Sofía Vergara & Joe Manganiello
Modern Family stunner Sofía, 51, and her Magic Mike hubby Joe, 46, went their separate ways in mid-July after seven years of marriage. “We have made the difficult decision to divorce,” the couple said at the time. A friend added that neither of the very attractive couple had cheated, but “Sofía felt stifled in a relationship with a largely unsupportive partner”.
Hugh Jackman & Deborra-Lee Furness
Hugh, 55, and Deborra-Lee, 68, suprised fans on 15 September by announcing they had separated after 27 years of marriage. However, insiders whispered that the split had been “a long time coming”. The couple – who adopted two children, Oscar, 23, and Ava,18 – had been growing apart for a while. A source claimed the pair had simply morphed into “roommates”, adding, “Hugh and Deborra-Lee are both on different pages and in separate chapters of their lives. They felt like it was time to divorce.”
Meryl Streep & Don Gummer
Three-time Oscar winner Meryl, 74, and noted sculptor Don, 77, married in 1978 and share four children together. They quietly split in 2017, but it was only in October that they revealed they were no longer together. A rep said, “Don Gummer and Meryl Streep have been separated for more than six years, and while they will always care for each other, they have chosen lives apart.”
Ricky Martin & Jwan Yosef
After six years of marriage, Ricky, 51, and Jwan, 39 – who share two children, Lucia, four, and Renn, three – released a joint statement on 6 July announcing their split. The Livin’ La Vida Loca singer, who met Syrian-Swedish artist Jwan through Instagram, later shared that the decision to divorce was “not a recent one”. He added, “When the public found out, we had already gone through the grieving process.”
Britney Spears & Sam Asghari
Sam, 29, filed for divorce from the 42-year-old pop icon on 17 August after 14 months of marriage, just before the release of Britney’s bombshell book, The Woman In Me. The personal trainer later addressed the split on Instagram, writing, “After six years of love and commitment to each other, my wife and I have decided to end our journey together. We’ll hold on to the love and respect we have for each other. I wish her the best always. S**t happens.” They met on the set of her Slumber Party music video.
Tori Spelling & Dean McDermott
On 17 June, tumultuous couple Tori, 50, and Dean, 57 – who married in 2006 and later renewed their vows in 2010 – announced they were separating. Dean admitted that his longtime substance abuse issues and infidelity contributed to the breakdown of their marriage. “The relationship suffers greatly,” he said. “I knew I was a big part of the problem and I was at a place where I felt there was nothing I could do about it.”
Will Smith & Jada Pinkett-Smith
In October, Jada, 52, revealed that she and Men In Black star Will, 55, who tied the knot in 1997, had been secretly separated for seven years. However, the couple won’t be making it official any time soon. “I made a promise that there will never be a reason for us to get a divorce,” she explained of her hesitation to legally split from Will, who is father to her two kids, Jaden, 25, and Willow, 23. “We will work through whatever and I just haven’t been able to break that promise.”
Taylor Swift & Joe Alwyn
Pop superstar Taylor, 33, and British actor Joe, 32, ended their love story in April after six years together. “It wasn’t dramatic,” said a source close to the couple, who first crossed paths at the 2016 Met Gala and were rumoured to have been engaged several times. “The relationship just ran its course.”
Kevin Costner & Christine Baumgartner
After nearly 19 years and three children together, Christine, 49, blindsided the 68-year-old Yellowstone star by filing for divorce. Christine reportedly requested $406,000 a month in child support, stating that the figure is “less than the amount needed to maintain the children in their accustomed lifestyle”. She also denied rumours she had hooked up with former tenant Daniel Starr, who lived in a home on their property.
Ariana Grande & Dalton Gomez
On 17 July – one day after Ariana, 30, was spotted without her wedding ring at Wimbledon – sources confirmed she and Dalton, 28, had split after two years of marriage. Days later, Ariana revealed that she and her Wicked co-star Ethan Slater were seeing each other. Ethan, 31, in turn filed for divorce from wife Lilly Jay on 26 July. Lilly, 30, later claimed her family was “just collateral damage”.
