Actor Austin Butler (31) became a name “everyone” knows after playing the title role in “Elvis”, for which he won a Golden Globe – and is nominated for an Oscar for best actor.
Many have been impressed by Butler’s singing voice and dance moves, but fans have felt that one thing has been missing.
– So sick
Butler took over the “Elvis” role in July 2019, when he was still with his current ex-boyfriend, Vanessa Hudgens (34).
A month after it was announced that Butler would play the rock legend, Hudgens guested on “Live With Kelly and Ryan”. There, the 34-year-old revealed that she had previously had the idea that her boyfriend should play Elvis.
– It’s so sick. Last December we were driving and listening to Christmas music, and then a Christmas carol by Elvis Presley came on, Hudgens said, according to Buzzfeed News.
– He had just dyed his hair dark, he is naturally blonde, and I looked at him while he was singing along and just: “Honey, you have to play Elvis. I don’t know how, but I’m serious. You have to play him.”
Race for this
A month later, the “High School Musical” star still hadn’t given up on what she thought was the perfect role for him.
– And then, in January, he sat at the piano. He’s a musician and he was playing and singing and I said, “I don’t know how, but you’ve got to figure out how to play Elvis. I don’t know how we can get the rights to it or what we’re doing, but you have to play him!”.
Mentions “friend”
Much to the chagrin of the fans, the star couple called it quits around the same time as the “Elvis” recording started.
Three years later, Butler explained that it was “a friend” who had encouraged him to play the rock legend, after a drive with Christmas music.
However, he did not mention which friend had the idea.
– So I looked around at the Christmas lights and there was an Elvis song on the radio. I was with a friend of mine and I was singing along and my friend looked at me and said, ‘You’ve got to play Elvis,'” Butler told Hollywood Reporterand further explained:
– A few weeks later, I played the piano. I never used to sing in front of my friends or anything. That same friend was there and said, “I’m serious. You have to figure out how to get the rights to a script.”
– We had been together for a long time
It therefore did not take long before the fans put two and two together, and in social media the fans were sure that it was Hudgens the actor was talking about.
– She knew the end was near
Some were offended on Hudgens’ behalf, and thought it was disrespectful to call her a “friend” after a nine-year relationship. Others thought it was great of Butler to refer to her as just that, as both have new relationships on their respective sides.
What many fans felt was the biggest problem was that he didn’t give Hudgens credit for encouraging him to play Elvis – a role that has rocketed his career.
Bring disclosure
Now, after several weeks of criticism, he confirms opposite LA Times that it was precisely Hudgens he was talking about:
– That is right. We had been together for a long time and she had such lucid moments. I really owe her a lot for having faith in me.
