Starting Point
Some love stories begin with grand gestures and public declarations. Others begin quietly — with a hat pulled low over the face, a favourite east-side Los Angeles restaurant, and two people holding hands in a crowd that does not quite recognise them yet. Love story of Kaia Gerber Lewis Pullman
The love story of Kaia Gerber Lewis Pullman began the second way. And that quiet, deliberate, friendship-first beginning is precisely what makes it so compelling.
By the time the world found out about them, they had already been together for months. By the time they walked a red carpet together, they had already attended birthday dinners, supported each other’s theatrical debuts, and met each other’s famous parents. When Kaia finally spoke publicly about the relationship in October 2025, she described it not with the breathless excitement of a new romance — but with the settled warmth of someone who had found something genuinely healing.
In this article, we cover the complete story of the Kaia Gerber Lewis Pullman love story starting point. We explore who both of them are, how their relationship began in December 2024, the full timeline of their public moments, what they have said about each other, and why their connection has resonated so strongly with fans and media alike.
Let us start from the very beginning.
Who Is Kaia Gerber? Biography and Background
Understanding the love story starts with understanding both people in it. Kaia Gerber’s journey to this relationship is deeply shaped by everything that came before it.
Born Into Supermodel Royalty
Kaia Jordan Gerber was born on September 3, 2001, in Los Angeles, California. She is the daughter of legendary supermodel Cindy Crawford and entrepreneur Rande Gerber. Her older brother is model Presley Gerber. Growing up with one of the world’s most famous models as a mother gave Kaia an unusual relationship with the fashion industry from the very beginning — simultaneously privileged access and enormous pressure to define herself beyond her heritage.
She attended Malibu High School, graduating in 2019. From an early age, it was clear that she had inherited her mother’s extraordinary bone structure, presence, and natural photogenic quality. However, Kaia has consistently worked to build an identity that extends beyond her physical gifts.
Modelling Career
Kaia’s modelling career launched officially when she was 16 years old in 2016, signing with IMG Models. She subsequently walked for some of the most prestigious names in fashion — Alexander McQueen, Prada, Valentino, Chanel, and more. In 2018, the British Fashion Council named her Model of the Year — a remarkable achievement for someone still in her teens.
Furthermore, she has appeared on the covers of major international fashion publications including Vogue, W Magazine, i-D, and numerous others. Her modelling career established her as a genuine industry force in her own right — not simply her mother’s daughter.
Acting Career
Beyond modelling, Kaia has developed a parallel and increasingly serious acting career. Her credits include American Horror Story (2021), Bottoms (2023), and Saturday Night (2024). She also appeared on stage in the play Evanston Salt Costs Climbing in early 2025 — a theatrical commitment that significantly marked her transition from model to serious actress.
Her acting career reflects a deliberate choice to build something independent of the modelling world. She has spoken about wanting to be taken seriously as a performer — and the critical reception to her stage work in early 2025 suggested that goal was well within reach.
Previous Relationships
Before Lewis Pullman, Kaia’s romantic history included several high-profile connections. Briefly linked to Wellington Grant in 2019. Romantically connected to Jacob Elordi in late 2020 and early 2021. Most significantly, she spent three years in a relationship with actor Austin Butler, from December 2021 until October 2024.
Her relationship with Butler was the most sustained and publicly documented of her romantic history. They attended major events together, met each other’s families, and were widely considered one of Hollywood’s most stable young couples. Their split in October 2024 — which remained under wraps for several months — cleared the way for the next chapter of her story.
Who Is Lewis Pullman? Biography and Background
Lewis Pullman is a rising Hollywood actor whose career has accelerated dramatically over the past three years. Understanding his background helps illuminate what he brings to this relationship.
Born Into Acting Royalty
Lewis Pullman was born on February 29, 1996, in Los Angeles, California. He is the son of celebrated actor Bill Pullman — known for his roles in films including Independence Day, While You Were Sleeping, and Sleepless in Seattle. Growing up with a respected Hollywood actor as a father gave Lewis both early exposure to the industry and the legacy of a well-regarded family name to live up to.
Like Kaia, Lewis has clearly worked hard to establish his own identity separate from his famous parent. His career choices reflect someone with genuine artistic ambition — choosing challenging, complex roles rather than simply capitalising on his father’s connections and name recognition.
