Haley Kalil Denies Austin Butler Rumors With Playful Direct Message Invite
Digital sensation Haley Kalil has decisively dispelled circulating whispers of a romance with Austin Butler, though she playfully hinted at a potential future liaison.
The popular TikTok creator — known to her vast online following as “haleyybaylee” — became an unwitting subject of dating speculation, erroneously associated with the Caught Stealing actor after social media users conjectured she was a blonde companion seen with Butler in widely shared clips from a recent intimate dinner. Subsequently, a representative for Kalil confirmed to TMZ that the individual in the trending footage was, in fact, not the internet personality.
“While it wasn't me, one can certainly dream,” the 33-year-old Kalil quipped to the publication, adding with a wink, “Austin, consider my direct messages available.”
The public's fascination with Butler's romantic entanglements has intensified since his separation from long-term girlfriend Kaia Gerber this past January, concluding a three-year relationship. Numerous publications verified their parting of ways following reports of them spending the holiday season individually. (Gerber has, notably, moved on with Thunderbolts actor Lewis Pullman, making their red-carpet debut with affectionate gestures at the Venice International Film Festival on September 2.)
Revisiting the Chapter of Austin Butler and Kaia Gerber: A Look Back at Their Journey
In a more recent development, Butler, 34, was captured in an intimate moment with his Caught Stealing costar Zoë Kravitz during an evening gathering with mutual acquaintances at the chic Dragon bar in Paris on August 21. Kravitz is understood to be in a casual relationship with Harry Styles, with whom she has been seen on various occasions.
Before his liaison with Gerber, Butler shared an extensive relationship with High School Musical alum Vanessa Hudgens, spanning from 2011 to 2019. He conveyed to Esquire in February 2024 that he still harbors “a profound sense of affection and concern for” the 36-year-old Hudgens, despite their separation half a decade prior.
This incident, however, is not Kalil’s inaugural brush with social media’s speculative tendencies this year. In May, she addressed a widely circulated video that falsely announced her "demise."
“Well, rest in peace, I suppose?” she humorously retorted to the fabricated death report.
She subsequently posted a satirical commemorative video on Instagram, accompanied by a playfully irreverent caption: “Eternally cherished. Haleyybaylee. August 6, 1992 – May 25, 2025, presumably. Cause of Death: uncertain, perhaps foul play. A memorial gathering is scheduled for this week, whenever my schedule permits, as I believe I am still among the living – gifts encouraged.”
Haley — previously wed to former NFL luminary Matt Kalil from 2015 to 2022 — has cultivated an immense following of over 15 million on TikTok and garnered 2.1 billion "likes" since her debut on the platform in October 2022. She has notably carved out a niche with her distinctive, comedic celebrity interviews at prestigious events such as the Golden Globes and the Grammys.
“It's been quite an extraordinary journey,” she divulged exclusively to Us Weekly in March, reflecting on her ascent to social media stardom. “I distinctly recall creating my Instagram account years ago, meticulously selecting a username riddled with 'e's and 'y's, never imagining it would ever reach a wider audience.”
Elaborating on TikTok's unique draw, the influencer posited, “For me, the realm of social media unfolded in my life in an utterly unanticipated manner. I believe it's entering the lives of many others in equally unforeseen ways, given its relative novelty. We are, I contend, in an era of collective discovery concerning its intricacies. Simultaneously, however, this digital landscape offers significantly greater accessibility to individuals who perhaps weren't raised amidst its pervasive influence.”
