Well, folks, we’re well into 2023, and let’s just say it’s been a rollercoaster ride of celebrity breakups. Some were totally left of the field, while others had us saying, ‘Well, it was bound to happen’.
Kicking off this year’s breakup fest were Kylie Jenner and Travis Scott. Yep, the couple with two adorable kiddos and a seemingly rock-solid relationship called it quits. Then, in March, we were hit with a bombshell when Reese Witherspoon and Jim Toth, who had been married for over a decade, dropped the “D” word.
Now, not all breakups were a complete train wreck. AJ McLean and his wife, Rochelle DeAnna McLean, managed to part ways on good terms. But let’s get to the messy stuff. “Vanderpump Rules” stars Tom Sandoval and Ariana Madix gave us a reality TV breakup for the ages thanks to Tom’s unfortunate fling with costar Raquel Leviss. That’s a lot of drama right there, and it even got a catchy name: “Scandoval”.
Related: Why Are So Many of Us Personally Invested in Celebrity Breakups?
But the drama didn’t stop there. In August, Sam Asghari filed for divorce from Britney Spears, and they’d only been married for 14 months. Then, September brought Joe Jonas and Sophie Turner’s split after four years of marriage. And in October, Jodie Turner-Smith also filed for divorce from Joshua Jackson after their own four-year marriage.
But hey, these celebs aren’t the only ones navigating the ups and downs of love in 2023. So, stick around as we spill the beans on more celebrity breakups that have been making headlines this year.
Biggest Celebrity Breakups of 2023 So Far
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Ariana Grande and Dalton Gomez
On July 17, People confirmed the singer and real estate agent had split after two years of marriage.
A source told the outlet that the pair parted ways in early 2023 and “have been quietly and lovingly working on their friendship” ever since.
They first got linked in February 2020 and went public in May 2020. They got engaged that December and had a small wedding in May 2021.
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Sofía Vergara and Joe Manganiello
On July 17, the actors, who exchanged vows in November 2015, issued a joint statement to Page Six, revealing their “difficult decision to divorce” after seven years of marriage.
They emphasised their mutual love and care for each other and requested privacy as they embarked on this new chapter in their lives.
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Billie Eilish and Jesse Rutherford
Eilish and Rutherford ended their less-than-a-year relationship, as confirmed by Eilish’s rep on May 17. The rep stated they split amicably, debunked cheating rumours, and mentioned both are now single.
The former couple were first linked in October 2022 and went Instagram official on Halloween that year.
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Tori Spelling and Dean McDermott
On June 17, Spelling and McDermott separated after 17 years of marriage, according to People.
McDermott announced the news on Instagram, saying, “After 18 years together and 5 amazing children, @torispelling and I have decided to go our separate ways.”
The couple, who got married on May 7, 2006, and renewed their vows on May 8, 2010, share five kids: Stella, Hattie, Liam, Finn, and Beau.
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Taylor Swift and Matty Healy
In May, rumours of a romance between the “Speak Now” singer and The 1975’s musician circulated as they were frequently seen together.
However, on June 5, an insider told Entertainment Tonight that their brief relationship had ended. The source explained, “Taylor and Matty broke up, realising they’re not really compatible due to their busy schedules.”
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Ricky Martin and Jwan Yosef
On July 6, the famed singer and his husband announced in a joint statement on Instagram that they were divorcing after six years of marriage.
“For some time, we have considered transforming our relationship, and it is after careful consideration that we have decided to end our marriage with love, respect, and dignity for our children, preserving and honouring what we have experienced as a couple all of these wonderful years,” they wrote.
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Billy Porter and Adam Smith
Porter and Smith initially crossed paths in 2009 and dated for a year before going their separate ways. After a five-year hiatus, they rekindled their romance and swiftly tied the knot on January 14, 2017, just 16 days after Porter’s proposal.
However, on July 5, Porter’s rep, Simon Halls, confirmed to People that the actor and the men’s swimwear designer “have made the sad decision to end their marriage after six years.”
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Tom Sandoval and Ariana Madix
The “Vanderpump Rules” stars’ breakup became a major celebrity scandal due to its acrimonious nature.
TMZ broke the news of Sandoval’s affair with Raquel Leviss on March 3, leading to an explosive three-part reunion on the show.
In the following weeks, details emerged about the affair, including conflicting timelines.
Sandoval issued an Instagram apology on March 8, while Madix expressed gratitude for support on March 16.
Both have moved on, with Madix reportedly dating fitness coach Daniel Wai in April, while Sandoval’s current relationship status remains unclear.
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Halsey and Alev Aydin
On April 25, a source confirmed to POPSUGAR that Halsey and their longtime partner, Alev Aydin, had split amicably.
As part of the breakup, the singer also requested full physical custody of their son, Ender (born on July 14, 2021), with a request for visitation for Aydin, per Los Angeles County court documents obtained by POPSUGAR.
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Kylie Jenner and Travis Scott
Jenner and Scott’s relationship was a rollercoaster, spanning roughly six years.
They had their share of breakups and reconciliations, all while welcoming two children together, Stormi and Aire.
