Did Penn Badgley follow Bahá’í religion? Here’s what the actor has said about his faith

Penn Badgley, better known as Dan Humphrey from Gossip Girl and Joe Goldberg from You, has been quite vocal about his spiritual experience and journey, which led him to follow the Bahá’í Faith.

The actor supposedly adopted this spiritual practice in 2015. Badgley’s interest in spirituality started in 2010 when he was filming Gossip Girl.

According to an article by the Bahai Teachings, the turning point came when he saw the catastrophic BP oil spill, which prompted him to question deeper about justice and humanity. This sense of curiosity eventually brought him to Colombia, where he learned the teachings of the Bahá’í Faith.

The Bahá’í Faith is a monotheistic religion founded in the 19th century by Bahá’u’lláh, who advocated for the oneness of humanity, equality among all people, and the unity of all religions.

For Badgley, the teachings aligned closely with his own beliefs, according to a report by People Magazine. In interviews, he has said that learning about “divine love” helped him better understand and care for human relationships, including his marriage to the singer Domino Kirke.

A 2018 People Magazine article states that Penn Badgley said his faith served as a guide during challenges due to fame. He talked about how using spiritual principles assists him to be at peace and keep balance in his life. He said:

"Learning how to accept it and accept that lots of people think they know me is ultimately what led me to seek out such a spiritual perspective."

More about the Bahá’í religion and Penn Badgley’s advocacy for social justice

Founded in the mid-1800s in Persia (modern-day Iran) by Bahá’u’lláh, the Bahá’í Faith teaches the oneness of humanity and the oneness of all religions. According to Britannica, its ideals include concepts like gender equality, universal education, and the eradication of all types of discrimination.

In addition, members of the faith are encouraged to do independent investigations of truth, seeking knowledge without relying on outside authority.

The Bahá’í Faith has millions of followers and a global reach spanning over 200 countries and territories and numerous cultural and ethnic backgrounds (Bahá’í International Community).

Bahá’í faith also encourages engagement in various forms of social and community development actions through endeavors related to education, gender equality, interfaith dialogue, and others.

Penn Badgley’s commitment to social justice is also inspired by his faith. Through his platform, he has highlighted global injustices such as the systematic denial of education to Bahá’ís in Iran.

In 2017 Penn Badgley joined young Iranian Bahá’ís who had experienced educational discrimination at an event he hosted at Howard University. "In Iran, education is not a given," he stated, noting the government’s attempts to marginalize Bahá’í communities.