True love doesn’t always last forever. Heartbreaks are almost inevitable for anyone circulating the wondrous world of relationships, and sometimes breakups come to us unexpectedly – even to someone like Kylie Jenner or Sofia Vergara.
After all, heartbreak does not discriminate, and even A-list celebrities suffer at the relentless and unbiased hands of Cupid. Even those who seemingly had the perfect relationship on and off screen have been breaking each other’s hearts, and lately, celebrity breakups have been happening more often than ever.
Since the year started, names like Ariana Grande and Taylor Swift have made the headlines because of the recent ending of an era. Capable of making us question the true meaning of love, even other people’s relationships are enough to make us grieve on their behalf. Call it a parasocial relationship but hey, we can’t really help but get invested in other people’s business. And with so many relationships calling it quits in just half a year, here are all the major ones that saw a grim ending in 2023.
Kylie Jenner and Travis Scott
Everything related to the Kardashian-Jenner clan is bound to become a hot topic – even if it is Kylie Jenner and Travis Scott separating in their yearly fashion. This time, after the second (or third? We’ve lost count) time breaking up, the duo parted ways once more in January.
With an off-and-on relationship since their first link in 2017, the news of the duo breaking up didn’t necessarily shock fans, but it still remained a big deal across the media. What’s more, according to Harper’s Bazaar, the duo are no longer working on getting back together, but seem to be amicably co-parenting their children, Stormy and Aire.
Ariana Grande and Dalton Gomez
One of the most recent breakups to occur at the time of writing was that of Ariana Grande and Dalton Gomez. Shaking up the entire internet, the two-year marriage came to an end unexpectedly, with neither Gomez nor Grande speaking on the subject. The duo was first seen together in 2020, and nine months after, they confirmed the officiating of their relationship.
Although no one knows for sure the reason for the separation and divorce, it was enough to make fans mourn this relationship, especially after seeing how happy Grande had seemingly been for the past two years. Maybe “Thank U, Next,” may need a re-write soon.
Ricky Martin and Jwan Yosef
Ricky Martin and Jwan Yosef broke everyone’s hearts by announcing their divorce earlier this month. After six years of marriage, and with two kids (aside from Martin’s twins), the singer announced his divorce from the painter, as they both try and navigate their separation while maintaining a healthy co-parenting relationship for the sake of their children.
The Puerto Rican superstar met the Swedish painter back in 2015 through Instagram after catching one of his art pieces at a gallery. A year later, the couple announced their relationship to the cameras on the red carpet for the 2016 amFAR Inspiration Gala. Despite spending almost a decade together, the duo decided to part ways, putting their friendship and respect first and foremost. Back to livin’ la vida loca.
Billie Eilish and Jesse Rutherford
Billie Eilish and Jesse Rutherford have an understated contentious relationship with the public. Some loved them, others loved to hate them (and their age gap). In the end, the criticism wasn’t enough to get to their heads, as they still lasted for seven months before parting ways amicably back in May. The reason remains unclear, but according to sources, the two remained good friends.
Part of the reason for their controversial break was their large age gap. Eilish, 21, started dating Rutherford, 31, last year and they were immediately a target for criticism – especially Rutherford. Regardless of that age gap, they seem to still hold mutual love for one another, even if they’re not together anymore.
Sofía Vergara and Joe Manganiello
Sofía Vergara and Joe Manganiello‘s relationship lasted for eight years after the couple met in 2014, though Vergara was in a relationship at the time. After splitting from Nick Leob, in just a year their love story was formally officiated in a grand star-studded three-day ceremony, with plenty of eyes to catch the lovestruck actors sharing their vows in the most lavish manner.
Unfortunately, the love story would last a little under a decade, with the couple splitting after citing the (usual) irreconcilable differences. Many fans quickly pointed out there were obvious signs that the couple had split, including Vergara’s impromptu trip to Italy sans Manganiello. In the end, the reason for their divorce may never be disclosed, but the heartbreak of seeing this couple and Grande and Gomez announcing their divorces on the same day left us sad and disappointed.
Taylor Swift and Joe Alwyn
The separation of the decade may belong to none other than Miss Swift herself. After six years together, in the most low-key relationship possible between two celebrities, Taylor Swift and Joe Alwyn decided to split. The news of their breakup came in April, and soon enough, Swifties shared their sorrows and their inability to believe in true love anymore. To this day, no one truly knows why they broke up, but there is lots of speculation involved.
The most popular theory derives from their very discreet relationship. Many fans seemed to believe that Alwyn did not like to stay in the public eye for long periods of time, especially with the biggest pop star in the world in his arms. Wishing for privacy, fans speculated that the actor couldn’t handle the pressure that came with dating the Grammy-winning singer.
