So, the news finally broke and it’s kinda heartbreaking for those of us who were rooting for them. Kaia Gerber and Austin Butler are officially over. After three years of being the "it" couple that looked like they walked straight out of a 1960s film set, they called it quits toward the end of 2024. But now, in early 2026, the dust is settling, and we’re starting to get the real story about why that Hollywood "forever" didn’t actually last.
It wasn't a sudden explosion. No dramatic Instagram deletions or messy subtweets. It was more of a slow fade. Honestly, looking back, the signs were there.
The Yoga Class That Started It All
Let’s rewind for a second. December 2021. The world first caught wind of Kaia Gerber Austin Butler when they were spotted leaving a yoga class together in Los Angeles. At the time, Kaia was just 20, and Austin was 30. He was right on the cusp of becoming a global superstar with the Elvis press tour, and she was already the face of basically every luxury brand on the planet.
They were low-key. Like, really low-key.
Austin, who had just come off a massive nine-year relationship with Vanessa Hudgens, seemed to find a quiet sanctuary in Kaia. They spent Valentine’s Day 2022 in London, then hit Paris. By the time they hit the 2022 Met Gala red carpet—remember that steamy kiss at the top of the stairs?—the world was obsessed. They looked like the ultimate power couple. But as Austin’s career skyrocketed into the stratosphere, things got complicated.
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Why the Spark Eventually Faded
People love to point at the age gap. A ten-year difference isn't huge in Hollywood, but at 23 and 33, you’re often in two totally different headspaces. Sources close to the couple started leaking details that the "spark just faded."
But there’s more to it than just getting bored.
Austin Butler is a method actor to his core. He famously spent years "becoming" Elvis Presley, even keeping the voice long after filming wrapped. While he was grinding to prove he wasn't just a former Disney kid, Kaia was born into the industry. She’s the daughter of Cindy Crawford and Rande Gerber. She’s "nepo-baby" royalty, a title she’s navigated with a lot of grace, but it created a different life perspective than Austin’s.
"Kaia is from a different world than Austin, who had to fight for everything he has," one source told Life & Style.
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That's the crux of it. Austin was finally seeing his dreams come true with Elvis, Dune: Part Two, and his upcoming 2026 project Mother Mary. He was laser-focused. Meanwhile, Kaia was focusing on her own pivot from modeling to acting, appearing in Bottoms and Palm Royale. They were both growing, just in opposite directions.
The Cindy Crawford Factor (The Rumors Are Wild)
Here is where it gets spicy. Recently, reports surfaced that Kaia’s mom, the legendary Cindy Crawford, reportedly took the breakup "personally."
Now, take this with a grain of salt, but word on the street is that Cindy felt a little used. Some sources claim she believed Austin utilized the Gerber family’s massive social and industry connections to solidify his footing in Hollywood. Is that true? Who knows. Austin has plenty of talent on his own, but having a supermodel's family in your corner certainly doesn't hurt.
Whether or not there’s "betrayal" involved, the family hasn't been seen with Austin since the split. He was notably absent from their 2024 holiday trip to Mexico, which was the first big red flag for fans.
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Life After the Split
Both have moved on pretty fast. Kaia Gerber has been linked to actor Lewis Pullman since early 2025. They even did the whole "hard launch" thing at the Venice Film Festival. They look happy. They look... normal.
Austin, on the other hand, has been buried in work. He’s got Caught Stealing coming out and rumors of a Miami Vice reboot are swirling. He’s becoming the leading man of his generation. Interestingly, Austin and Kaia’s other famous ex, Jacob Elordi, were actually spotted hanging out and laughing at the 2025 Governors Awards. No bad blood there, apparently.
What We Can Learn From the Gerber-Butler Era
The lesson here? Even the most "perfect" looking couples face the reality of career timing and life stages.
- Privacy is a choice: They kept things "sacred," as Kaia put it to WSJ Magazine. It didn't save the relationship, but it saved them from a public meltdown.
- Ambition can be a wedge: When both partners are peaking at the same time, someone usually has to compromise. Neither of them seemed ready to do that.
- Growth isn't always linear: You can love someone and still realize you aren't the right fit for their next chapter.
If you’re still mourning the loss of the Kaia Gerber Austin Butler era, the best thing to do is keep an eye on their upcoming work. Kaia is set to star in The Shards on HBO, and Austin’s film slate for late 2026 is looking like Oscar bait. They’re both doing just fine.
Next Steps for Fans: To stay updated, follow Kaia's "Library Club" on Instagram for her latest book recommendations—she’s been leaning heavily into her literary side lately—and keep a lookout for the first trailer of Austin’s Eddington, which is expected to drop any day now.