In Hollywood, sometimes what’s not being said speaks volumes louder than what is.
Eagle-eyed fans think they’ve detected disturbance in the force of one of Tinseltown’s most photogenic couples. Kaia Gerber and Austin Butler, who’ve been serving relationship goals since 2021, have suddenly gone suspiciously quiet on the public front — and in celebrity relationship terms, that’s practically a press release.
The rumor mill kicked into overdrive in mid-April when supermodel Gerber posted what seemed like an innocent selfie captioned “New beginnings 🌙” — three syllables that immediately sent her followers into detective mode. Is it just spring cleaning season, or is she subtly announcing a relationship reset? The internet has collectively decided it simply must be the latter.
Adding fuel to the speculative fire, “Elvis” star Butler has been notably absent from Gerber’s side at several recent industry events, despite being confirmed in town for his own projects. Most telling was last week’s charity gala where Gerber arrived solo, despite Butler attending the same event last year as her plus-one. The couple that used to give us regular doses of red carpet perfection has seemingly gone on a public appearance hiatus.
“I’ve been tracking their Instagram stories religiously, and there hasn’t been a couple photo in 24 days,” declared one particularly dedicated TikTok sleuth in a video that’s racked up over three million views. “That’s the longest they’ve gone without posting each other since they started dating.”
Another fan pointed out that while they still follow each other on Instagram (phew!), Butler no longer appears to be liking Gerber’s posts with his usual reliability — a digital-age relationship barometer that apparently carries significant weight among the Gen Z demographic.
The pair began dating in late 2021 following Butler’s split from Vanessa Hudgens and quickly became one of Hollywood’s most photographed couples. With her supermodel genetics (courtesy of mom Cindy Crawford) and his brooding charisma, they’ve graced countless best-dressed lists and given us enviable street style moments for nearly four years.
A source speaking to People magazine offered a characteristically vague insider perspective: “They’ve been keeping things private lately, but nothing officially over — at least not yet.” The carefully worded statement manages to simultaneously calm fears while also leaving the door wide open for breakup speculation. A masterclass in celebrity PR speak if ever there was one.
Neither party has directly addressed the swirling rumors, with Butler currently filming his next project and Gerber recently spotted at a photo shoot in New York. Their representatives have maintained radio silence, which in Hollywood terms is neither confirmation nor denial — just more kindling for the gossip bonfire.
Of course, it’s entirely possible these two are simply taking a step back from the spotlight to nurture their relationship away from public scrutiny. Many celebrity couples have learned the hard way that too much exposure can put unnecessary pressure on an otherwise healthy partnership.
But try telling that to TikTok, where relationship analysts are breaking down everything from body language in past photos to the symbolic meaning behind Gerber’s recent book recommendations (Sally Rooney’s “Normal People” — a doomed romance tale — made an appearance on her nightstand in a recent post).
Whether this is a genuine rough patch, a temporary privacy pivot, or simply the internet manufacturing drama where none exists remains to be seen. But one thing’s certain — the “Kaustin” hashtag is watching their every move with bated breath.
Representatives for both stars have been contacted for comment, presumably by every entertainment outlet in existence. We’ll keep you posted if anyone actually responds.
