National Post (National Edition)
THE EX FILES
SOME HIGH-PROFILE HOLLYWOOD COUPLES CALLED IT QUITS IN 2020
The one thing celebrity romances have in common with the rest of us enjoying regular love lives is this: Not everything goes smoothly. For every high-profile, “I do,” there were several other A-listers who didn't get the happily ever after they were hoping for in 2020.
So if you called it quits with someone you thought was your soulmate this year, don't worry, things didn't go right for these celeb couples in 2020, either. Before we turn the page to a New Year, and more romantic entanglements, let's raise a glass to the way they were. With any luck, by this time next year, we won't remember you even dated.
After four years of dating, Anderson reportedly ended things with The Crown creator Morgan earlier this month. The news came weeks after Anderson gushed about working together on the set of the hit Netflix show: “Somehow, we managed to get through it OK, and it was fun and actually really lovely to do something together,” she said in late November.
JOHNNY GALECKI and ALAINA MEYER
The Big Bang Theory alum began dating Meyer, 23, in 2018. The pair welcomed their first child together last year.
Parents to son Otis and daughter Daisy, the actress-director, 36, and the Ted Lasso star, 45, announced the end of their seven-year engagement last month. “The split happened at the beginning of the year,” a source close to the couple told People Magazine. “It's been amicable and they've transitioned into a great co-parenting routine. The children are the priority and the heart of the family's relationship.”
BRAD PITT and NICOLE POTURALSKI
Shortly after news of the Oscar winner's latest romance made headlines in August, the couple called it quits by October. “Brad and Nicole have been over for a while now,” a source exclusively told Us. “They had a short-lived relationship that was never too serious.”
After spending much of the coronavirus lockdown hanging out with the 23-year-old, Beckinsale, 47, split from the Canadian rapper in October. “It's not a big deal for Kate,” a source told People Magazine. “It was great for Kate to have him around during the lockdown.”
After a two-year relationship, the Alias star, who was previously married to Ben Affleck, called it quits with the CaliGroup CEO in August. “Jen says John brought her back to life,” a source told Us at the time. “It just wasn't meant to be.”
DARIUS RUCKER and BETH LEONARD
The Hootie & the Blowfish frontman and his wife of 20 years announced their decision to “consciously uncouple” in July.
ARMIE HAMMER and ELIZABETH
CHAMBERS
It wasn't a summer of love for the Rebecca star and the bakery owner, who called time on their 10-year marriage in July. “It has been an incredible journey, but together, we've decided to turn the page and move on from our marriage,” the couple wrote in a joint statement.
After dating off-and-on since 2013, the Live with Kelly and Ryan co-host and the personal chef called it quits for good in June. Just a month prior, Seacrest marked his anniversary on his daytime show. “I just want to say, happy third anniversary to Shayna,” he said. “It is our third time together. So we've got together, broken up, got together, broken up. This is No. 3 of being together. So we're celebrating, as well.”
KELLY CLARKSON and BRANDON BLACKSTOCK
After nearly seven years of marriage, Clarkson filed for divorce from Blackstock citing “irreconcilable differences.” But by the year's end, the split proved to be 2020's messiest with the singer and daytime host accusing her ex of defrauding her out of millions.
The couple, who first met on the set of Hope & Faith in 2004, endured a rocky relationship since getting married in 2010. But a year after she filed to dismiss her divorce petition, Fox left the 90210 star for musician Machine Gun Kelly in May and officially moved to end their marriage in November.
CHRISTINA ANSTEAD
and ANT ANSTEAD
After less than two years of marriage, the Flip or Flop designer, who was previously married to Tarek El Moussa, announced she was calling it quits with the Wheeler Dealers host. “We are grateful for each other and as always, our children will remain our priority,” Christina wrote in an Instagram post.