Kaia Gerber and Austin Butler first drew eyes together at a Los Angeles yoga session on December 19, 2021, walking out side by side in workout clothes and masks before hopping into her car.
Just days earlier on December 8, he sat front row at a Celine show where she walked the runway, chatting with her family including Cindy Crawford and Rande Gerber. Insiders noted at the time that things felt new and easy, with friends calling him cute and her seeming genuinely content.
By late December, paparazzi caught them heading to LAX for holiday travel, fueling speculation that the model fresh off her split from Jacob Elordi had found a fresh connection.
Their bond built quietly through early 2022, with a Valentine’s getaway in London by mid‑February confirming they were exclusive. Gerber later reflected on preferring older partners due to her fashion world circles, a dynamic that fit Butler’s established status post his long Vanessa Hudgens chapter.
Hands intertwined at a Malibu farmers market in April showed comfort in simple outings, paving the way for bolder steps ahead. That organic start contrasted Hollywood flash, letting them nurture things away from spotlights initially.
Red Carpet Highs and Vacation Vibes
Public confirmation arrived March 24, 2022, at W Magazine’s pre‑Oscars bash, where they exited hand in hand after photos captured him kissing her cheek.
Paris streets called next in late March, with hotel shots of the pair bundled up during fashion week. The Met Gala on May 2 became their splashy debut, her in shimmering Alexander McQueen and him sharp in Prada, gazes locked all evening.
Kaia Gerber and Austin Butler (Credit: CNN)
Cannes followed that month for his Elvis premiere, where backstage kisses leaked amid her supportive presence. A July VMAN shoot hid her face but flashed her wrist tattoo as a subtle nod, while August lunch dates in LA caught more PDA.
Cabo trips bookended 2022, first solo in December then family style New Year’s Eve 2023 with her parents and brother, Presley snapping poolside pics.
Golden Globes January 2023 saw her cheering his win from afar while they cozied up at pre‑parties, and February’s W Best Performances event had them matching in black with heavy kissing reports.
Mexico sunbathing post‑Oscars in March and TIME100 Gala handholding in April kept momentum, even as his lingering Elvis accent stirred ex-Hudgens chatter. Those years blended career peaks with private escapes, from Broadway nights to his August 2024 birthday strolls.
Amicable End Caps Hollywood Chapter
Signs of strain emerged by late 2024, with rumors of him outgrowing the dynamic and her efforts to keep pace, though both stayed mum publicly. October 2024 dinner dates and Gracie Abrams concert handholding offered last glimpses of unity before quiet separation hit.
TMZ broke the news on January 7, 2025 , that they parted around December 2024’s close, no bad blood or blowouts, just a natural fade after three solid years.
Kaia’s New Year’s Cabo beach posts lacked him entirely, aligning with sources saying the spark simply dimmed over time.
Multiple outlets like People and E! confirmed the split mirrored their low‑drama style, prioritizing careers without messy fallout. Gerber’s WSJ chat stressed keeping romance sacred amid public life, a principle they upheld till the end.
Into 2026, both thrive solo: her modeling and acting gigs roll on, his Dune follow‑ups and projects command screens. Exes crossing paths like her reunions with Elordi show Hollywood’s small circles stay friendly, hinting no bridges burned here either. Their story stands as a model of poised privacy in a gossip mill.
Sadie Sink shot to fame as Max Mayfield in Stranger Things, turning heads with her skateboarding rebel vibe right from season two. That breakout role pulled her into a tight-knit cast where fans quickly spun on-screen chemistry into off-screen fantasies.
TikTok videos in 2022 lit up with claims she dated Finn Wolfhard, her fellow teen lead, pointing to casual hangs and shared laughs as proof.
Those stories crumbled fast once details emerged. Wolfhard had his own girlfriend at the time, actress Elsie Richter, making the pairing nothing more than wishful thinking from excited viewers.
Sink never addressed it directly, sticking to her pattern of letting rumors fade without fuel. Caleb McLaughlin, who plays her character’s love interest Lucas, faced similar chatter after their iconic Snow Ball kiss in season two.
That moment marked Sink’s first real kiss ever, filmed under bright lights with extras everywhere. She later called it nerve-wracking but fun, laughing about the awkwardness with friends on set.
No romance followed; the pair built a solid friendship instead, supporting each other through fame’s pressures. These links highlight how Stranger Things’ group dynamic fuels endless speculation, yet Sink’s circle stays platonic.
The Alwyn Walk That Broke the Internet
A 2021 street sighting in New York shifted focus from castmates to a surprise outsider. Photos captured Sink strolling and chatting with Patrick Alwyn, the younger brother of Joe Alwyn from Taylor Swift’s past.
Fans connected dots instantly, noting Sink’s recent star turn in Swift’s All Too Well short film as prime matchmaking material.
Sadie Sink (Credit: CNN)
The buzz exploded online, with theories painting a perfect pop culture crossover. Patrick, low-key compared to his sibling, kept out of the spotlight, and no follow-up photos or statements surfaced.
Cosmopolitan pieced together the timeline, observing how the single walk sparked months of debate without solid evidence. Sink’s involvement in Swift’s project added layers, as she channeled heartbreak on screen despite admitting zero personal experience with intense breakups at the time.
Details on Patrick stayed slim; past whispers tied him to others like Iris Apatow, but nothing stuck with Sink. Recent recaps in late 2025 and early 2026 from outlets like Netflix Junkie and IMDb reinforce the episode as a one-off, possibly just friends grabbing coffee.
This non-story shows how one paparazzi snap overrides privacy, especially when Swift’s orbit enters the frame.
Privacy Wins in Spotlight Surge
Sink’s rise keeps accelerating into 2026, with Stranger Things wrapping its final season and Marvel’s Spider-Man: Brand New Day on deck.
Amid premieres and press, her personal updates stay scarce, a deliberate choice in an industry obsessed with coupling. She ditched social media apps long ago, downloading Instagram only for quick peeks to dodge the noise.
That strategy pays off. Recent pieces from Elle and OtakuKart confirm no new partners or confirmations as of now; she’s single, channeling energy into roles like the rock opera O’Dessa.
A fresh IMDb update this month echoes the pattern: multiple past links, zero official ties, and fans still guessing. Sink told Variety post-All Too Well that personal emotions surfaced during filming, but she guards deeper details fiercely.
Her approach draws respect from some quarters. Glamour chats reveal how the cast formed a “support group” against external hype, strengthening bonds without romantic twists.
As season five hype builds, expect more scans of red carpet glances or event pairings. Yet Sink prioritizes craft over clicks, letting Max’s drama stay fictional.
Why the fixation? The Stranger Things fandom thrives on real-life parallels, craving happy endings for its breakout queen. Sink’s Texas roots and early Broadway start shaped a grounded star who dodges the trap. At 23, with Oscar buzz from The Whale and indie hits like Fear Street, romance ranks low on her packed slate.
Dylan O’Brien rumors from the Swift video flickered briefly, fueled by on-screen sparks and a Gracie Abrams lyric nod, but faded without traction. No Valentine posts, no joint trips, just professional nods. This consistency frustrates sleuths but empowers her narrative control.
Forward momentum defines her path. Recent Instagram teases for Romeo + Juliet on stage with Noah Jupe signal stage returns, blending theater grit with screen polish. Boyfriend hunts may trend eternally, but Sink’s silence speaks volumes: career first, headlines optional.
