Glen Powell Breaks Silence on Breakup Amid Romance Rumors with Sydney Sweeney

Glen Powell spoke openly for the first time about his recent breakup with former girlfriend Gigi Paris, amid widespread speculation linking him romantically with co-star Sydney Sweeney. The 36-year-old actor discussed the situation in an interview with GQ while promoting his new film, Anyone But You, where much of the attention intensified during the movie’s promotional period.

Powell Reflects on Differing Narratives Around the Split

Powell acknowledged that each person involved in a breakup has their own version of events. Responding to Paris’s remarks about their separation and the alleged restrictions placed on her during the film’s production, Powell refrained from confirming her statements but emphasized his respect for her. He said,

“I will always have nothing but love for her and respect for her,”

and added,

“Everybody’s always going to have their own narrative on things and all that. And she’s welcome to it.”

He further commented on the nature of breakups, saying,

“Relationships are really hard. And when two people break up, they each go to their own brunch and they will each tell their own narrative.”

Guidance from Tom Cruise Helps Powell Manage Public Attention

Powell shared advice received from his Top Gun: Maverick co-star Tom Cruise about handling the media frenzy surrounding personal matters. He explained Cruise’s perspective during the GQ interview:

“He basically said, ‘Hey, it’s going to get really, really loud. It’s your job to just turn the volume down,”

and continued,

“Just remember you have your hand on that switch. You have your hand on the ability to turn up that noise or turn it down.’ And really just turning down the noise and trusting your own gut has been a real godsend for me.”

Paris Details Emotional Toll and Challenges Behind the Breakup

Earlier in 2023, the relationship between Powell and Paris ended amid rumors of Powell’s close relationship with Sydney Sweeney. Paris spoke publicly for the first time on the Too Much podcast, sharing how social media played a role in straining their relationship. She recounted an incident where she saw a social media post by Powell that raised questions and concerns at her workplace:

“I was at work and I was gloating about him at work and I opened up Instagram — social media can be the worst for relationships — and I’m getting tagged over something he captioned on a photo, and I just screen shot it to him and I said, ‘Hey, the whole world is watching what you’re saying please just proceed with caution,’ and that wasn’t received well,”

adding,

“from there was a steady decline.”

Paris revealed feeling caught between supporting Powell’s work and standing up for herself through the ordeal:

“It was just, ‘This is what I have to do for my job,’”

and,

“I had two options. I could either pretend like I was going along with everything and have everyone wonder, like, ‘Are they hooking up? Are they not hooking up? Is she okay with this? What the f–k?’ Or stand up for myself and say, ‘No, I’m actually not okay with this, and I’m walking away.’”

She described the breakup as painful but necessary, stating,

“So that’s what I decided to do… I was shattered.”

Paris Felt Undermined Amid Visa Issues and Media Attention

At the time, Paris was attempting to obtain a work visa to join Powell on set in Australia, but the media spotlight made the situation more distressing for her. She expressed frustration over how the breakup was handled publicly, emphasizing a desire for respect:

“I just wanted respect, especially if it’s gonna be public,”

and added,

“Like, don’t make an ass out of me. Like, just don’t make a fool out of someone you’ve been with for over three years talking about forever with. Just have some decency, you know?”

Ultimately, she accepted Powell’s commitment to his career, saying,

“And at the end of the day, it was like, well, work comes first,”

but lamented,

“What sucked was how it was handled. I felt like I was just fed to the dogs.”

Sydney Sweeney Comments on Public Reaction to Rumors

Meanwhile, Sydney Sweeney addressed the swirling speculation about her relationship with Powell during the promotion of Anyone But You. Speaking to The Wall Street Journal, she described the couple’s promotional activities as intentional but shrugged off the romantic narratives constructed by fans and media:

“We wanted everything to be an activity. And then the audience and the people were the ones who created all the other narratives,”

she said, highlighting how outside perceptions influenced the rumors.

Impact of the Breakup and What May Lie Ahead

The breakup between Glen Powell and Gigi Paris, intertwined with Powell’s working relationship with Sydney Sweeney, has attracted intense public and media scrutiny, complicating personal and professional boundaries. Powell’s efforts to keep the focus on his film and to manage media noise reflect the difficulty of navigating personal matters under public observation. Paris’s candid revelations reveal the emotional strain caused by blending private life with high-profile work. Powell’s reflections on advice from Tom Cruise suggest a strategy for managing pressure, but the lasting impact of this situation may influence future public relationships in Hollywood’s spotlight.