Chace Crawford: Gossip Girl, House Parties & Dating Disasters [VIDEO]

Chase Crawford, welcome to Call Her, Daddy. Thank you for having me, Alex. Yeah. I am so excited to meet you. Okay.

You have to tell a little bit of the backstory, though, because you were just telling me downstairs that you kind of were a fan and like, I need.

I always listen to podcasts. I was like, who are these? You guys are giving insane advice and it was amazing because you weren't giving like just this cliche wrote advice to women. You're like, fuck it. This is how we're seeing.

This is what the guys were seeing in New York or whatever. Right. And I lived in New York. obviously. So, but, but yeah, but you guys are like, this is how we're seeing it.

This is the real stuff we're going to give, give out. This is how you play it. This is our advice. This is what works for us. And I thought it was the best thing.

I laughed. I thought it was amazing. I would listen to like, full, full, like, full podcast. Oh, my God. Oh, so you've really heard like...

I was entertained by the whole thing. Yeah. I'm OG. I love your new stuff. I love all.

Exactly. All this.

And she's like, fucking shit.

What a great point. This is awesome.

I can really like go out and like let loose, and I'm very social and I can be loud and have fun, but I like my alone time. You know, I like, I like my own bed and like, I'm sort of a closet reader and a nerd and like my dog, I like, I like my alone time. So yeah.

I'm one of those.

I'm like, it actually is the only way to have a dog. I mean, a cast member. recently, she was, she wanted a dog. I'm like, you want to get a dog together? I know how this goes.

I'm like, Hey, Shiner's name, Shiner after a Texas beer. Very stupid. Uh, I'm like Shiner's in the house. Just go in there and take them. And she just goes and picks them up.

I'm not even there. But sometimes, yeah, we're still like friends and cordial. It's great.

That's how it happens. They.

Maybe, maybe, you know, he's a bad texter. Maybe I'm not that, I'm being honest. I'm not that great. You know, sometimes.

In the beginning days I was like, does he fucking hate me? But now I know, I like, appreciate it that he's not on his phone 24, seven, being one of those freaks. Like, are you on your phone texting back?

So that's good. I'll overthink. I have a little anxiety. I don't know what to do. So sometimes I like, I literally forget to like, form a response.

You know what I mean? I got to get back to that. So I'll forget about it, and it's terrible. And I'm just, that's kind of how I am. I'm a little scattered with the texting.

I've learned. You've gotten better. I'm in my late thirties, now. I've gotten.

What are you doing on a Saturday night with your friends?

And it went by like that. So we do this, we do these little like lunches with random, different people. He's kind of in the food industry as a chef. So we kind of like have these interesting people. Are you getting like annoyed?

Oh my God. For other people, it's like the OC. Like, I know you've talked to talking to like Rachel Bilson, like she's done so much in her career, but there's the one thing that people like, can we just talk about this for 19 hours? And it's like, you can either just be positive about it or like fucking hate it, but like, it's what made you super famous. Right.

And it's kind of fun for all of us to like,

And like even the name, I hate it. It's like, it's the great, it's great. It's the greatest thing. Yeah. It's like, it's this weird cultural thing of the zeitgeist of that time to like.

pre, Instagram, pre, all these things. Like the first iPhone had just come out. Like it was such a weird,

Like I remember college more when I was watching gossip girl, and like high school, I was like obsessed with it because I grew up on the East coast. I like knew the nature of New York city, but I was not, I'm what didn't come from, like a wealthy family. So like the con I was like with the fucking Humphreys, I would have been down in like,

That's what I love about New York is like, you can go to where DiCaprio is or whoever the fuck in New York is cool. Like that, where LA is a little bit more snooty, where it's like, you can't get in here where New York, it's like.

look at me. I get the thing. I'm like, okay, listen, I mean, get Lakers tickets to save my life. Everyone wants it. But the Knicks, they would always give me Knicks tickets and Rangers, baby.

So yeah, that was it. Fucking amazing. Shout out to them. We're going to talk a little.

Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. So, like before, that, like how would you describe your childhood? It was interesting.

I was born in Lubbock,

So Oklahoma city, very, and listen, my parents had me when they were like 20 and 21.

. So that's, you know, it's very, very Southern thing. Yeah. I mean, they were still growing up as we were, I can't imagine having like a 15 year old right now. So, so they were young.

My dad was in med school. What happened? We moved to Minnesota for four years for his med school. And then we moved back to Texas when I was like nine or 10 years old in Dallas. I'm from Dallas, like North, North Dallas, a little bit suburbia, a little bit out there in the sticks, but more suburbia, you know?

