Austin Butler has been partying hard for a good while and it’s one of the main reasons his romance with Kaia Gerber bit the dust after nearly three years together, according to a source, who exclusively tells Life & Style her friends believe she’s better off without him as they had been drifting apart while his star rises.
“There was nothing normal about Austin and Kaia’s relationship because of the trajectory he’s on and the insane amount of attention he attracts wherever he goes,” explains the source, who has known Austin for years.
The couple first sparked rumors of a romance in December 2021 after attending a yoga session together and then being spotted out in the wild hanging out. They went public with their relationship in March 2022, though as the Elvis actor, 33, rides the rising tide of his career, Kaia, 23, was left behind as he indulges in the attention and hard-partying that accompanies fame.
“Even though Kaia is from a famous family, she can blend in and be anonymous when she wants to, but that’s been impossible for Austin since he made Elvis three years ago,” the insider says. “Yes, he loves a good time and can drink anybody he knows under the table, but It was also a culture clash – Austin comes from a different world than Kaia and everybody could see that.”
The same sentiment was echoed by a second source who previously spoke to Life & Style in September 2024, hinting at problems between the couple that ultimately turned out to be the downfall of their relationship.
The most pressing issue between Kaia and Austin was the “big culture difference between how they were brought up,” that source said. “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.”
Kaia comes from money – the daughter of supermodel Cindy Crawford and George Clooney’s business partner, Rande Gerber, and just so happened to land her first modeling job with Young Versace, the brand’s junior line, when she was just 10 years old. Austin, on the other hand, is the son of an aesthetician and worked as an extra on various television series before finding his big break.
“It’s nothing to be ashamed of either – he worked hard to get where he is and frankly Kaia hasn’t had to make the same sacrifices Austin has,” the first source says, adding that, having grown up humbly, Austin is now steaming full speed ahead to reach his dreams women be damned.
While coming from different backgrounds doesn’t necessarily mean two people won’t be compatible, the insider notes that as Austin discovered the trappings of an A-list lifestyle they began growing apart.
“He’s enjoying his popularity, he loves being a ‘bad boy’ and he’s not going to change that anytime soon.” Austin’s pal spilled that the Dune: Part Two actor loves to drink and even compared him to Brad Pitt in the 90s.
“Everybody who knew them as a couple could see that even though they looked amazing together, it was a bad match. Physical chemistry only gets you so far.”
