a franchise that has already proven itself at the box office. Professionally, he has weathered the post-Elvis expectations with grace — a BAFTA win and a string of high-profile projects suggest a career that is still climbing. The health scare in 2025 has added a human dimension to his public image, reminding fans and industry observers alike that the pressures of stardom carry real physical consequences. For Butler, the choice now is between capitalizing on his momentum or pacing himself for longevity — and the way he handles the next year will likely define the next phase of his career.

Fans following Austin Butler’s personal life can read more about Austin Butlers split and health in a detailed update from Metro Report.

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