Yeah. Were you raised religious? Yeah. Yeah.

Cause. obviously I can't imagine being from the South and being raised religious. Like I was raised Catholic every single Sunday going to church and I was from Pennsylvania. So it wasn't like probably as intense, maybe as like adding on the South, but it was just confusing, because I always felt more like pulled to the arts and like pulled to these things that, just like, weren't as traditional. Right.

And so you just kind of feel like a fucking weirdo and you feel like art, naturally like pushes the boundaries on conversations. And when you're raised religious, it's a little bit like, what are you doing here? Like you're like coloring outside the lines. And if you were raised in Los Angeles, it's like, go, sweetie, you're doing great. So it's like, it's just a matter of where you were raised.

Like, was it hard for you with like, when did you know you wanted to get into the arts?

That's like, no one wants to hear. I'd like, no, that's good. That's good. Yeah. Yeah.

Like. I was very naive about, about the acting thing. I just, yeah. When there was like this, like this, like secular world, right. That's like, you know, even though I was sort of a bit policed on what music I was listening to, and, you know, all these other things, it kind of makes you feel just claustrophobic in a way.

Right. I remember like always really wanting to just travel or just get out of the bubble and meet new people and go out and do that. But I was a pretty good drawer and like charcoal and like a little bit of painting. when I was, like, you know, mid middle school, I started kind of, I'm not grabbing like, I was good for, like a sixth grader. Okay.

Like good for like a hundred kids in my grade. Okay. I was like the best artists. that like a hundred kids in Dallas. Right, right, right.

No, no, but, but, uh, so my parents did, kind of like foster, that a little bit. They. let me, you know, I went into like photography classes.

But wasn't that like low-key hot at the time? I mean, we all thought

I wasn't good at.

Like I was like, okay, I guess I didn't even really come into my personality until like middle of high school. Yeah. I think that's kind of normal.

So everyone, it's gotten even worse. Like every weekend. it's like sports for kids. And it's just this whole, and you didn't play football. I did, but not like, not like Friday night lights football.

It wasn't like the Panthers. I love kids. He's a, he's a buddy, but you know, I, I actually, I actually auditioned for that, for that show and didn't, didn't get the quarterback and I.

Oh, devastated. Yeah.

Scars forever. Yeah. Yeah. It was definitely not. My dad was like, you're not, you're not going to, you're probably not going to go over six foot.

So let's, um, he was like, let's maybe stick to golf and something easy.

in hindsight, if I have a son, one day, I'm like, get your fucking ass into golf. Right. Right. Those are the guys that, like, get the scholarships and are smart and have their life figured out. and just like, look, put together where, like the meat heads, like God bless them.

But like, where are they today?

So that was sort of the impetus there.

Okay. I want you to know. I would have accepted that role too, but I think it was meant to be. It was meant to be. Okay.

Wait. So you got denied by a girl. Did you ever go to prom? I did go to prom. Yeah.

Yeah.

So we used to like go to prom together just because I had, I think I had a girlfriend from a different, that's right. I had a girlfriend from a different school. And there was like a thing where the girls didn't want you. It was just like, if you, you can't bring them to school. So I want to bring my friend whoopie, and we tore it up.

Yeah.

Let's say Smirnoff, or like Zima, or something like that. But it was Mike's hard lemonade and Smirnoff. I think I had one of each, but it was one of those things where you, like, you, don't know if you're drunk and you don't know how to act. You act drunker than you are. I think, I think I'm feeling, I'm feeling great.

Like you like try and like, dude, it's just water. We like, we, we, we've.

Okay. It's on the fuck down. Wow. Okay. So, like, you had like an okay experience.

Cause I feel like to say that you had that for your first drink. Like I was like going into my parents' liquor cabinet and like grabbing like a disgusting brandy, and like holding my nose and like vomiting back into the bottle and just trying to get like a couple of steps. You had a nice little Mike's hard. No, no. I had a bad moment with vanilla.

So I'm mixed with vodka. bad night. You can never now not drink that and think of that. No, it was great. Cause.

then I just kind of would like, so I switched the beer as you want. One doesn't Texas. You switched to some beer. So, um, Abercrombie and Fitch, what the fuck,

And I.

Never. I can smell it, and I can taste it right now thinking about it. It's kind of disgusting. Probably still have it. God.

Yup. And then, as I'm getting closer, I can hear the same fucking mix that they've been playing on repeat for 48 hours. I can like know this song. And now I probably love every song on there, but like, it's the same thing. You get in there, there's like greeters standing there, sometimes shirtless back in the day.

