Blake Lively’s Legendary Prank on Penn Badgley: The Steven Tyler Dad Hoax
How Blake Lively’s elaborate prank convinced Penn Badgley—and his mom—that Steven Tyler might be his real dad.
Blake Lively is known for her wit, talent, and an infectious sense of humor. Yet among the many stories told about her, none amuse and amaze quite like the epic prank she played on her fellow Gossip Girl star and then-boyfriend, Penn Badgley. This prank wasn’t just a simple April Fool’s joke; it was an elaborate, multi-step masterpiece involving his mother, a publicist, and the iconic Aerosmith frontman, Steven Tyler himself. Here’s how one of Hollywood’s funniest inside stories unfolded—and why it’s the talk of the entertainment world to this day.
The Origins of the Prank: April Fools with a Twist
For most people, April Fools’ Day means innocuous jokes—a whoopee cushion, an unexpected jump scare, maybe an office chair swap. But for Blake Lively, April Fools was serious business. According to Penn Badgley, who recounted the event on his popular podcast Podcrushed, Lively approached pranking with a level of dedication reserved for elite pranksters. Penn admitted he hates April Fools’ pranks, unlike Blake, who “was actually very serious about them.”
This story’s groundwork was laid during the late 2000s, when Blake and Penn—drawing wide-eyed attention as Serena van der Woodsen and Dan Humphrey on Gossip Girl—were also dating in real life. Their relationship, which overlapped with some of the show’s most intense public scrutiny, was marked by genuine affection, but also by a shared willingness to poke fun at each other.
The First Move: A Mysterious Email
The prank began innocently enough. Penn received an email from a publicist. It read:
- There was a press item they were trying to “kill”—a celebrity PR term for stopping a rumor from getting published.
- But more importantly, someone believed that Steven Tyler could be Penn’s father.
Penn at first dismissed the idea entirely. He described the moment on his podcast:
“I didn’t even think about it for a moment because who in their right mind would think that’s true?”
It was so absurd that Penn simply ignored it and even joked about it with his then-girlfriend Blake, who, as he thought, would surely help him make sense of it all.
Turning Up the Pressure: Enlisting the Publicist and Mom
In the days that followed, the ruse deepened. Penn’s publicist reached out again, this time with heightened urgency. Now, according to the publicist, the rumor was being taken seriously—even Steven Tyler himself supposedly believed it. The absurdity of the notion was almost enough to shake off suspicion, but Lively’s commitment made the difference.
- Blake encouraged Penn to talk directly to his mother, Lynne Badgley, for answers.
- This was the masterstroke: to pull off a prank of this magnitude, getting a parent involved was essential.
Penn’s relationship with his parents made the moment all the more convincing. His parents had divorced when he was just twelve years old, leaving the door open—at least in fiction—for dramatic twists worthy of a soap opera. What followed would completely upend his sense of reality, if only for a few seconds.
The Call That Changed Everything: Mom’s Academy Award Moment
Penn called his mother, Lynne, who was clearly in on the joke thanks to Lively’s behind-the-scenes orchestration. The exchange was deeply disorienting for Penn:
- His mother sounded visibly upset—not something she was accustomed to faking.
- She delivered the line that broke him: “Why do you think we moved out of Maryland?”
At that moment, Penn’s world truly spun on its axis. He explained:
“For something like five to seven seconds—which is a long time—I was speechless, and my world was rearranging.”
The thought flashed across his mind: Could I really be Steven Tyler’s son?
The Jig Is Up: Lively Can’t Keep a Straight Face
Eventually, the walls came tumbling down. Blake, unable to maintain her poker face, burst into laughter. Other collaborators in the prank, perhaps even the publicist and Penn’s mother, joined in the revelry. Reflecting on it, Penn was both mortified and deeply impressed by the commitment and planning required to pull off the prank:
“I was impressed. I was like, ‘Wow. You really put in a lot of work.’ And it worked. For it to work at all, that’s hard.”
The prank’s success was owed to meticulous coordination, a keen understanding of Penn’s family background, and, perhaps most importantly, Blake’s ability to convince even the people closest to Penn to play along.
The Aftermath: Reactions and Reflections
It’s one thing to pull a prank on a co-worker or friend; it’s another entirely to orchestrate a multi-person, days-long ruse that actually shakes someone’s sense of identity. Penn Badgley, though initially stunned, now remembers the event with good humor and a dose of admiration.
- The story highlights Blake’s dedication to harmless fun—even if some might call it extreme.
- Penn later admitted that, for a brief but real moment, he believed he could be Steven Tyler’s son.
- He praised the “artistry” involved in Lively’s prank, calling it a rare April Fools’ victory.