Career Highlights
Lewis Pullman’s career has moved from supporting roles to genuine leading-man territory with impressive speed. His most high-profile credit is the Marvel Cinematic Universe — he plays Bob / Sentry in Thunderbolts* (2025), one of Marvel’s most anticipated recent releases. That role alone placed him among the most visible young actors in Hollywood.
Additionally, his film The Testament of Ann Lee premiered at the Venice Film Festival in September 2025 — the event that would famously mark his and Kaia’s public relationship debut. His other credits include Top Gun: Maverick (2022), Bad Times at the El Royale (2018), and Lessons in Chemistry (2023).
Furthermore, Lewis shares an important connection with Kaia beyond their romance — both have famous parents who achieved extraordinary success in highly visible public careers. That shared experience of growing up in the shadow of iconic family names creates an understanding between them that outsiders rarely possess.
Kaia Gerber and Lewis Pullman Attributes Table 1: Personal Details
| Attribute | Kaia Gerber | Lewis Pullman |
|---|---|---|
| Full Name | Kaia Jordan Gerber | Lewis Pullman |
| Date of Birth | September 3, 2001 | February 29, 1996 |
| Birthplace | Los Angeles, California, USA | Los Angeles, California, USA |
| Nationality | American | American |
| Height | 5 feet 9 inches (1.75 m) | 6 feet 0 inches (1.83 m) |
| Profession | Model, Actress | Actor |
| Famous Parent | Cindy Crawford (mother); Rande Gerber (father) | Bill Pullman (father) |
| Siblings | Presley Gerber (older brother) | Not publicly confirmed |
| Education | Malibu High School (graduated 2019) | Not publicly confirmed |
| Social Media | Active on Instagram | Minimal social media presence |
| Net Worth (estimated) | $3 million – $5 million USD | $4 million – $6 million USD |
The Starting Point: How Kaia Gerber and Lewis Pullman’s Love Story Began
Now we arrive at the heart of this article — the moment the story began and how it developed into one of Hollywood’s most talked-about new couples.
The End of Kaia and Austin Butler
To understand the starting point of Kaia and Lewis’s relationship, it is first necessary to understand what ended just before it began. Kaia Gerber and Austin Butler had been together for three years — from December 2021 to October 2024. Their split was confirmed by TMZ in January 2025, when multiple sources stated that things had officially ended “around the end of 2024” and that there was “no bad blood” between them.
Sources told TMZ that “the relationship just simply ran its course.” By the time the public found out about the split in January 2025, however, Kaia had already quietly moved on. She and Lewis had been spending time together for several weeks. The Austin chapter had closed, and a new one was already opening — just not yet in the public eye.
December 2024: The Quiet Beginning
The Kaia Gerber and Lewis Pullman love story starting point traces back to early December 2024. A source told Us Weekly in late January 2025: “Kaia and Lewis have actually been together for a while now. They started dating in early December. They kept it under wraps until the news of her and Austin’s split came out.”
The same insider described their early dating behaviour in vivid detail: “In early December, Kaia and Lewis started seriously hanging out and were seen all around L.A., but mostly on the east side. Kaia would make sure to wear a hat to try and go unnoticed, but they would be at their favourite restaurants, bars, and clubs, holding hands and showing PDA. They were just frequenting crowds that didn’t really know them.”
That picture — a hat-wearing Kaia, favourite east-side LA spots, PDA in low-key crowds — captures something genuinely sweet about the beginning of their connection. They were not performing their romance for cameras or social media. Instead, they were simply spending time together in places where they could just be themselves.
A Pre-Existing Friendship and Shared Social Circles
An important detail about their starting point is that Kaia and Lewis did not meet as strangers. They run in the same circle and have similar friend groups. That pre-existing connection gave their romance a foundation that purely chance encounters cannot provide.
Shared social circles mean shared experiences, shared values, and shared understanding of the world both people navigate. For two people who grew up with famous parents in the entertainment industry, moving in overlapping circles since before they were a couple meant they understood each other’s lives before romance ever entered the picture. That foundation — of friendship and mutual familiarity — would later become one of the things Kaia specifically cited as making the relationship feel different from her previous experiences.