I mean, you were never one of those. I was never one of those. They tried to. actually, I had enough, at least self dignity, respect by, and they were like, I'm a math guy. Like, put me behind the register.

So, and I actually, time went by way faster. Uh, I was not a greeter, but you get there, they might be introduced by some shirtless guys. And then, uh, and there's always photographs. He's like those Bruce Webber, like black and white photographs. You know, those were kind of the iconic thing that made it.

So the time that was very like racy and like, Oh, it was like, cause. we got like a little bit of.

And this smell, I was thinking about it, though. Like Hollister, was 10 times worse, because you had to walk in there with a flashlight. They turned all the lights off and it was like a mad house. Like, and you're literally like grabbing clothes and you're just checking out. It was.

It was terrible.

Yeah,

Again, like you said, 25 year old men. Um, and it was, I think it was like a whole experience that back in the day, like that was the coolest thing going. Now we don't even have malls anymore. No, there's no.

It's kind of nice. in there. It is a ghost town. So, okay. We're talking about Gossip Girl again.

Okay. Okay.

Did you even know what the show really was going to be like? No, I had no idea. I mean,

It was actually kind of a wild process, but I knew that Josh and Steffi did the OC. They're phenomenal. And I knew it could have had this potential to be cool. And I'm like, oh, they're definitely going to change the name. That name is never going to stick, you know, it's based on these books, whatever.

But I went in and then right away, uh, I remember, I wore like my most New Yorkie jacket possible. Like my preppiest, you know, whatever. And, uh, but at the same time, I was a little bit like, again, I'm like younger. I was a little like eye roll. Like this is kind of not beneath me, but I want to, I wanted Friday Night Live.

So I'm like, I kind of went in there with like a, like, a very kind of blase, like whatever, which probably worked in my favor, as those things kind of do, but, but they, they want to do like a test thing right away, which I thought, great. There's going to be like one more, one more audition or whatever. But then it was like back with producers and then like producers and director. And then it was like, it's different. It's all different now.

Now you, now it's all self tapes and you just kind of put yourself out there, you know, but, but back then it was like, it was CW, so it was CBS and Warner Brothers. So you had to go to like the top of, like the Warner Brothers building. And I remember one of the final, maybe fourth or fifth times. I walked in this big, like 40 row conference room, you know? And I think I tested with a few actresses, a few girls for like Blair or whatever.

And I remember thinking like, I'm like, God, that's a really great part. Like she's got some great chunks of dialogue. It's like funny. And you know, no, no offense. They didn't really, I was like, I just don't really see it with these girls.

And I got this big conference room and there was just this one girl kind of sitting with her back turned. I walked all the way around. I was like, hi, nice to meet you. And it was like late and turned around. And before she even said, I'm like, that's, she's like so perfect.

She was like, hi, nice to meet you. I like, that's the girl. So we both were like super nervous and we had to like go in and test. It's silly. It was like a theater seating, dark room, one stool, like lights.

And it was like you go in and it's like the silliest scenes ever you're doing like in front of, like all these people. I'm like, I'm like Nathaniel's Paxil and all this stupid stuff. And so, uh, anyway, so I did that. I was like, I don't know if it went well. And I guess I got the call.

So I got it. So.

I had no idea. Like the whole thing, I was, it was all new to me. Did you have an accent? Money. I had a, I had a, like a subtle, I kind of lost it in California when I went to college for like four years, but like I get drunk, I have a little accent, but, but I had a, I did think about that, though.

I'm like, honey, you know, what is that New York thing? You know, what is that preppy thing? Right. Cause you went to Pepperdine for one year? Yeah.

For about a year and a half. Yeah, exactly. Did your family think you were losing your mind, that you dropped out? Kind of. I mean, they like, I, I, I kind of freaked out.

I didn't know what I wanted to do with my life. I kind of had a freak out moment and just, they were supportive. I graduated high school a bit younger. I was like 17.. So they were like, take a year off, like do whatever.

And of course I found this acting class. I'm like, I want to be an actor. So, you know, but they, they were somehow supportive. They, shockingly, cause I didn't think they would be, you know, my dad being a doctor and whatnot.

We could've gotten a lot of trouble. actually. I think we, like skinny, dipped in, like the president's, like pool or something crazy, while he was not there. Like something crazy. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

So you had a good time. I love it. We had a good time. Yeah, yeah, yeah. They're not going to invite you back.

No, that was like a one-time thing, but it was like, we kind of like, found, like I met some, really actually three of my best friends. They ended up all being from Texas and they were like from Austin and one was from like Amarillo, Texas. And somehow we became like instant good friends. Yeah,

No,

I kind of started to come, come more into my own, right. Have real confidence. Did you have like?

