Austin Butler Clears Up Dating Rumors and Reveals Why Fatherhood Is on His Mind

Austin Butler is entering a new chapter  and opening up about the mindset that’s guiding him forward. In a new interview for Vanity Fair’s Hollywood issue, the “Elvis and Dune: Part Two” star reflected on the kind of life he wants to build, sharing that he spent years believing he needed to sacrifice everything to be a “great artist.” He told the outlet that pressure stemmed from feeling like his personal experiences weren’t “enough,” but he’s now shifting toward a healthier, more grounded perspective focused on long-term growth. 

Butler, 34, said he’s letting go of past mistakes and working toward becoming a better friend, partner and eventually a husband and father. While he isn’t a parent yet, he has already embraced being a “fun uncle” to Ashley Tisdale’s 4-year-old daughter, Jupiter. Last year, he told E! News that he feels like part of Tisdale’s family and loves spending time with her children. Tisdale has shared their bond publicly, saying Butler supported her throughout her pregnancy, even FaceTiming the baby in the hospital the morning after she was born.

Reflecting on Growth and the Artist He Hopes to Become

In his Vanity Fair profile, Butler spoke about how grief shaped him, revealing that he spent years trying to numb the pain of losing his mother to cancer in 2014. He said that allowing himself to feel emotions instead of avoiding them ultimately made him better both onscreen and off. The actor also described himself as an “analog guy” who avoids spending time on his phone, adding that he often longs for the mystery of old Hollywood when audiences didn’t know everything about an actor’s life.

He reflected on pivotal moments in his career, from his early Disney Channel roles to his breakout performance in Quentin Tarantino’s “Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood,” and his experience working with Denzel Washington in Broadway’s “The Iceman Cometh.” Butler said his acting process is slow and intentional, explaining that every role begins as a “blurry picture” that comes into focus over time. Though he’s often drawn to darker characters, he said he hopes upcoming roles explore emotional intimacy and connection, citing “Blue Valentine” as the type of storytelling that resonates with him.

Butler also briefly emphasized the importance of protecting his mental health. At the New York City premiere of “Caught Stealing”, he told Extra he plans to “turn my phone off” and “disappear” for a bit once the press tour ends, calling time away from technology “very, very good for the brain.”

Shutting Down Dating Rumors and Choosing a Fuller Life

Along with his reflections on growth, Butler addressed speculation surrounding his relationship with Emily Ratajkowski. The two sparked rumors after they were photographed having dinner in New York City in September, but Butler told Vanity Fair they are simply friends. “The true answer is that I have a lot of friends and we’re friends and we had dinner,” he said, adding that public scrutiny initially made him want to “hide.” 

Even so, he said he’s no longer willing to restrict his life to avoid speculation. As he put it, “I’m going to live a constricted small life because I’m afraid of what other people are going to say or what they’re going to think?”

Looking ahead, Butler said he’s focused on building a meaningful life both personally and professionally, adding, “You get one life, so how can I allow that to hopefully make me a better friend and a better partner — and a better husband, one day, and a better father, one day, God willing?”

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