If you even casually follow the goings on of stars, you probably have a celebrity couple you would be devastated about if they broke up. (Say, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle or Chrissy Teigen and John Legend, just to name a couple of personal choices.) True, you don't know them in real life, but after watching them gaze at each other on red carpets and reading about their loving relationship in interviews, it’s impossible not to get a little attached. That’s just human nature. It’s not about being obsessed, it’s about being a caring, sympathetic person, right? We hear you, which is why we've rounded up these devastating celebrity couple breakups from over the years.
The famous couples on this list went through public splits that left fans hungry for more information, wondering about the matching denim outfits that could have been, and still obsessing over them crossing paths years later. From a relatively short-lived relationship that began on the set of a vampire movie to a long-term love that has been entirely documented on a reality TV show, here are 15 ex celeb couples you may still be mourning. And for more red carpet romantic entanglements, check out 60 Celebrities Who Share an Ex.
1 | Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner
Shutterstock/Featureflash Photo AgencyIt has been five years since Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner announced their split and three years since their divorce, so, clearly, things are actually over. But, the actors were an item for 10 years and have three kids together, so it’s no wonder fans were really rooting for them to make it work—especially any fans who saw that video that supposedly shows the moment they fell in love. For love stories still in progress, here are The 13 Hottest Celebrity Couples of the Summer.
2 | Channing Tatum and Jenna Dewan
Twocoms/ShutterstockSpeaking of couples who fell in love at work, Channing Tatum and Jenna Dewan seemed meant to be after meeting on the set of Step Up in 2006. They got married in 2009, and then split up nine years later in 2018. Thankfully, it sounded like they were both on the same page. In a statement announcing their breakup, they shared, “Absolutely nothing has changed about how much we love one another, but love is a beautiful adventure that is taking us on different paths for now.”
3 | Heidi Klum and Seal
Shutterstock/Featureflash Photo AgencyHeidi Klum and Seal were known for renewing their wedding vows every year, but after seven years together, the celebrations came to an end. The Project Runway host and singer officially announced their split in 2012, noting that they had “grown apart” and that the separation was an “amicable process.” It turned out that Seal wasn’t a big fan of the vow renewals, anyway, so sounds like it was all for the best. For more on how fast time flies, here are 15 Celebrity Kids Who Are All Grown Up Now.
4 | Miley Cyrus and Liam Hemsworth
Shutterstock/TinseltownSometimes, the on-and-off relationships are the hardest… even if you’re just following them as a fan. And this one’s a long story: Miley Cyrus and Liam Hemsworthstarted dating after meeting on the set of The Last Song in 2009. Then, they got engaged in 2012, when Cyrus was 19 and Hemsworth was 22. About a year later, the engagement was called off, and they were apart for about three years before getting back together. They got married — for real this time — in December 2018, but in the summer of 2019, they split up again. Seems like it’s actually over this time, but hey, who knows.
5 | Will Arnett and Amy Poehler
Shutterstock/carrie-nelsonFans of Will Arnett and Amy Poehler didn’t know their relationship as much from the tabloids as they did from their work together. The couple starred in the comedy Blades of Glory and also appeared as a zany, short-lived couple on Arrested Development. But, in 2012, they broke up. In her book, Yes, Please, Poehler wrote about how hard going through a divorce was, but also said, “I don’t think a 10-year marriage constitutes failure.” While they’re not back together, fans were happy to see them reunite recently for a COVID-19 fundraiser. For more stars doing their part, here are 7 Celebrities Who've Urged Their Fans to Wear Masks.
6 | Emma Stone and Andrew Garfield
Naumova Ekaterina/ShutterstockEmma Stone and Andrew Garfield started dating after working on the Amazing Spider-Man movies together. They were fairly private, but we know their relationship began around 2012 and ended around 2015—although fans were hopeful that it would pick back up again. That didn’t happen, and Stone is now engaged to someone else, but they were very sweet while they lasted.
7 | Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart
Shutterstock/TinseltownPeople might have been attached to Stone and Garfield because they were cute in Spider-Man, but that was nothing compared to the intensity from fans that Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart faced thanks to their starring roles in Twilight. They were together for about three years, from 2009 to 2012, and seemed to rekindle their relationship for a bit in 2013 before breaking up again. Still, they’re on good terms. In a 2019 interview with Howard Stern (via Insider), Stewart said of Pattinson, “He’s the best.” For more stars people just can't stop discussing, here are 50 Totally Absurd Celeb Rumors That Some People Really Believe.