People act weird around that kind of stuff. You're like, wait a second.

Do you have a moment that you?

I don't really, I guess.

Right. And we, I'm from Texas. I was just in college. I don't know how expensive New York is. It was insane.

I'm like, why my dad had to like give us the security deposit in first months and last month's rent until we got our first paycheck. It was like hilarious. So I'm like, I'm like, Ed, you want to like room together? I'm like, this is crazy. Like there's rents.

I'm looking at this. He's like, Oh yeah, sure, man. You know, he had no idea. And I, and we had, and like first summer, we like moving in July, like probably just turned 21 or 22.. And we were like the summer series in central park.

I don't know if you remember any of that, but they had like big concerts out there and it was like the black keys, Arctic monkeys. I might be dating myself there, but it was awesome. It's awesome. Sun's out beers. And the show hadn't even come out.

We'd shot the pilot. We just moved there and we're having a blast. Just him and I just exploring the city. And these girls did come up to us and it was kind of freaked us out a little bit, cause we didn't know. And he comes to me, he's like, I think we're fucked mate.

He's like, show hasn't even come out yet, man. He was like this whole thing. And, uh, that was that, that moment is pretty crystallized in my mind. Cause it was all like black keys or plan. It was just like, you're just being like normal dudes, like sitting, chilling.

And then it's like, hello. That was the very first time, I think, anyone ever asked for any type of pictures. So that was that. I do remember that as being like a defining,

But, like you said, people come out of the woodwork, like think people start acting weird around fame and you start realizing all these things that you can only realize from that sea. Um, but I mean, I don't want to act like it was this thing. It was, we had a blast. for me. It was all about having fun.

Like I had much fun, but it was, um, you just are always kind of like, you can't like, you kind of aren't present all the time. I could have read, you kind of just kind of like wary about people or phones.

And you're like, I'm not Nate Archibald as much as you want me to be. I am not. My name.

And New York's interesting because it's like all, you get all these influx of people and tourists and you're not only you're, you're that character in that city. So it's like Mickey mouse in Disneyland. They all want to see, like, take a photo with like Mickey's. So you feel like they just come up and hug you. And it's like,

Most of them are shot in Canada, Toronto. Yes. And you guys actually were living, breathing, filming, shooting in New York city. The show was set in New York city. So, like, you're walking then to get breakfast and you're not working, but you're like walking wherever you're walking.

And someone sees you like,

It was crazy and also fun, but like it was, it blurs the lines a lot, you know? And, and, uh, it was just weird. It was like a really weird, like if we were shooting exactly in Toronto, it's a different thing, but people are visiting New York and it was its own character in the show, you know? And people are like, you know, fans of the show. And when they see you actually in that environment, it's like this whole, like their mind is blown, you know?

So it was a doubly interesting thing. And it's also weird to be in New York city.

Yeah. Right. Like that. Yeah. Yeah.

You're like, I live in New York city. I am getting paparazzi. People want to know who I'm dating. And so I started off being like, I can't relate to this fucking kid at all. And now.

And of course we went to all the touristy, awful spots and I was there for a month. I'm like, Oh God, I love this place. I love this place. That's the thing about.

Um, what was Ed's best and worst quality as a roommate?

Right. And then there was like an office you could put in a closed wall. And I was like, we'll just switch. Like, and I'll pay a little bit more. Of course we never switch.

And I'm glad we did. Cause Ed's room was like, you know, it was like a lunch pail with like overflowing cigarettes. And like, I mean, you thought like the Joker lived there. It was insane. I'm not even kidding.

I shouldn't be calling him out like this, but I love it. He's eight, 19.. I'm 21.. Like, you know, and, and, uh, he was just messy. I'm a little OCD.

I mean, I'm not, I'm like a little bit on that side of like, I need things put in the right place and.

We have to go down the elevator and to the thing, but no one was ever up there on like 26th and 10th or 11th. And, and, uh, what is that? Like, it was just like midtown Chelsea, I guess. Technically. Yeah.

Yeah. Yeah. But it was kind of close to the water. I had like this amazing view on this roof deck and we just called it roof deck. And he would like invite a bunch of people.

We bring a Bose speaker and some, like, you know, big bottle of vodka, whatever. And just like, have like a party up there all.

And I had like, like the beers going, and, but they did turn out to be pretty like fun, kind of well-known parties. Like people would like show.