They began dating in 2017, had their first child in 2018, experienced their first breakup in 2019, and then rekindled their romance in 2020, ultimately welcoming their son two years later.
However, it appears that they’ve now decided to part ways for good, as reported by Us Weekly on Jan. 7 through an inside source.
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Taylor Swift and Joe Alwyn
Before her relationship with Healy, Swift was with actor and songwriter Joe Alwyn for six years before their April breakup, as reported by ET.
The split was described as amicable and not dramatic, with an insider explaining that the relationship had naturally run its course.
Despite their low-key romance, Swift and Alwyn began dating in 2016 after reportedly meeting at the Met Gala. They occasionally discussed their relationship in interviews.
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Glen Powell and Gigi Paris
On April 26, ET reported that the couple had amicably split after three years of dating.
However, according to People, this wasn’t their first breakup. A source mentioned that Gigi and Glen had previously broken up multiple times.
The final straw seemed to be when Gigi wasn’t happy with the long-distance filming during Powell’s work on “Top Gun: Maverick” and “Anyone But You” in Australia with Sydney Sweeney. They decided to end their relationship for good during that time.
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Cher and Alexander Edwards
Cher and Edwards’ unexpected 2022 romance sparked in November, followed by engagement rumours a month later.
Nevertheless, E! News confirmed their breakup on May 1, which had occurred a few weeks earlier. Fortunately, their separation was reportedly amicable.
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Reese Witherspoon and Jim Toth
The ex-couple, who were married for nearly 12 years, announced on March 24 — two days before their wedding anniversary — that they had decided to separate.
The two, who share a son named Tennessee, revealed the news in a joint statement from a since-deleted Instagram post that read, “It is with a great deal of care and consideration that we have made the difficult decision to divorce. We have enjoyed so many wonderful years together and are moving forward with deep love, kindness, and mutual respect for everything we have created together.”
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Avril Lavigne and Mod Sun
On Feb. 21, Lavigne’s rep confirmed their breakup after two years together. They got linked in February 2021 and were engaged in March 2022.
Sun’s rep initially stated they were engaged just days before he left for tour.
After their split, Lavigne began dating Tyga, while Sun’s relationship status is currently unclear.
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Hugh Jackman and Deborra-Lee Jackman
On Sept. 15, the couple, who met in 1995, announced in a statement shared with People that they are amicably ending their marriage after 27 years.
“We have been blessed to share almost 3 decades together as husband and wife in a wonderful, loving marriage. Our journey now is shifting, and we have decided to separate to pursue our individual growth,” they wrote.
“Our family has been and always will be our highest priority. We undertake this next chapter with gratitude, love, and kindness. We greatly appreciate your understanding in respecting our privacy as our family navigates this transition in all of our lives.”
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Sophia Bush and Grant Hughes
On Aug. 4, People exclusively reported that the “One Tree Hill” alum is divorcing her husband of 13 months.
“Sophia and Grant were friends for 10 years and bonded during COVID through their love of community service,” a source close to the couple told the publication. “They continue to run their nonprofit together and remain good friends.”
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Joe Jonas and Sophie Turner
On Sept. 5, POPSUGAR confirmed that Jonas filed for divorce in Miami-Dade County, FL, after news of his seeking a divorce lawyer broke on Sept. 3.
According to documents obtained by Today, the filing cites the marriage as “irretrievably broken”.
On Sept. 6, Jonas and Turner issued a joint Instagram statement, announcing their decision to amicably end their four-year marriage. They expressed hope for privacy for themselves and their two children: 3-year-old daughter Willa and a 1-year-old daughter whose name hasn’t been publicly disclosed.
Jonas and Turner began dating in 2016, got engaged in 2017, and married in 2019.
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Rosalía and Rauw Alejandro
The couple reportedly ended their engagement after more than three years together, People reported on July 25. While neither star has publicly addressed the split, according to sources, the pair both agreed to call off the relationship, though they still love and respect each other.
Rosalía and Alejandro first met in 2019 at the Latin Grammys and began dating a few months later. They went public with their romance in September 2021 and confirmed their engagement in the music for their song “Beso” in March 2023.
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Britney Spears and Sam Asghari
Asghari filed for divorce from Spears after one year of marriage in August. In court documents obtained by POPSUGAR, Asghari listed their date of separation as July 28, 2023. He also cited “irreconcilable differences” as the reason for their split and is seeking spousal support.
Asghari later addressed the split on his Instagram Stories, writing, “After six years of love and commitment to each other, my wife and I have decided to end our journey… We will hold onto the love and respect we have for each other, and I wish her the best always. Sh*t happens. Asking for privacy seems ridiculous, so I will just ask for everyone, including media, to be kind and thoughtful.”
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Jodie Turner-Smith and Joshua Jackson
On Oct. 2, Turner-Smith filed for divorce from Jackson after four years of marriage. In court documents obtained by POPSUGAR, Turner-Smith listed Sept. 13 as their separation date and cited “irreconcilable differences” as the reason for the split. She is seeking joint custody of their daughter. Turner-Smith and Jackson have yet to publicly address the breakup.