The Full Relationship Timeline: From December 2024 to Today
With the starting point established, the full timeline of their relationship reveals how steadily and naturally the connection developed.
January 7, 2025: Austin Butler Breakup Confirmed Publicly
On this date, news of Kaia and Austin Butler’s breakup reached the public. TMZ confirmed the split, citing multiple sources. At this point, Kaia and Lewis had already been dating for approximately five weeks — though the public did not yet know this.
January 25, 2025: Lewis Attends Kaia’s Play
One of the most meaningful early moments in their public story was Lewis’s attendance at the opening night of Kaia’s stage play Evanston Salt Costs Climbing on January 25, 2025. Going to a partner’s theatrical opening night is a significant gesture — it communicates priority, support, and genuine interest in their creative work.
That moment, though not yet widely reported, demonstrated that their connection was already substantial. Lewis was not simply a casual acquaintance showing up to be seen. He was showing up as someone who cared about what Kaia was building as an artist.
January 29, 2025: Birthday Dinner at Salazar
Four days later, Kaia was spotted at Salazar — a popular Los Angeles restaurant — for Lewis’s birthday dinner. An E! News eyewitness confirmed they “arrived and left together” and were “holding hands and very affectionate” all evening.
That birthday dinner was one of the first genuinely public sightings that suggested this was a real and developing romantic connection rather than simply friendly hangouts. Attending a birthday dinner together, being openly affectionate, arriving and departing as a unit — all of those details collectively told a clear story to anyone watching.
January 30–31, 2025: Media Confirmation
By the final days of January 2025, the relationship was no longer just a rumour. People spoke to a source who described them as “a cute couple and very low-key” who had been spending time together “the last few weeks.” Us Weekly followed with their more detailed insider account, confirming the December 2024 starting point and the deliberate low-key approach both had taken.
Consequently, by the time most of the world heard about Kaia and Lewis as a couple, they had already been together for nearly two months.
Kaia Gerber and Lewis Pullman Attributes Table 2: Relationship Starting Point Timeline
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| October 2024 | Kaia Gerber and Austin Butler quietly end their three-year relationship |
| Early December 2024 | Kaia and Lewis begin seriously spending time together in LA — the love story starting point |
| December 2024 | Spotted at favourite east-side LA restaurants, bars, and clubs holding hands — both keeping low profile |
| January 7, 2025 | Kaia and Austin Butler’s split confirmed publicly by TMZ |
| January 25, 2025 | Lewis attends opening night of Kaia’s play Evanston Salt Costs Climbing |
| January 29, 2025 | Spotted together at Salazar for Lewis’s birthday dinner — “holding hands and very affectionate” |
| January 30, 2025 | People confirms: “They’re a cute couple and very low-key” |
| January 31, 2025 | Us Weekly confirms: “They started dating in early December” |
| April 28, 2025 | Lewis diplomatically dodges Thunderbolts* red carpet question about Kaia |
| May 2025 | Cindy Crawford and Rande Gerber confirm meeting and liking Lewis |
| June 2025 | Source confirms Lewis has met Kaia’s parents and “things are going great” |
| September 1, 2025 | Hard launch at Venice Film Festival — hand-holding and kissing on red carpet |
| September 2, 2025 | Second Venice appearance — coordinating white outfits |
| October 1–2, 2025 | Kaia opens up about the relationship on Therapuss podcast: “A lot is being healed” |
| December 12, 2025 | Spotted on coordinated matchy-matchy date in Los Angeles, still going strong |
The Venice Film Festival Hard Launch: Making It Official
For many celebrity couples, there is a specific moment that moves a relationship from rumoured to official in the public consciousness. For Kaia and Lewis, that moment came on September 1, 2025 — at the Venice Film Festival.
The Red Carpet Debut at The Testament of Ann Lee Premiere
Lewis’s film The Testament of Ann Lee had its premiere at the 82nd Venice International Film Festival. Kaia was by his side for the red carpet. They held hands. They shared a kiss. In one elegant, composed red carpet moment, they confirmed everything that had been quietly developing for nine months.
The term “hard launch” — used by entertainment media to describe a deliberate, unambiguous public introduction of a relationship — perfectly described this moment. This was not an accidental paparazzi sighting. It was a conscious, coordinated choice to step into the public eye together at one of the world’s most prestigious film events.
