When you think about the mid-2000s, it’s basically impossible not to picture Blake Lively and Chace Crawford leaning against a fountain in Manhattan, looking like they were carved out of marble. For a certain generation, they were the ultimate "It" duo. Serena van der Woodsen and Nate Archibald. The golden girl and the golden boy.
But honestly? The real story of what happened between them when the cameras stopped rolling is way more interesting than the scripts they were reading. Fans have spent years digging for evidence of a secret romance, and while the internet loves a good conspiracy, the truth of their relationship is a mix of professional respect, very different career paths, and a surprisingly normal friendship that has actually survived the Hollywood meat grinder.
The Gossip Girl Era: Did They Ever Actually Date?
Let's address the elephant in the room. People always wanted them to be a thing. It makes sense. They were both young, ridiculously attractive, and spent 14 hours a day together on a set that was basically a pressure cooker for romance. While Blake Lively famously dated Penn Badgley (Dan Humphrey) during the show’s early years, and later went on to marry Ryan Reynolds, Chace Crawford’s love life was a bit more of a mystery.
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During a 2024 appearance on the Call Her Daddy podcast, Chace finally spilled some tea. He admitted that he definitely hooked up with a co-star back in the day.
Cue the internet meltdown.
However, before you get your hopes up, he specifically noted that it wasn't one of the main female leads. That means no Blake Lively, no Leighton Meester, and no Taylor Momsen. Chace and Blake were, by all accounts, just really good friends who happened to have great chemistry. They were "work spouses" before that was even a common term.
Why Everyone Thought Otherwise
It’s the "look." You know the one. In the first few seasons of Gossip Girl, Nate and Serena had this magnetic pull.
- They shared a scandalous backstory involving a wedding and a bar.
- They were the only two characters who seemed to truly understand the burden of being the "perfect" one.
- Their off-screen chemistry in interviews was effortless.
But Chace has always been vocal about how professional Blake was. Even when the set was chaotic—and let’s be real, with that many 20-somethings in New York, it was always chaotic—Blake was often described as the one who had her act together. She wasn't the "party girl" her character was. While Chace was living with Ed Westwick in a messy Chelsea apartment, Blake was more likely to be found at a bakery or a high-end restaurant.
Where They Stand in 2026
Fast forward to today. The Upper East Side is a memory, but their careers couldn't be more different—or more successful.
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Blake Lively has basically conquered the world. Between her massive film roles like It Ends With Us and the upcoming The Survival List, and her status as a Met Gala queen, she’s a bonafide mogul. She’s also busy raising four kids with Ryan Reynolds. Honestly, she’s become the blueprint for how to transition from a teen star to a global brand.
Chace, on the other hand, took a different route. He went from the "pretty boy" to the "weirdest guy on TV" with his role as The Deep in The Boys. Seeing Nate Archibald talk to a gill-breathing octopus is a trip, but it proves he had way more range than people gave him credit for back in 2007. He’s also recently signed on for the Sandokan reboot, keeping his schedule packed well into 2026.
Are They Still Friends?
The short answer is yes, but it’s a "celebrity friend" kind of yes.
They aren't exactly grabbing coffee every Tuesday, but Chace is one of the few original cast members who still follows Blake on social media. In a world where the Gossip Girl cast has had its fair share of feuds—the Blake vs. Leighton rumors were legendary—Chace and Blake have remained drama-free.
When Chace was asked about a potential reunion or how he felt about the reboot (which he famously joked made him feel "old"), he spoke about his former castmates with genuine warmth. He even mentioned that Blake and Penn were some of the "most mature people in the world" when they had to work together after their real-life breakup. That kind of praise doesn't come from someone who’s holding a grudge.
The "What If" That Keeps Fans Hooked
Despite the fact that Blake is happily married and Chace is living his best life, the "Nate and Serena" nostalgia is still a massive engine on social media. TikTok is filled with edits of their scenes together. Why?
Maybe it’s because they represented a very specific kind of 2000s glamour that doesn't really exist anymore. It was before everyone was an influencer. It was a time when movie stars felt like royalty.
Common Misconceptions About Their Bond
- "They hated each other." Completely false. Unlike some other cast dynamics that were reportedly icy, these two always had each other's backs.
- "They had a secret falling out." There’s zero evidence of this. Life just happened. Blake moved to the suburbs and became a mom; Chace stayed in the industry lane and leaned into character acting.
- "They were supposed to end up together on the show." This one is actually debatable. The writers toyed with a Nate/Serena endgame for a long time, but ultimately, the "Dan is Gossip Girl" twist changed everything. Chace has hinted in the past that he thought Nate and Serena made a lot of sense, but he wasn't the one holding the pen.
Lessons from Their Careers
If you're looking at Blake and Chace and wondering how they managed to avoid the "child star curse," it really comes down to two things: diversification and privacy.
Blake didn't just stay an actress; she became a producer and an entrepreneur. Chace didn't just stay a leading man; he became a character actor who wasn't afraid to look ridiculous. They both moved away from the characters that made them famous without trashing the show that gave them their start.
If you want to keep up with what they're doing next, here’s the play:
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- Watch Chace in The Boys Season 5. It’s his best work and shows exactly why he’s more than just a jawline.
- Keep an eye on Blake’s production company. She’s increasingly moving behind the camera, which is where the real power is in Hollywood these days.
- Don't hold your breath for a reunion movie. While they’re on good terms, both have made it clear they’ve moved on. Instead, enjoy the reruns and the fact that they’re both thriving in 2026.
The reality is that Blake Lively and Chace Crawford are the rare Hollywood success story where everyone actually grew up and turned out fine. No scandals, no messy public feuds, just two professionals who shared a very weird, very famous experience and came out the other side as friends.