She's getting married in August and I can't wait to see her. She played Vanessa on the show and we'd all, all hang out. And then she'd be like, guys, and she lived in 555.. We were like 535.. So it was, she was literally, we were next door.

And she'd always be like, my, my, uh, my, my roommate, my, this guy down the hall, like play, Alex, like plays. What is this accent you're doing? I'm trying to a Wisconsin accent. It's terrible. It's terrible.

She's from Wisconsin. No, no, no, no, no, no. Oh, my God. I was like, this is too full circle.

Like, we're going to go to Alex's house apartment. His own house, like a little tiny apartment. And it was Alex from chain smokers. And he would, she just liked playing. He's the best.

I still see him out and about. And, uh, we would just sit there and rip and like, just like chop it up talking. And he's like DJing, playing music.

No, they weren't. They weren't. Cause he hadn't.

and our, our mutual friend with, with Jessica was this guy, Will Molnati. He's still my best friend. I met him through her, but he worked in nightclubs kind of, or hospitality. So Alex was like, Hey, can you get me into these places? And he did.

Well, I hooked him up and got him into these, like DJ and stuff like that. So yeah. Yeah. Yeah. They're.

What'd they say? What was their answer? They literally go, uh, which, which one? And we were like, I was like, what? And they're like, which time?

And I was like, I don't know. Tell me about them all. And Alex at the time was like, stop Drew. And Drew was like, okay. So the first time I'm like, Oh my God.

Okay. This is quite fun. Um, who would you guys invite to these parties? Because at the time, were you like hanging out with industry people? Were you meeting like chicks at like NYU?

Um, sometimes.

Uh, and so he called, I think a doorman called me. He's like, yo, there's got to come down. There's some commotion going on down here. And I'm like, what's going on? And I go down the elevator and you could see, you could see like all the way down.

And there was just floor to ceiling, windows at the front of the building. Right. And I look and it was like Lindsay Lohan and Sam Ronson. They were dating at the time. It's very 2000..

We're like walking down. And there was just a wall, photographers in the window. I was like, Whoa, we made it. Did they ever come up? Of course they came up and it was great.

And I think we had met before, kind of, and they're amazing. Like Sam's great, and I haven't seen them in ages, but like, they came up and it was like a very early two thousands. Okay. We needed chase stories, I haven't ever told. And then, and then, and then, uh, we, like, you know, raged up there.

It was Paris ever come to a party? She did not, but I saw, I saw Paris recently, actually. And I did at, at this, like fancy, you know, some Oscar thing. And, and, uh, she said, Hey, I went up to her and said, Hey, and we were, I'm like, you know, I'm like, you remember the first time you ever met? We ever met.

Right. And she was like, I think she said, I think so. And I was like, I was in college. I hadn't done anything yet, acting wise, but I was living, I just moved to LA. My sister was in town with a buddy and we were at, like Teddy's, that nightclub back in the day, which was like the best.

And I was like, we, and you're like, you were so nice to us. You hung out with us and invited us to your birthday party. And we all went, and it was amazing. And she was like, no way. And I'm like, yes.

She's literally like, I don't remember this at all. She doesn't remember any of it. She, I think she acted like this. She's amazing. And so I always, we always say what's up when I see her, but that was like my other, you know, early 2000s.

to her. She's like got Leo at her parties and she's got everyone. And she's like, Oh God. And meanwhile, you're like,

She invites us to her birthday, but she's being so nice. I'm like, yeah, we'll go. It was great at her house. It was a blast. It was really, really cool.

Like.

I don't know how we got.

Okay. What would he say? your worst quality as a roommate is? Oh, Oh, I don't know what he would say. Um, what would he say?

my worst quality would be? Uh,

probably, probably falling asleep so easily when we're, when he was like trying to tell a story, we'd be watching, like, just like CDs of entourage just playing. And he was like, look at that. I'd be like passed out. But like, I don't know what my worst quality was. I was a great, I'm a great roommate.

I'll never have another roommate. So.

He was constantly cleaning my shit. Like leave my shit alone.

with the show's gone. We gotta, we gotta, like, just he stayed in that place and like knocked the wall down and like made it his own. He did. Yeah. We're going to actually like knocked his little wall down.

It was very dramatic. Yeah.

We got the paycheck. We got the thing. Yeah. It was like two,

or whatever could be for anything like workplace, but, but, you know, the thing is, the thing is you're on these things. It's not like people would probably think, it's like these sexy scenes or whatever that kind of, it's like, that's like the worst part of it. It's like 60 people watching. It's like the downtime. you're doing the show, you're on set for like 12, 14 hours a day.