The Coordinated Fashion Statement
Their Venice appearance also generated significant fashion commentary. Both Kaia and Lewis appeared in coordinated looks that showed they had given genuine thought to presenting themselves as a unit. The following day, September 2, 2025, they made another Venice appearance in coordinating white outfits — cementing their status as one of the festival’s standout couples.
That attention to coordinated dressing spoke to something deeper than styling. It reflected the mutual awareness and consideration that characterises a couple who genuinely think about each other — who plan together, who communicate, and who enjoy presenting a unified front.
Meeting the Parents
By June 2025 — several months before Venice — Lewis had already met Kaia’s famous parents. “Lewis has met Kaia’s parents, and they really like him,” a source told People. Her parents, supermodel Cindy Crawford and entrepreneur Rande Gerber, had been won over by the actor.
Furthermore, the source added that Bill Pullman — Lewis’s father — was already acquainted with Cindy and Rande through years of overlapping social events. That pre-existing family-level connection made the parents’ meetings feel natural rather than forced. For a relationship between two people from famous families, having parents who already liked and respected each other removed a potentially significant source of tension.
What Kaia Gerber Has Said About Lewis Pullman and Their Relationship
One of the most important dimensions of this love story is what Kaia herself has chosen to say about it. Her words are deliberate, thoughtful, and remarkably revealing.
“A Lot Is Being Healed”
On October 1-2, 2025, Kaia appeared on the Therapuss with Jake Shane podcast — and made her first public comments about her relationship with Lewis. Her words carried genuine emotional weight.
“A lot is being healed in this relationship,” she said. Host Jake Shane agreed that they make “a healthy couple.” The phrase — “a lot is being healed” — is not the kind of thing someone says casually. It suggests a conscious awareness of patterns from previous relationships that this connection is helping her work through and move beyond.
“Date a Friend”
Additionally, Kaia expanded on what specifically makes this relationship feel different: “I really feel like if you have the opportunity to date a friend, do it, because it just is so much better. It just is a whole other thing.”
That statement is revealing on multiple levels. It suggests that some of her previous relationships, which included connections formed quickly, based primarily on romantic attraction, lacked the foundational friendship she now values. By contrast, her relationship with Lewis began within a shared social circle, developed slowly, and was rooted in genuine mutual familiarity before romance developed.
Speaking About Dating Older Men
During the same podcast appearance, Kaia also spoke about changing herself in relationships with older men — acknowledging patterns in her romantic history that she was consciously moving away from. This context gives additional meaning to the significance of Lewis for her. At 24, she is three years younger than Lewis’s 29 — a much closer age gap than some of her previous relationships.
That dynamic — a relationship between approximate peers who share similar life stages, career experiences, and cultural contexts — appears to be exactly what she was looking for.
Why Their Love Story Resonates: The Cultural Context
The Kaia Gerber and Lewis Pullman love story has generated significant public interest. Understanding why helps place their relationship within a broader cultural moment.
Two Famous Children Finding Each Other
Both Kaia and Lewis grew up with famous parents whose achievements set an extraordinary bar. Both have worked hard to build independent careers that stand on their own merits. That shared experience — of growing up in the shadow of iconic parents, of navigating fame as both inheritance and obstacle — creates a specific kind of mutual understanding.
Furthermore, both have spoken in interviews about the importance of separating their own identity from their family legacy. In that context, their relationship represents two people who genuinely understand each other’s complicated relationship with fame — not because they have read about it, but because they have lived it.
The Contrast With Previous High-Profile Relationships
Kaia’s previous high-profile relationships — particularly with Pete Davidson and Austin Butler — attracted significant public attention and media scrutiny. Each connection generated its own narrative cycle of public interest, speculation, and commentary.
By contrast, her relationship with Lewis has been characterised from the very beginning by discretion, friendship, and deliberate privacy. Spent months together before the public found out. They made their public debut at a film festival rather than through social media. Let the relationship speak for itself rather than performing it online.
That approach more mature, more grounded, more focused on the actual relationship than on its public perception — reflects growth and deliberateness on Kaia’s part.
