‘Gilmore Girls’ Star Says Fans ‘Hated’ Her When the Show First Aired

Nicole MooreSat, February 21, 2026 at 4:03 PM UTC

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(Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

While actress Arielle Kebbel only appeared in a handful of Gilmore Girls episodes, her character made quite the impact on the show.

During a February 2026 interview withUs Weekly, alongside her I Can Only Imagine 2 and Gilmore Girls co-star, Milo Ventimiglia, Kebbel noted that she played Dean Forester's(Jared Padalecki) wife, Lindsay.

According to Kebbel, who began filming for the show during its third season, Gilmore Girls viewers weren't fond of her character when the show originally aired, presumably because Dean was Rory Gilmore's (Alexis Bledel) first boyfriend. Kebbel clarified that newer fans of the series, which originally ran from 2000 to 2007, view Lindsay in a kinder light. "People hated me. It’s only recently that people have said, 'Justice for Lindsay,' and I’m like, 'Yes!'" said Kebbel during the Us Weekly interview.

Kebbel also said that a Gilmore Girls fan told her she hated her while she was "at a Coffee Bean."

Ventimiglia, who played Rory's complicated love interest Jess Mariano, shared he had a similar interaction with a Gilmore Girls enthusiast while "at an LA Fitness." "The only time in my career I’ve ever had somebody walk up and say, 'Hey, are you that guy from Gilmore Girls?' And I’m like, 'Oh, yeah.' And she goes, 'Oh my god, I hate you,'" said Ventimiglia.

The This Is Us star clarified that he didn't mind the comment.

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"And I’m like, 'Oh, thanks.' And then I walked away going, 'I did my job.' Because that’s Jess," said the actor during the Us Weekly interview.

Jared Padalecki Spoke About Dean's Decision to Cheat on Lindsay in a 2016 Interview

Dean and Lindsay's marriage ended after he had an affair with Rory during the show's 4th season.

In a 2016 interview with Entertainment Weekly, Padalecki, who appeared on the show's first five seasons, shared his thoughts about Dean being unfaithful in his marriage. He referenced that Dean still had feelings for Rory when he walked down the aisle.

“I knew that the entire marriage to Lindsay was a cry for help and not a union for a lifetime. He’s in love with somebody who he thinks he doesn’t deserve so he’s found somebody else and convinced himself he can be happy with that person," said Padalecki to the publication.

Padalecki reprised Dean for the 2016 Netflix revival, Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life, which consisted of four episodes.

This story was originally published by Parade on Feb 21, 2026, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Parade as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

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Source: “AOL Entertainment”