The One Tragedy That Changed Channing Tatum Forever

The year 2018 proved to be a tough one for Channing Tatum, who announced he and wife Jenna Dewan were breaking up after nine years of marriage. The couple, who met and fell in love on the set of the 2006 film "Step Up," tied the knot in 2009 before welcoming their daughter, Everly, in 2013.

At the time, Tatum and Dewan wrote in a statement to People, "We have lovingly chosen to separate as a couple. We fell deeply in love so many years ago and have had a magical journey together. 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." They also confirmed that there were "no secrets nor salacious events at the root of our decision."

Sadly, Tatum's split wasn't the only heartbreak he experienced in 2018. Scroll ahead to learn about the other tragedy that changed him forever.

On August 23, 2018, Channing Tatum revealed his "very first childhood best friend, Corey Vaughn, left this world for the next" two days prior. He wrote in a letter posted to Twitter at the time, "Man there's so much to say, I'll never forget his crazy a** and how he stuck up for and protected me when I first moved to Mississippi. He'd a fought anybody. All the laughs and trouble we go in. I'll never be able to see that smile of his again in this life."

The "Magic Mike" actor, who was born in Alabama, previously opened up about moving around a lot as a child. "All my family's in Wetumpka, Alabama, on my mom's side. Some people in Birmingham. We moved from Cullman pretty early," he said, according to Alabama Living. "We moved to Mississippi for a little while, Pascagoula, Gautier, and then Florida. All around the South. Anywhere where they say y'all. That's where I call home."

Though his relationship with Vaughn has impacted his life, Tatum has other close relationships worth highlighting. Keep reading.

Channing Tatum also honored his late best friend by telling his followers to reach out to those they love before it's too late. "And it just made me need to remind everybody don't put off anything. Seeing a friend, or even calling or texting," he wrote. "You never know what's next." He ended his tribute by imagining how his friend would have wanted him to move forward following his death. "Corey would have wanted us to laugh and raise hell in his wake and have as much joy as anyone can make," Tatum continued. "He sure did. And I'll forever miss ya man. Love ya my brother."

The actor also added dedication alongside his heartfelt letter and a photo of he and Corey Vaughn when they were children. "Rip Corey I'll never forget your crazy a**. I love you with all my heart," he tweeted. "All my prayers to your beautiful family." At the time, Tatum's ex-wife, Jenna Dewan, commented on his heartfelt post (per Us Weekly): "RIP Corey. All the love in the world to his family right now."

Channing Tatum may have lost his dear childhood friend too soon, but he's made strong connections in Hollywood throughout his career. One of them includes his longtime friendship with Jonah Hill. The pair starred in five movies together in five years — "21 Jump Street," "This Is the End," "The Lego Movie," "22 Jump Street," and "Hail, Cesar!" — and have proven that their off-screen bromance is just as undeniable as their on-screen chemistry.

The "Dear John" star previously opened up about his relationship with the actor, calling themselves "lucky." He told CNN in 2014, "It doesn't always work out like this. Sometimes you take a movie because you like someone's work, and then you get to work with them and you don't actually enjoy working with them. And we just got really lucky."

The two have also been a source of support for one another, both professionally and on social media. "I'm just really grateful that he would rearrange his schedule and come do this. It's really meaningful and sweet," Hill told E! News reporters after Tatum attended an event to support him in 2018. As of late, Tatum also praised his friend when Hill shared a photo of his beard, writing (per Buzzfeed), "You are so f**kin hot bro! Call me by your name allll day Jonah."

Channing Tatum's loss isn't the only thing that made headlines as his newfound "friendship" with Zoe Kravitz has also caught everyone's attention. The two met on the set of the "Big Little Lies" star's debut directorial "Pussy Island," in which Tatum plays the lead role, and have been spending a lot of time together ever since. In August, they were spotted grabbing coffee together in New York City days after they were photographed bike riding together. Then in September, Tatum and Kravitz attended the Met Gala and eyewitnesses told People that they "did not take their hands off of each other" at the afterparty.

Still, the two have yet to confirm if their friendship has turned romantic. Regardless, Tatum has found a "good friend" in the actor who convinced him to give up Crocs. "When someone can just come out and tell me I should not be wearing Crocs, and is so adamant about it, she completely convinced me and I never wear Crocs anymore," he told Deadline to which Kravitz responded: "I was just trying to be a good friend, Chan."