Kaia Gerber is putting a brave face on her split from Austin Butler, but a source exclusively tells Life & Style she’s actually devastated and tried desperately to salvage the romance for as long as possible before accepting there was no hope and calling it quits.
The nearly three-year long relationship between the two fizzled toward the end of 2024, with TMZ reporting in January 2025 it had already ended.
Though, according to the insider, “things have been falling apart for months, he didn’t even manage to show up for her birthday back in September. People were all saying at that point they’d split up.”
A different source hinted to Life & Style their relationship was in trouble in September 2024, saying the doomed couple has “always had a lot of things working against them.” The friend of Austin’s said that the most important was the “big culture difference between how they were brought up.”
“These are issues Kaia has always had a hard time getting her arms around, along with Austin’s crazy schedule where he’s been filming almost constantly for the last 18 months,” that insider explained. “Austin is a good guy, but everyone is being realistic about the fact that he’s way more invested in his career than he is in this relationship. At least that’s how it looks when you spend time with them as a couple.”
Eventually, the first source says, “they did manage to work things out,” around autumn of 2024, “but all the same issues came flooding back so ultimately the best thing for them to do is go their separate ways,” by the winter.
Even though they weren’t a match maid to last, the 23-year-old model and the Elvis star, 33, are still upset they put so much time and effort into their relationship only to have it fall apart.
The decision to split was mutual, but “that doesn’t mean it’s easy, especially not for Kaia.”
“This is by far the most meaningful relationship she’s ever had,” the source adds. “She’s young, so three years for her is a lot, but her family is helping her and making sure she knows that this too shall pass.”
Kaia’s parents, actress Cindy Crawford and businessman Rande Gerber, who launched a line of tequila with George Clooney, had been largely supportive of the relationship while it lasted, but have finally accepted it’s over and are focused on helping their daughter move on.
“She’s hurting a lot right now, but she will get over this and go on to have plenty more love in her life,” the insider says. “Yes, Austin was great and when they were good, it was very good. But that has not been the case for a while and it’s just time to let go.”
“Kaia is absolutely stunning and she’s smart with a huge heart, she’s not going to have trouble finding a new boyfriend. It’s just a matter of her being open to someone new, which isn’t the case right now, she’s still grieving the end of this.”