And usually there's some pretty interesting people from all walks of life. And, and the danger is, the danger is if you have, if you connect right away with like sense of humor, at least for me, like if you have a good, if you like, have like, have a rapport and can, like kind of banter and give each other shit, for me, I'm like, Ooh, I gotta like watch it for myself. So.

Um, did you ever know if co-stars at the time were like hooking up? and then you like kept?

And then I had, I was fortunate enough to have like friends in the city. There were actors, but they were outside the show and I had a really good like friend group. And then, like they, everyone else has their little friend group. And so, you know, you meet people in those, in that wider circle. It's not just like, you know, that tiny little like circle.

Everyone's like putting a map together. So, you know, it's a lot of people involved. Uh, but you know, again, it was like our college.

Yeah.

it was very much like meet and meet people through your friends. And, and like, for me, I guess it was, I don't know, I guess it was experience-based. Like you kind of do something or you go off and meet people through, through crazy experience. I would kind.

Yeah. It was a lot of.

So,

I'm like,

now. Right. Yeah. Like 26 year.

I didn't love that. And, but I liked, when you and Serena were together. Yeah. Yeah. The white party to make.

Were you like, let's fucking go. I, uh, or tears.

It's like the hair and makeup girls, like they're, they're awesome. And that's your whole day. That's like your whole identity. Like, you know, it's like a young, I was ready for it to be done, but, um, I mean, me and Ed would talk about all the time. It's the greatest job we'll ever have.

It was so, so easy. It was an easy thing. It was fun. And we would laugh about that. Uh, but more, I was just mad.

I had to like, I was like, I guess, I guess I got to go back to LA and, like, you know, I really liked it in New York. I should have stayed for a little bit. Why didn't you? I don't know. I, I, in hindsight, with real estate, I should have just bought in a place and like, kept it.

Like, what was I thinking? You should?

Yes. Yes. You know, so talking about your state of depression,

So there was, there was that. Yeah.

That's like a long ass time to be in something like at what, like towards the end of the last year, you guys knew it was ending, right? Yeah. Yeah. We knew. Yeah.

But you still have to start to, it doesn't probably feel real until it's over. And it's almost like a college experience plus more to be with people. And then like, do you keep in touch with anyone?

And I saw Ed in Europe recently, kind of. That's awesome. That's awesome. So yeah, yeah. But it was more, it wasn't like the material.

I was really ready to move on to different material in a different role. But, like New York, I guess I wasn't really ready to leave New York. Do you think you'd ever go back? I'm too old. I mean, I think the way to do it is to.

And it's even when I look back, like I had the, like the shitty ass apartment where there were like fucking rats. And I had, I had the Ed room where, like my two roommates got to have, like the normal rooms. And then we like, there was like a built wall for me. And I'm like just putting a mattress and I could barely fit. And it was some of the best years of my life.

But now, when I think about going back to New York, like I like, like a backyard and like being relaxed and like not having to, like walk outside and get like hit in the head and like pushed to the ground and like screaming people. I'm like, yeah, I like to go for a trip and then.

I might like to go to the grocery store with my dog and like cook and have space. Yes. The dog. Spoiled.

Yeah. Are you in a relationship?

Let's talk about your love life. Yeah. Are you in a?

It's all dumpster fire. What's going on? What is your type? 2024?? It's just, this is things.

Times are tough out there. It is fucking tough. It is tough.

I joined Raya like a week ago. How's it going? Terribly. It's really, no, it's scary. I actually.

Uh, I haven't been on one day. No, don't, don't get me wrong. I'm like, haven't engaged at all. I'm a total creeper face, figuring this thing out. What is this thing?

And I don't, I'm not looking for like, I wasn't looking for a spin the beats, guy. Right. A lot of them, like, lived in Australia, or it would be like UK. And I'm like, can I set my settings closer? Like, I don't want to go on my first date across the fucking world.

Yes. So it was a little bit of like a proximity thing, a little bit of like a intimidation thing too, because, like the other dating apps, is like, Oh, this is like a nice, normal person. This is like, who are you? And like, what do you do for a living? And like, everyone's net worth.

And you're like, I'm just, it's overwhelming. Yes. So I could see why you like have a hard time getting off the app for that. Yeah, yeah, yeah. No, it's definitely weird.

Oh, Indonesia. Like what? Yeah. Okay, great. What.

And I think he was on like, he was a, he would know he was on, what was it called? Oh, vampire diaries. And I remember being like, I'm a big fan of vampire diaries. And so I'm like, Oh, and it's like, he's shooting in Toronto. And I was like, I live in New York city.