8 | Kourtney Kardashian and Scott Disick
s_bukley/ShutterstockKourtney Kardashian and Scott Disick’s entire relationship has been documented on Keeping Up with the Kardashians, since they got together in 2006 and the show began a year later. And any viewer of the reality TV series can tell you that mourning this dramatic relationship doesn't mean that you want it to pick back up again. But, since fans have seen the highs along with the lows, it does sometimes seem like these two should be able to work things out. For now, Disick and Kardashian are just working on parenting their three kids together.
9 | Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams
Shutterstock/Featureflash Photo AgencyIf this list has proven anything, it’s that sometimes actors cannot resist falling for each other on set. In the case of Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams, things got off to a rocky start on The Notebook—at one point Gosling wanted McAdams recast with a new actor, reportedly. But they started dating in 2005 and stayed together for two years. It’s hard to believe it’s been 13 years since they broke up, but we’ll always have Noah and Allie, plus that epic MTV Movie Awards kiss. And for Hollywood facts delivered right to your inbox, sign up for our daily newsletter.
10 | Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony
Shutterstock/Featureflash Photo AgencyJennifer Lopez has been in a relationships with a number of other high-profile people—including someone else on this list—but her marriage to Marc Anthony seemed like it was going to last. The two hugely popular singers, who have also dueted together over the years, got married in 2004 and welcomed twins Emme and Max together in 2008. A few years later, in 2011, they split up, but they’re still on good terms. In 2019, Anthony posted an Instagram of himself, Lopez, and their daughter and wrote, “Nothing but love between us.”
11 | Helena Bonham Carter and Tim Burton
Shutterstock/TwocomsDuring their lengthy relationship, actor Helena Bonham Carter and director Tim Burton made nine movies together, including Alice in Wonderland and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Their eccentric personalities seemed like a great fit onscreen and off, but in 2014, 13 years after meeting on the set of Planet of the Apes, they “separated amicably.” In 2015, Carter told Red magazine, “The mark of a successful relationship shouldn't be whether you're there forever after. Sometimes you're not meant to be forever together.” Not even if everyone idealizes you as a talented, quirky couple who were perfect for each other for a while.
12 | Taye Diggs and Idina Menzel
Shutterstock/TwocomsTaye Diggs and Idina Menzel first met when they were part of the original cast of Rent off- and on Broadway together in the mid-'90s. They were married for 10 years and welcomed a son, but decided to go their separate ways in 2013. If you were a fan of them as a couple because of the way they met, you’ll be interested to know that Menzel moved on to another Rent alum. She’s now married to Aaron Lohr, who was in the movie adaptation along with Menzel and Diggs.
13 | Justin Timberlake and Britney Spears
Shutterstock/Featureflash Photo AgencyA lot has changed in both of their lives since Justin Timberlake and Britney Spearsdated back in the early aughts. The two pop stars, who met while on the Mickey Mouse Club as kids, have both had other relationships and welcomed children, so it’s strange to think of what could have been. Would there have been more matching denim outfits? Would we have gotten more catchy duets? The world will never know.
14 | Lisa Bonet and Lenny Kravitz
Featureflash Photo Agency/ShutterstockIf there’s any couple we shouldn’t be mourning…well, we probably shouldn’t be mourning any of these people who have clearly moved on and are doing just fine. But, when it comes to Lisa Bonet and Lenny Kravitz, they’ve provided ample evidence that separations can be very amicable. The actor and musician got married in 1987 and their divorce was finalized in 1993. While people still might miss this stylish couple, nowadays they’re close friends. Kravitz even told People their relationship now is more like “brother and sister,” and he's buddies with Bonet’s husband, Jason Momoa as well.
15 | Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston
Shutterstock/Featureflash Photo AgencyDid you read through the whole list wondering where they were? Did you scroll straight to the bottom to make sure these two were mentioned? Well, here you are. The breakup that is most known for regular people just not getting over it: Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston. It’s been 15 years since the two actors divorced, they’ve both been married to other people in the meantime, and hopes for a reconciliation still haven’t stopped. It just might be the longest mourned celebrity breakup of all time. Congrats, Brad and Jen, I’m sure you’re really happy to have that record.