Taylor Swift and Matty Healy
They say that after the storm, there is always a rainbow, and Matt Healy might’ve just been that splash of color in Swift’s life. For a little bit, at least. The couple never announced their relationship officially, but after being seen publicly by each other’s side while Swift was on tour, their relationship status quickly became a phenomenon on social media. Unfortunately, it wasn’t for the best of reasons.
Criticized for his previous remarks and questionable attitudes, Healy was promptly bashed for his contentious interviews, podcasts, and everything else. While some fans of the pop singer were more than content after seeing her happier than ever, the large majority of fans seemed to harshly criticize their relationship, namely, Healy himself. Unfortunately, after a month of dating, it appears the backlash was too intense to ignore, and the couple seemingly called quits in June.
Hugh Jackman and Deborra-lee Furness
Throughout his entire career, Hugh Jackman has always been accompanied by none other than his iconic wife, Deborra-Lee Furness. The couple wed in 1996, continuously being used as a reference point in debates about the existence of true love. After all, a quarter of a century together was no small feat.
However, the couple announced their divorce in September, affirming that it was an amicable separation. After nearly three decades together and two children later, the Aussie pair decided to pursue different routes individually. They’re still seen together at events, proving that their friendship is just as iconic as they are.
Britney Spears and Sam Asghari
Britney Spears’ 2023 was a rollercoaster of events. From releasing her memoir, where she candidly addressed her past with Justin Timberlake, to finally breaking free from her conservatorship that bound her to a toxic team and her father – the singer is now able to revel in all her glory and fame. And then, in August, the singer became officially single.
Spears and Asghari first crossed paths in 2016 during the shooting of the music video “Slumber Party,” and in 2022, the two tied the knot. However, in August 2023, they decided to part ways, citing “irreconcilable differences.” It later came to light that Asghari sought financial compensation for their time together but fortunately, he wasn’t entitled to a single penny. To that, we say: we’re glad he left Britney alone.
Rosalía and Rauw Alejandro
Yet another incredibly unexpected breakup involved the Latin singers Rosalía and Rauw Alejandro. The couple met in 2019, and from then on, they became virtually inseparable, all while openly admitting to prioritizing their careers. Rosalía and Rauw quickly became the internet’s favorite IT couple, not only due to their good looks but also because of their chemistry.
With numerous interviews and joint performances, everyone wholeheartedly believed they would last a lifetime. They were even engaged for quite some time, but apparently, the right moment to officiate their relationship never came. In July, they announced their split through the release of their music video for “Beso.” It’s been months, but yes, we’re still recovering.
Joe Jonas and Sophie Turner
Perhaps the most contentious breakup this year was none other than Joe Jonas and Sophie Turner. While many fans of the actress were already uneasy about their seven-year age gap, everything took a turn when news of their separation hit the headlines. To this day, the reason for the couple’s breakup remains unknown, but plenty of speculation has circulated.
The duo shares two children, adding even more complexity to their very public split, especially due to the added pressure of an international battle for child custody. Accusations from both teams flooded social media, creating a public spectacle that made the situation a game of “he said, she said” for months, with no end in sight.
Kendall Jenner and Bad Bunny
Bad Bunny and Kendall Jenner were a combination that we never expected to happen. Whether you love them or love to hate on them, at the end of the day, we have to admit that they were a good-looking couple. They turned heads everywhere they went, but ultimately, no one ever really supported the fact that the Latin singer was dating a socialite like Jenner.
Fearing that he would just become one of the many men cast upon the ‘Kardashian curse,’ many Bad Bunny fans wholeheartedly despised their relationship. Ultimately, their fears were heard, and People announced the couple reportedly broke up in December this year. Their last sighting dates back to October, but neither of them has publicly addressed the split – at least, other than some cryptic lyrics.
Cardi B and Offset
Now, Cardi B and Offset aren’t exactly strangers to breakups. The rappers have been on and off together since 2016, and we never truly know their relationship status. Their most decisive split came in 2018 when Cardi publicly announced their separation in a now-deleted Instagram video. But in 2019, the pair reconciled.
Since then, it appeared that not even cheating could have gotten in their way… until 2020 when Cardi announced their divorce. Then the said divorce was called off and the couple reverted to maintaining a once again tumultuous relationship. But on Dec. 11, Cardi announced that she was single, and this time, fans believe their relationship has ended for good.
Keke Palmer and Darius Jackson
Keke Palmer and Darius Jackson also had quite a controversial year. They were together since 2021 and no one really cared about their relationship status. At least, not until Jackson went on a jealousy rampage on social media in July 2023, publicly criticizing Palmer for wearing a sheer dress at Usher’s concert.
The fitness instructor attempted to humiliate Palmer, who never commented on the situation besides profiting from shirts saying “I’M A MOTHA,” – a nod to one of Jackson’s tweets. Nonetheless, the duo remained together – against better judgment – until Nov. 9 when Palmer issued a restraining order against Jackson and filed for full custody of their son, thus confirming their breakup. About time.
Here’s to hoping 2024 will be a little kinder for celebrity love.