And like, but you're still like, am I getting on a plane to see this?

You're like, yeah, no. Maybe. But yeah, barrier to entry. I'm like,

Like it sucks. It sucks. You're going to figure it out. I know you're going to figure it out. Yeah.

Do you consider yourself a romantic? Uh, I do a little bit. Yeah.

So yeah. How are your first dates? Are you good at first dates? Bad at first dates? I feel like I'm.

okay. I mean, I, I mean, everyone, they're awful though, right? But, but it's like, I, you generally met people through friends of friends or through kind of indirect ways. Uh, so the first, the first dates, are always like interview process, campaigning, you know what I mean? So, uh, but when you know, you know, kind of like right away, I can still get through a first date.

It's like, well, you don't, you know, it's like, okay, we're.

Like. I would hope there's room to grow and get better. But some first dates you're like 10 minutes in. And I'm.

Yeah. I, you know, he can't, what are you going to do? Ghost out the back and like, like, Oh, I left my keys. No, that would be fucked. And then someone would like write online.

Have you been in love before? Absolutely.

And I don't really subscribe to the idea that there's like one soulmate for you. I think there's a handful, maybe, uh, however you want to, but it's definitely once in a blue moon that you meet. very rarely, you're going to meet someone that you really connect with. And what you do with that, you know, is, is a timing thing. And then maybe, you know, it can, it can work out or it doesn't.

Um, but we all have those things that might not have closure. You know what I mean? And that's okay. So you don't have to have like closure, but there's those open-ended things you're thinking like, maybe if I'd been more evolved or like I'd been like five, five years older or a different place in my life, there's a few times where I definitely not regret, but I'm like, Oh, I wish.

now, I probably would have been.

No, but, but, but yeah, I've liked it. And I'm like, God, I was such a, I was such a headcase back then. I couldn't have like, just like, not been an asshole, you know, when I was doing my own stuff, like I was just, you know, uh, you know, whatever you call it, mental health stuff. It was just like, I was in a bad place and not dealing with it. You know what I mean?

I was like,

Even.

No. I'm trying to figure out who the fuck is the one with the dog. It's a girl I worked with on a, on a, it was a bad TV show, but it was like in, in 2015, maybe, or something like that. We're still good friends. She's great.

She's great. Very great. Shout out. Yeah. And, uh, but we both travels.

We both have to do with the dog. I'm defending myself. No, it's okay. It's okay. I'm just fascinated.

Like, Ooh, how would that work? It works. It can work. I'm telling you. Oh man.

You're, you're, you're, you get what you get, and it's a tiny thing, and it's just life. But I do think about those missed moments from time to time.

Yes. How long has been your longest relationship? About three, four years probably. Yeah. Yeah.

What are the top like three qualities right now that you'd be saying you're like looking in for a partner? We can put this on your Riot profile too.

I'm like, I'm not screwing with it. I don't even care. I'm like, whatever. You know what I mean? Right.

Just like picture of dog, dog, dog, half face. It's out there in the world. It is. It is. It's half my dog's face and half my face in one shot.

Yeah. It's great. Right. Cause you're hoping they, like, won't fully notice you.

And that's an umbrella, like personality, wit, intelligence thing. It's like, if that, that's kind of the number one thing, you know, do you care if they're in the industry? I'd prefer not actually at this stage in my life. Right. Yeah.

I mean, I think that's, that's part of the reason I was like my, I saw my buddies on dates with these, like med students and neuroscientists. I'm like, where are you? Where's that? Yeah. They're like, Raya.

I'm like, okay. You know? So there really are. I have seen so far, I'm like a weekend, but there are other people that do other things and I'm like trying to, it's such a bubble out here. You know what I mean?

So.

I see psychotherapists on there. sometimes. I'm like, there you go. Could save some money. Yes.

Switch therapist right now. Right now, to my girlfriend. Yeah. Um, what's a deal breaker for you? Deal breaker.

Oh man. Um,

Maybe like a neck tat is probably like a deal breaker.

I guess a neck tat. You're not,

No, neck tats. You know, tattoos are so ubiquitous, but like, but they're not bad, but, but, uh, it's okay. A neck tat. We're moving on. Punctuality.

I'm a little bit.

I'm like, let's get it going. So.

Once kind of, not really. I think, so. we had like plans, like holiday plans and like moving into the next phase of the relationship. And she abruptly broke up with me. And then I found out that it was like, she was, there was like an opportunity for someone like a famous person, a really famous person, Uber.

And, and then she thought they were going to date and that didn't happen. But, but, uh, but yeah, but, uh, but that was the only closest thing. Yeah. To that. That sucked.