The “Healing” Narrative
Kaia’s statement that “a lot is being healed” in her relationship with Lewis speaks to something that many people find genuinely moving. It acknowledges, without specificity, that previous relationships left wounds. It credits this relationship with contributing to her own growth and recovery. And it does so with a vulnerability that, coming from someone who has grown up in the public eye, feels genuinely brave.
That narrative — of two people building something healthy together, rooted in friendship, mutual respect, and conscious healing — resonates with audiences who are tired of performative celebrity relationships and hungry for stories that reflect how real, meaningful connections actually develop.
Kaia Gerber and Lewis Pullman Attributes Table 3: Public Milestones
| Milestone | Date | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Love Story Starting Point | Early December 2024 | First began seriously spending time together in LA |
| First Public Sighting | December 2024 | Spotted at LA restaurants by DeuxMoi reader at Ye Rustic Inn, Los Feliz |
| Play Support | January 25, 2025 | Lewis attended opening night of Kaia’s stage play |
| Birthday Dinner | January 29, 2025 | Seen together at Salazar — “holding hands and very affectionate” |
| Media Confirmation | January 30–31, 2025 | People and Us Weekly both confirm relationship |
| Marvel Red Carpet | April 28, 2025 | Lewis diplomatically deflects question about Kaia at Thunderbolts* premiere |
| Parents Meet | June 2025 | Lewis meets Cindy Crawford and Rande Gerber; they “really like him” |
| Venice Hard Launch | September 1, 2025 | Red carpet debut at The Testament of Ann Lee premiere |
| Venice Day 2 | September 2, 2025 | Coordinated white outfits; continued PDA |
| First Public Comments | October 1–2, 2025 | Therapuss podcast — “A lot is being healed” |
| December Date | December 12, 2025 | Coordinated matchy-matchy date in Los Angeles — still going strong |
Lewis Pullman’s Approach to the Relationship
While Kaia has been more verbally open about their connection, Lewis’s behaviour throughout the relationship has also told a clear and consistent story.
Supporting Kaia’s Career
Lewis’s attendance at Kaia’s theatrical opening night in January 2025 was the first major public signal of how seriously he took the relationship. Going to a partner’s opening night — particularly for a stage performance that represented a significant artistic step for Kaia — communicated genuine investment in her career and creative development.
That support is not incidental. It reflects a partner who pays attention, who shows up, and who treats the other person’s work as worthy of his time and presence.
Diplomatic Discretion on Red Carpets
At the Thunderbolts* premiere in April 2025, Lewis was asked on the red carpet about “a certain brunette” the reporter would have liked to see him bring along. His response was characteristically deflecting and charming: “Well, listen. We’re all just lucky to be here on the carpet, hanging, looking forward to Thunderbolts*.”
That kind of diplomatic deflection — neither confirming nor denying, redirecting with humour and warmth — mirrors exactly how Jacob Elordi has handled similar questions throughout his career. It is a mature, professional approach that protects both parties without creating unnecessary mystery or drama.
The Venice Statement
Lewis’s decision to bring Kaia to the Venice Film Festival premiere of his own film was itself a significant statement. Film festival premieres are high-profile, well-documented events. Bringing a partner to one signals comfort, pride, and a desire to present the relationship publicly. By choosing Venice as their hard launch moment, Lewis communicated that he was ready to be seen as part of a couple — and that he was proud to be seen with Kaia.
Kaia Gerber and Lewis Pullman Attributes Table 4: Relationship Characteristics
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Love Story Starting Point | Early December 2024 — quiet, private, friendship-based beginning |
| How They Met | Through overlapping friend groups and shared social circles in Los Angeles |
| Relationship Foundation | Pre-existing friendship before romance developed |
| Approach to Privacy | Deliberately low-key; wore hats, visited low-profile spots, avoided public attention early on |
| First Major Public Moment | Venice Film Festival — September 1, 2025 |
| Kaia’s Description | “A lot is being healed in this relationship” — Therapuss podcast, October 2025 |
| Lewis’s Red Carpet Style | Diplomatically deflects relationship questions; prioritises professionalism |
| Parents’ Reaction | Cindy Crawford and Rande Gerber “really like” Lewis; Bill Pullman already knew the Gerbers |
| Age Gap | Kaia born 2001 (24); Lewis born 1996 (29) — approximately five years |
| Shared Background | Both grew up with highly famous parents in entertainment industry |
| Couple Style | Coordinated fashion choices — first noted at Venice, continued through December 2025 |
| Current Status (2025–2026) | Ongoing, publicly confirmed, described as “easy and natural” |
10 Frequently Asked Questions About Kaia Gerber and Lewis Pullman’s Love Story
When did Kaia Gerber and Lewis Pullman start dating?