Joshua Jackson & Jodie Turner-Smith
Four years after they wed, actress Jodie, 37, filed for divorce from the 45-year-old Dawson’s Creek alum on 2 October. The pair tied the knot in a low-key wedding in December 2019 after she proposed nearly a year earlier. They share daughter Janie, who was born in 2020.
Eric McCormack & Janet Holden
Will & Grace star Eric McCormack, 60, and his wife Janet Holden pulled the plug on their marriage in November after 26 years. The couple, who share a 21-year-old son, first met on the mini-series Lonesome Dove. “She was the assistant director,” Eric said. “She wasn’t too keen. She knew actors are a lot of work – it would be like taking your work home with you. But I managed to convince her.”
Elle Fanning & Max Minghella
The Great actress confirmed in April that she and Handmaid’s Tale star Max, 38, had ended their five-year relationship. Elle, 25, said, “But I’m a hopeless romantic. I believe in love at first sight. Call me crazy, but I believe in those things. I feel that it’s my destiny.” She also added that she hopes to have kids one day.
Kylie Jenner & Travis Scott
Kardashians star Kylie, 26, and the Sicko Mode rapper, 32, broke up after a relationship that lasted roughly six years. The pair – who share two kids, Stormi, five, and Aire, one – called it quits for good in January. An insider said at the time, “This has happened so many times before. They’re known to be on again, off again, but always remain friends and great co-parents.”
Reese Witherspoon & Jim Toth
Just three days shy of their 12th wedding anniversary, Reese, 47, and talent agent Jim, 53, announced their split on 23 March. “It is with a great deal of care and consideration that we have made the difficult decision to divorce,” the actress wrote on Instagram. She added that their “biggest priority” is son Tennessee, 11. A source claimed, “There’s no big scandal – just two people who essentially became co-parents and don’t really have romantic feelings for each other any more.”
Joe Jonas & Sophie Turner
Musician Joe, 34, and Game Of Thrones star Sophie, 27, called it quits after four years of marriage, with Joe filing for divorce on 5 September. Joe’s reps suggested that he had been left looking after their kids, Willa, three, and DJ, 14 months, while Sophie worked and partied. Sophie’s camp swiftly hit back, claiming the kids were being “wrongfully detained in the US”.
Shannen Doherty & Kurt Iswarienko
Charmed star Shannen, 52, filed for divorce from photographer Kurt, 49, on 21 April after 11 years of marriage. “I went into surgery after I found out that my marriage was essentially over,” said Shannen, who is battling stage four cancer. “My husband had been carrying on an affair for two years.”
Noel Gallagher & Sara MacDonald
After 12 years of marriage, Oasis singer and guitarist Noel, 56, and publicist Sara, 52, revealed on 16 January that they were going their separate ways. “Noel and Sara will together continue to look after their children, who remain their priority,” a spokesperson said of the former couple, who share sons Donovan, 16, and Sonny, 13.
Local love lost
Ladyhawke & Madeleine Sami
Actress and comedian Madeleine, 43, and musician Pip Brown, aka Ladyhawke,44, who married in Masterton in 2015, announced their separation in June. Madeleine shared a photo on Instagram of the couple and their young daughter, writing, “After 12 awesome years together, Pip and I decided to go the way of Chris and Gwyneth and consciously uncoupleth [sic]. We have a beautiful kid and are committed to making a beautiful life for her together, but apart.”
Samantha Hayes & Jeroen Blaauw
Newshub presenter Samantha, 39, announced that she and fiancé Jeroen, 40, had separated in November. “It’s been a tough few months, the most challenging time of my life in many ways,” she wrote at the time. She added that the couple’s children, Marlow, four, and Amaya, two, “are the most beautiful little people I could ever imagine. I adore them. They remain at the centre of our world and everything we’re doing is to make sure they feel loved and supported.”
Wilhelmina Shrimpton & Mike Sanders
Five years after their gorgeous Waiheke wedding, Wilhelmina, 33, announced that she and her husband Mike, 35, had parted ways. “The whole thing was really positive and amicable,” she told Woman’s Day of the break-up. “We had five wonderful years, we’ve had some great times and we’ll always be friends. But you’re always going to grieve the end of what was a really significant chapter in your life.”