Oh, that's sad. But then, like, you know, perspective, it was like, I have perspective on that. So I was like, okay, whatever. Well,

Okay. Um, have you ever gone through a partner's phone?

Like I need my own space. I'm great. Like go to Mexico. Yeah. Go have fun.

Yeah. Have you ever walked in on someone?

No. Yeah. I mean, listen, if you're going to, listen, okay. We love this. on Call Her, Daddy.

This is good. If you're going to go through anybody's phone, you're going to find something that you don't like. Totally. Even like a text with their mother. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

You're gonna find something you don't like. So, and I will say there was nothing bad. I wasn't cheating or anything. But you know, it was not fun. And I felt violated, but you can't like, you know,

Yeah. Yeah, we did. Yeah. We worked.

Another year and a half. Okay.

I do it now. Um, and I think it's, it's like going to the gym, right? It's like you go to the gym for a certain thing. It's a very specific thing. People make it this, like there's a stigma behind it.

There's no stigma.

no relationship is perfect. So it's almost like I commend the people that are honest about it. Like I had said, like I went to couples therapy and it was like the best thing for my partner and I, where I was like, yes, I feel so much more aware of where he's coming from because you have a person in the room that, like, is so unbiased,

And I was like, okay. And it was a very nice, you know, when you're doing, it, doesn't, it's like going to the dentist kind of, you don't want to do it, but it's, you know, it's like you do it, and it was a really great thing.

But obviously we just had to get through the OG. shit. Right. Your show, I'm obsessed with the fact that you went from a man who was dressing like this, like Upper East Side-er, this like kid with a trust fund, to a superhero. Are you loving it?

Like being in the one costume the whole time? Because I feel like a whole part of Gossip Girl was your outfits, obviously. And now obviously I'm looking at you in the same outfit every scene. I'm like, this is kind of interesting. Obviously, people haven't watched The Boys.

This is season.

It's great. It's the most fun I've ever had doing anything really. I mean, not like, you know, just like work-wise, like the character, it's comedy. It's so much fun. We're making fun of, like the privileged, you know, male asshole.

You know what I mean? Like that guy. The costume's great because I never have any fittings. I don't have to come in and do extra fittings. So it's like one little thing.

Costume's a little bit of pain in the ass, but it's okay. But it's great. Yeah. The show's awesome. So what happened with the whole dick thing?

What happened with the whole penis situation? I didn't think about that until you started doing it. I'm like, I know exactly. I forgot about that. How do we tell everyone the story?

Which is really funny, because it was great press for the show when it first came out, because no one knew if the show was going to work. But but also the creator was like, never tell anyone. that was never telling when the real story that was. you. You're like, really?

It was me. No, but this calendar came out, right? This calendar came out of me and the character, and there was this massive rocket in the suit and they made this calendar and it was really funny and very in character too. But no one knew it's a satire of a show. You know, people are seeing this like, what is this?

Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg produced it. They're amazing. And they thought it would be really funny. in the genesis. We hadn't filmed anything.

We were doing the suits. What if the deep just had like a raging erection and like a third of the scenes?

I thought it was brilliant. I'm like, that's great. Hilarious. So then the fittings. I started showing up and they had a box.

character's name is the deep. They had a box called little deeps. And it was like all these different foam like pieces, all different types. I'm obsessed. Settle on one.

Walking around. Oh, no. First we did. So that's what happened. We did a big.

we did all these, like screen test cameras, camera shoots, photo shoots, with this thing. Yeah. So we hadn't actually shot. Amazon hasn't really even seen my first day on set. It's like a big Toronto, big, big stage.

I'm in front like two thousand people that come out. I'm like introducing Erin Moriarty's character and everyone just starts laughing because it's so funny. The light you can really see. Were you at all like anxious about it or you thought it was hilarious? I thought it was hilarious.

I wasn't anxious about. I kind of thought, though, I'm like, guys, we got to remove it sometimes. Right. I can't be in there forever. It looks ridiculous.

It's so. it's so obvious. It's so funny. It's so funny. And so I'm like.

and literally they didn't. Amazon gave us no notes. They let us do whatever. The only note first. that was like, you got to take that thing out of the pants.

You got to take that thing out. So they actually spent so much money, frame by frame, editing out that scene just in that area for that scene. in the pilot's first episode. Everyone forgot that we did all these. So so whoever thought in the PR, that'd be funny to make a calendar out of it was was was genius.

But I'm upset that the calendar came out and then.

Like what is happening with.

Boner calendar. I mean, you know, it was great. So you're loving it.