Glen Powell is finally offering his side of the story. Months after Gigi Paris publicly shared her heartbreak over their breakup and suggested that Powell's flirty on-screen chemistry with 'Anyone But You' co-star Sydney Sweeney contributed to the split, the 'Top Gun: Maverick' actor is weighing in.
“I will always have nothing but love for her and respect for her,” Powell told GQ in an interview published September 9. “Everybody’s always going to have their own narrative on things and all that. And she’s welcome to it.”
The actor looked back on his relationship. “Relationships are really hard,” he said. “And when two people break up, they each go to their own brunch and they will each tell their own narrative.”
© Dia DipasupilIt’s the first time Powell has publicly addressed Paris’ June interview, in which she claimed she was “shattered” and left feeling like she’d been “fed to the dogs” as the narrative around Powell and Sweeney's on-screen romance dominated headlines.
In that 'Too Much' podcast episode, Paris recalled her decision to walk away after being kept from visiting the film set and left to navigate a storm of speculation alone.
© Albert L. Ortega“I had two options,” she said. “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.’ So that's what I decided to do.”
But the end wasn’t just about rumors. According to Paris, deeper issues already existed between them before the press tour and viral buzz intensified things. “I just wanted respect, especially if it's gonna be public,” she said. “Like, don't make an ass out of me. 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?”
© Ethan MillerPowell credits 'Top Gun' mentor Tom Cruise for helping him navigate media attention. “[Tom] basically said, ‘Hey, it’s going to get really, really loud. It’s your job to just turn the volume down,’” Powell shared. “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.”
The breakup came in April 2024, following more than three years together. By that time, romance rumors between Powell and Sweeney had already caught fire, fueled by their undeniable on-screen chemistry and playful dynamic during the 'Anyone But You' press tour.
© Kevork Djansezian/NBCDespite the speculation, both Powell and Sweeney denied there was anything romantic going on between them. As Powell told The New York Times in April 2024, “The two things that you have to sell a rom-com are fun and chemistry. Sydney and I have a ton of fun together, and we have a ton of effortless chemistry. That's people wanting what's on the screen off the screen, and sometimes you just have to lean into it a bit — and it worked wonderfully. Sydney is very smart.”
But for Paris, the real damage was in what wasn't said. She criticized Powell for not publicly shutting down the rumors when he had the chance. “I just wanted him to say, ‘No, I would never cheat on my girlfriend,’” she said. “That wasn’t said — never once. And I think it’s because the gossip was serving them for their PR.”
