Supermodel Gigi Hadid is ready for her close-up, kind of. Hadid transforms into voicing the inner thoughts of teenage boy Paxton in season two of Netflix’s coming-of-age comedy series, Never Have I Ever. Replacing Chrissy Tiegen, Hadid’s role was kept secret until the arrival of the series’s second season on Netflix today, via Entertainment Weekly.
It had been announced earlier in the year that Tiegen would have a guest role in one episode of the upcoming second season of Never Have I Ever, but the character that she would be playing was kept under wraps. Tiegen then stepped down from the role following her part in a cyberbullying controversy. Online messages from a decade ago revealed that Tiegen had aggressively bullied media personality Courtney Stodden, in which she allegedly encouraged Stodden to take their own life. Hadid’s replacement has since been kept a surprise in the lead up to season two’s debut.
Portrayed by actor Darren Barnet (Agents of the S.H.I.E.L.D), Paxton gets the full freudian treatment as Hadid dives deep into his mind, narrating his thoughts. Posting on Instagram, Hadid shared the news of her becoming the new narrator for Paxton, along with video offering a snippet of her narration: “Had the BEST time getting to narrate a new episode of @neverhaveiever — I got your back, Pax! Check out Season 2, NOW on @netflix !!!! Big love to @mindykaling & the whole NHIE team!”
See Hadid’s full post below:
Never Have I Ever follows 16-year-old high schooler Devi, portrayed by Maitreyi Ramakrishnan (Sidewalks Entertainment), as she goes through the trials and tribulations of young love and life. With anger problems of her own, her teenage mind is narrated by none other than tennis legend, John McEnroe, who also made a cameo in the season one finale. Devi ends season one caught up in a love triangle between Paxton and her longtime rival Ben, portrayed by Jaren Lewinson (Tag), who’s inner thoughts are voiced by comedian Andy Samberg (Brooklyn 99). In good company, the trio is now complete with Hadid’s arrival.
Never Have I Ever is co-created by Mindy Kaling (The Office, Late Night) and Lang Fisher (The Mindy Project). The entire second season is now streaming on Netflix with a total of ten, half-hour episodes.