Their love story starting point was early December 2024. Furthermore, insiders confirmed they began seriously spending time together at LA restaurants, bars, and clubs — keeping deliberately low-profile — from that point onward.
How did Kaia Gerber and Lewis Pullman meet?
They met through overlapping social circles and shared friend groups in Los Angeles. Additionally, sources confirm they run in the same circles and had known each other before the romance developed.
When did the public find out about Kaia and Lewis?
The public found out in late January 2025, when People and Us Weekly both confirmed the relationship. However, by that point they had already been dating for approximately five to six weeks.
When did Kaia and Lewis make their red carpet debut?
They officially hard-launched their relationship at the Venice Film Festival on September 1, 2025, at the premiere of Lewis’s film The Testament of Ann Lee. They held hands and kissed on the red carpet.
What has Kaia Gerber said about Lewis Pullman?
On the Therapuss podcast in October 2025, she said: “A lot is being healed in this relationship.” Moreover, she added: “I really feel like if you have the opportunity to date a friend, do it, because it just is so much better.”
Have Kaia’s parents met Lewis Pullman?
Yes. By June 2025, Lewis had already met Cindy Crawford and Rande Gerber. A source told People they “really like him” and that things between Kaia and Lewis were “going great” at that point.
Who is Lewis Pullman’s famous father?
Lewis Pullman is the son of acclaimed actor Bill Pullman, known for Independence Day, While You Were Sleeping, and many other films. Additionally, Bill Pullman was already acquainted with Kaia’s parents through years of shared social events.
What film did Lewis Pullman appear in at Venice 2025?
Lewis’s film The Testament of Ann Lee premiered at the Venice Film Festival on September 1, 2025 — the same evening that he and Kaia made their public relationship debut on the red carpet.
Did Kaia date Austin Butler before Lewis Pullman?
Yes. Kaia and Austin Butler dated for three years from December 2021 to October 2024. Their split was confirmed publicly in January 2025 — by which time Kaia and Lewis had already been dating for several weeks.
Are Kaia Gerber and Lewis Pullman still together in 2026?
Yes. As of December 2025 they were still together, spotted on a coordinated date in Los Angeles. Consequently, all available indicators suggest the relationship remains strong and ongoing into 2026.
Final Thoughts on the Kaia Gerber and Lewis Pullman Love Story
The love story of Kaia Gerber and Lewis Pullman is, above all, a story about choosing differently. About building something rooted in friendship rather than heat. About learning from previous relationships and arriving at something quieter, healthier, and more genuinely sustaining.
Their starting point — a December 2024 beginning in low-key east-side Los Angeles spots, both deliberately keeping a low profile — is the most revealing thing about this relationship. They were not trying to be seen. They were simply trying to be together. That distinction, small as it seems, says everything about the foundation they were building from the very first date.
Furthermore, Kaia’s statement that “a lot is being healed” in this relationship reflects a level of self-awareness and emotional honesty that is striking in someone only 24 years old. It acknowledges growth, recognises patterns, and credits a person specifically with contributing to that growth. That kind of gratitude and honesty toward a romantic partner is genuinely rare in any public figure’s vocabulary.
Moreover, Lewis’s consistent behaviour throughout — supporting Kaia’s theatrical debut, navigating red carpet questions with diplomatic humour, choosing Venice as the moment to make things official — reflects someone who thinks carefully, acts deliberately, and takes his relationships seriously.
Above all, their story resonates because it looks like what real love actually feels like when it is working. Just two people, in hats, at favourite restaurants, holding hands in crowds where nobody quite knows them yet, taking their time, building something, and letting it be real before they let it be news.
That is a love story worth telling. And it started in December 2024, on the east side of Los Angeles, over dinner and quiet PDA, long before the rest of the world found out.