Hollywood’s dating scene can be a tricky business, especially when a big movie project mixes with personal life. Actor Glen Powell, known for his charming roles, is now opening up about his past relationship with model Gigi Paris. Their split happened two years ago, but Powell is just now sharing his side of the story.
"I will always have love and respect for her," Powell, 36, recently told GQ about Paris, 33. The interview was published on Tuesday, September 9. While he holds good feelings for his ex, Powell made it clear that he doesn’t quite agree with everything Paris has said about their breakup. He especially noted her comments on how filming Anyone But You with Sydney Sweeney played a part.
"Everyone gets to tell their own story about what happened," Powell explained. "And she absolutely has the right to tell hers." He added a relatable thought about relationships: "They are really, very difficult. When two people go their separate ways, they each head off to their own brunch, and everyone tells their own version of events."
Gigi Paris’s Perspective
Powell’s recent comments come about three months after Paris decided to speak out herself. Back in June, on an episode of the "Too Much" podcast, she talked about the rumors that buzzed around their breakup in April 2023.
Paris described the tough spot she was in, especially with all the talk about Powell and Sweeney. The two co-stars seemed very close on set and during the film’s promotional tour, sparking lots of questions. "I simply had to do what was right for my career," Paris said. "I had two choices. I could pretend everything was fine, and everyone would keep wondering: ‘Are they together? Are they not? Is she okay with this? What on earth is going on?’"
Paris, who dated Powell for three years, explained her other option: "Or I could stand up for myself and say, ‘No, I’m really not okay with this, and I’m leaving.’ So that’s what I chose to do." Their breakup happened before Powell finished filming Anyone But You in Australia. At that time, Paris posted a message on Instagram hinting at the split, writing: "Know your worth & what’s next."
Fans quickly jumped to conclusions, thinking the split was due to a supposed romance between Powell and Sweeney, who was engaged to Jonathan Davino at the time. (Sweeney and Davino have since ended their engagement.) Paris didn’t publicly address these rumors until June. She shared on the "Too Much" podcast that she felt "shattered" by how public everything became. She also said she simply "wanted respect" from Powell.
"What truly hurt me was how it was all handled," Paris revealed. "I felt like I was thrown to the wolves." Paris also claimed that Powell decided not to publicly deny the romance rumors with Sweeney because "it helped their PR." (Later, in 2023, Powell did state on the Today show that there was no romance with Sweeney, saying only: "We love each other.")
Paris also recalled a phone call with Powell. She claimed he told her: "The producers and I have talked, and we think it’s best if you don’t come to visit." She said that as soon as she hung up, she knew their relationship was over. A prominent news channel, Us Weekly, had reported earlier in March that "there was nothing romantic between Glen and Sydney," with a source indicating: "They are just friends."
Tom Cruise’s Wise Words
Powell, for his part, didn’t talk much more about his relationship with Paris in the GQ interview. Instead, he shared some valuable advice he got from superstar Tom Cruise about focusing on his career above all else.
"He basically told me: ‘Hey, things are going to get very, very loud out there. It’s your job to turn down the volume. Remember you have your hand on that switch. You have the ability to turn that noise up or down,’" Powell shared with GQ on Tuesday. He added that "turning down the noise and trusting my own instincts has been a real blessing for me."