Penn Badgley Reacts to Cardi B’s ‘You’ Obsession

When pop culture icons from completely different spheres collide, the internet inevitably erupts—and that’s exactly what happened when Grammy-winning rapper Cardi B revealed her unexpected obsession with Netflix’s hit thriller series You and its star, Penn Badgley.

What followed was an online exchange that no one saw coming, yet fans couldn’t get enough of.

Now, Penn Badgley is finally speaking out about the viral moment and what he really thinks of Cardi B’s enthusiasm for his dark and complex character, Joe Goldberg.

The entire saga began in 2021 when Cardi B tweeted about her love for the show.

Her candid posts included comments about the twisted mind of Joe Goldberg and how entertaining the show was.

She expressed a mix of horror and admiration, in her signature bold and humorous tone, stating that she couldn’t stop watching You, even though Joe was, in her own words, “bad as hell.

” Fans immediately noticed the juxtaposition—Cardi B, the outspoken and fierce rap icon, openly fangirling over a character who stalks and murders people in the name of love.

The tweets quickly gained traction, not just for their unexpected nature but also because they caught the attention of Penn Badgley himself.

Known for being a thoughtful and sometimes deeply introspective actor, Badgley rarely engages in light-hearted Twitter banter.

But this was different.

He responded with a tweet that acknowledged Cardi’s enthusiasm, saying her love for the show was “incredible.

” In a follow-up interview at the time, he even praised her for being “authentic,” noting how refreshing it was to see someone so honest about their interests.

The interaction didn’t stop there.

At one point, Cardi B changed her Twitter profile picture to a photo of Penn Badgley, while Penn changed his profile picture to Cardi B, solidifying their mutual admiration in the most public way possible.

The internet exploded with reactions, memes, and fan edits celebrating the unlikely duo.

The moment felt genuine, hilarious, and surreal all at once.

Now, with more distance from the frenzy, Penn Badgley has reflected on the exchange during a recent press event for the upcoming season of You.

Speaking with a mix of amusement and sincerity, he described the entire experience as “unreal.

“When I first saw her tweet, I honestly thought it was a joke,” he admitted.

“But it was Cardi B, being totally real and in the moment.

And I thought, this is one of the most famous people in the world, taking time to talk about You? That’s wild.

Badgley also noted that her enthusiasm gave him a new perspective on the show’s reach.

“We make this show, and we know people watch it, but when someone like Cardi B says she’s into it, it kind of reminds you just how far the show travels.

That was the first time it really hit me that You isn’t just a cult hit—it’s everywhere.

Despite the show’s dark themes and the morally twisted character he plays, Penn said he wasn’t surprised that someone like Cardi B would enjoy it.

“She’s smart.

She sees the satire, the commentary behind the horror,” he said.

“People who love the show get that Joe is not a hero.

And Cardi gets it—she just has fun with it.

He laughed recalling how Cardi playfully tweeted about locking her doors if Joe Goldberg ever came to visit.

“She took the narrative and made it fun.

She flipped the fear into entertainment.

That’s Cardi—she’s not afraid to laugh at things, even if they’re kind of twisted.

Badgley also touched on the profile photo swap moment, which he called “a once-in-a-lifetime internet event.

” “I was like, ‘I have to do this.

’ It was too funny not to.

And it wasn’t even planned—we just did it.

That’s what made it so cool.

It was just a moment of mutual respect and internet magic.

Fans of both celebrities began speculating about a possible collaboration.

Jokes were made about Cardi B appearing in a future season of You, perhaps as a character Joe would either fall for—or fear.

When asked about this possibility, Badgley smiled but remained coy.

“I won’t say no.

If the writers could find a way to make it work, I think the world would go insane.I’d love to see her on set.

For Cardi B, the obsession seemed to stem from a genuine appreciation for storytelling and dark humor.

In past interviews, she has expressed her love for crime documentaries and psychological thrillers, so her fascination with You isn’t totally out of character.

Still, the idea of her tweeting about the inner workings of Joe Goldberg’s twisted mind added an unforgettable layer to the show’s pop culture relevance.

The viral exchange between Cardi B and Penn Badgley became one of the most unexpected celebrity interactions of the year, sparking think pieces, memes, and a wave of fan-driven campaigns to get Cardi on the show.

Though that dream hasn’t yet materialized, the energy of their interaction remains unmatched.

Badgley ended his comments on the subject with a clear note of appreciation.

“She’s someone who doesn’t take herself too seriously, and neither do I, despite the serious tone of the show.

So when you find someone who can laugh with you about your darkest character and still say, ‘Hey, I love what you’re doing,’ that’s pretty special.

I have nothing but respect for her.

As You continues to dominate Netflix and fans eagerly await each twist and turn, one thing is certain: the Penn Badgley and Cardi B friendship remains one of the most wholesome and unexpectedly delightful things to come out of the internet.

And if the stars ever do align for a Cardi cameo on You, the world may just stop spinning—for a minute, at least.