Celebrity Pranks: An Enduring Hollywood Tradition
Blake Lively’s Steven Tyler prank stands out as a classic among celebrity jokes, but it’s just the latest in a long line of Hollywood pranks that blur the line between fiction and reality. Other legendary pranks include:
- George Clooney sending odd gifts to Brad Pitt during filming
- John Krasinski’s elaborate office overhauls for Jimmy Kimmel
- Rihanna’s scare campaigns on music video sets
What makes Lively’s prank unique is the personal stakes—questioning the very essence of family and identity, if only for a fleeting instant. It’s a testament to the close-knit, playful camaraderie that sometimes develops between co-stars working under intense public scrutiny.
Penn and Blake: Beyond Gossip Girl
Blake and Penn dated from 2007 to 2010, coinciding with the initial success of Gossip Girl. While their off-screen romance was relatively brief, it remains a memorable part of both of their personal histories. Since then:
- Blake Lively has married actor Ryan Reynolds, with whom she shares four children.
- Penn Badgley is married to Domino Kirke and is a proud father and stepfather.
Despite going their separate ways, both stars speak fondly of their shared time together. Penn has even credited his relationship with Blake for helping him navigate the tough early years of celebrity life, steering clear of pitfalls that often affect young stars.
Was Blake Lively Being “Mean”? – The Debate
While the prank may sound extreme to some, context matters. The story has emerged in recent debates about whether Blake Lively’s sense of humor crosses the line, with some speculating about her alleged “mean girl energy.” Critics sometimes latch onto pranks as evidence of underlying character issues, but Penn himself has been clear: the prank was all in good fun, and he remains impressed by her creativity rather than wounded by the experience.
Pranks in Hollywood and beyond are often an expression of camaraderie—not cruelty. As Penn put it, “that was all in good fun. LOTS of people love April Fools Day, and plenty of those pranks aren’t cruel.”
Why the Steven Tyler Hoax Worked So Well
Several factors made this prank uniquely effective:
- Plausibility: Family drama and secret relatives are tropes both in entertainment and real life, making the setup just plausible enough.
- Collaboration: Enlisting Penn’s mother and publicist created an airtight illusion, convincing Penn the rumor could be real.
- Timing: The use of April Fools’ Day meant Penn might have let his guard down—or become overly suspicious, which only heightened the fun when the prank succeeded regardless.
Lessons for Pranksters: Do’s and Don’ts
| Do | Don’t |
|---|---|
| – Plan carefully and involve trusted participants. | – Cross emotional boundaries or trauma points. |
| – Pick a target who appreciates humor. | – Drag out the joke for too long or refuse to reveal the truth. |
| – End with a clear reveal and shared laughter. | – Leave the victim genuinely distressed. |
Lively’s prank, while intense, succeeded because it remained within the boundaries of affection, trust, and good humor.
Fan Reactions: Social Media Buzz
The prank has become a favorite story among Gossip Girl fans and pop culture enthusiasts. Online, responses range from admiration for Lively’s ingenuity to astonishment over how close Penn came to believing he was the son of a rock legend. The incident is frequently cited as:
- One of the funniest behind-the-scenes stories to emerge from Gossip Girl.
- A showcase of Blake’s wit and Penn’s good sportsmanship.
- Evidence that sometimes, truth is stranger than fiction.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: Did Steven Tyler actually believe he was Penn Badgley’s father?
A: No. The entire scenario was fabricated as an April Fools’ Day prank by Blake Lively, with the cooperation of Penn’s publicist and mother.
Q: How did Penn Badgley react to the prank?
A: Penn was genuinely stunned and speechless for a few seconds after speaking with his mother, believing the ruse before Blake revealed it was a joke.
Q: Was Penn Badgley upset by the prank?
A: After the initial shock, Penn appreciated the effort and creativity behind the prank, recalling it as one of the few April Fools’ jokes that truly worked on him.
Q: Were there any lasting effects from the prank?
A: No negative impacts have been reported. Both Penn and Blake have since moved on and maintained positive reflections on their shared history.
Q: How does this prank compare to other celebrity jokes?
A: It stands out for its scale and emotional stakes, joining a tradition of elaborate celebrity pranks while pushing the boundaries of plausibility and good-humored fun.
Conclusion: The Prank That Became a Legend
Blake Lively’s Steven Tyler prank on Penn Badgley endures as one of Hollywood’s cleverest and best-executed April Fools’ jokes. More than just a story about two celebrities, it’s a lesson in imagination, collaboration, and knowing exactly where the line between hilarious and hurtful is drawn. For Penn, it’s a hilarious anecdote; for Blake, proof positive that her sense of humor is as legendary as her talent on screen.
