The Biggest Celebrity Confessions Of 2022
This article includes discussions of domestic abuse, addiction, and suicide.
There's lots we can depend on when it comes to celebrities. News, drama, project announcements, iconic social media posts — the list goes on. Keeping up with famous individuals is not for the faint of heart, especially it when it comes to a major celebrity certainty: confessions.
Those who keep their affairs private might surprise us with a baby announcement or news of a proposal every now and again, while others are a little more forthcoming about their personal lives. Some confessions are lighthearted, some are heartbreaking, and others are absolutely revolting. In the same year that we've smiled at Chris Evans' pursuit of love, we've been sobered by Jennifer Aniston's fertility story. We've felt hurt and angry for Gabby Petito's family with every last detail of her tragedy.
As the year draws to a close, here is a range of celebrity confessions we've seen in 2022.
Chris Evans was looking for love
The women of the world collectively wept in late 2022 when People claimed that Chris Evans is in a serious relationship. The actor, who's best known for his role as Captain America in the eponymous film series, has reportedly been dating Alba Baptista, much to the chagrin of anyone whose favorite Chris list has Evans as the top. A source close to the actor said, "They are in love and Chris has never been happier. His family and friends all adore her."
Word of Evans' serious relationship came just after he was named People's Sexiest Man Alive, and in the interview for the feature, the actor commented on his plans for marriage and having a family. "That's absolutely something I want," he said.
While promoting his film "The Grey Man" earlier in the year, a Shondaland reporter asked Evans, "Is there anything in real life that you've been that laser-focused on?" The star liked this question. He said, "The answer would be, maybe laser-focused on finding a partner, you know... This industry is full of pockets of doubt, hesitation, and recalibration ... maybe it's about trying to find someone that you're looking to spend your life with." Although he disappointed thousands of eligible singles in the process, it seems that Evans may have found that someone.
Julie Bowen was in love with a woman
Julie Bowen is best known for her role as Claire Dunphy on the bygone American sitcom "Modern Family." The show aired 250 episodes, and fans fell in love with Bowen's character and her onscreen marriage to Phil Dunphy, played by Ty Burrell. Offscreen, Bowen was married to Scott Phillips, from whom she divorced in 2018 while "Modern Family" was still running. Post-divorce, Bowen appeared on "The Ellen DeGeneres Show" with former co-star Adam Devine in 2022 and said, "[I'm] very single. That dog, that was my retirement gift to me." The actor also joked that she would "come out of dating retirement for Harry Styles."
Bowen further discussed dating and sexuality on her "Quitters Podcast" later in 2022. "I'm straight. I've always been straight. I was in love with a woman for a while, but she did not love me back ... It never really took off, so I never really had to challenge my concept of my sexuality," she revealed. Bowen shared her perspective that people should be allowed privacy in their sex lives. "I hope people don't always have to come out ... what you do with your body should not be the first thing that we know about people or care about. That's your business," she said.
Adam Levine crossed a line
In 2009, Maroon 5 lead singer Adam Levine told Cosmopolitan, "Instinctively, monogamy is not in our genetic makeup. People cheat. I have cheated. And you know what? There is nothing worse than the feeling of doing it." Over 10 years later, the singer reportedly placed himself in the "once a cheater, always a cheater" camp as he allegedly had an extramarital affair with Instagram model Sumner Stroh.
Stroh posted a now-deleted video to her TikTok account purporting that she and Levine were involved romantically. In the video, she showed private messages between her and Levine, and she said, "My morals were unknowingly compromised. I was completely manipulated" (via ET). Levine used Instagram to address the claims. "A lot is being said about me right now and I want to clear the air. I used poor judgment in speaking with anyone other than my wife in ANY kind of flirtatious manner. I did not have an affair, nevertheless, I crossed the line during a regrettable period in my life," he confessed, as reported by People.
Despite the affair allegations, Levine and his wife, Victoria's Secret model Behati Prinsloo, are still together. Just before the news of the alleged cheating broke, Prinsloo posted a photo to Instagram showing her growing baby belly, her third with Levine.
Kim Kardashian lost 16 pounds for the Met Gala
Ever one to reveal information about her body, Kim Kardashian surprised (or maybe didn't surprise) fans when she shared she lost 16 pounds in preparation for her red-carpet appearance at the 2022 Met Gala. The reality star arrived in a dress worn by Marilyn Monroe when the icon sang "Happy Birthday" to President John F. Kennedy, a piece now archived at Ripley's Believe It or Not! museum.
"I tried it on, and it didn't fit me," she said in an interview about the dress. "I said, 'Give me like three weeks,' and I had to lose 16 pounds down today to be able to fit this. It was such a challenge. It was like a role. I was determined to fit it." Kardashian only wore the dress for about 10 minutes, which she shared on the "It's Met Monday!" episode of her Hulu show "The Kardashians." To prevent damaging the dress, Kardashian was only allowed to don it while on the carpet, and she changed into a replica to wear for the rest of the evening.
Post-gala, Kardashian was accused of damaging the dress, but Ripley's published an article with their vice president of publishing and licensing explicitly saying that the reality star did not alter the condition of the gown (which remained on display through fall 2022). Kardashian's choice to diet for the dress was criticized to the point that BuzzFeed apologized for prior reporting which may have glamorized weight loss.
If you need help with an eating disorder, or know someone who is, help is available. Visit the National Eating Disorders Association website or contact NEDA's Live Helpline at 1-800-931-2237. You can also receive 24/7 Crisis Support via text (send NEDA to 741-741).
Jennifer Aniston once tried IVF
"Friends" star Jennifer Aniston was famously married to Brad Pitt in the early aughts, their union ending after five years. After splitting from Pitt, Aniston wed again and spent two years married to actor Justin Theroux. Though both relationships ended, Aniston still views them in a positive light. "My marriages, they've been very successful, in [my] personal opinion. And when they came to an end, it was a choice that was made because we chose to be happy, and sometimes happiness didn't exist within that arrangement anymore," she told Elle. The actor expressed that an obsession over her single status was drawing attention away from her most important achievements in life.
Despite being married twice, Aniston never had children. But, as she revealed to Allure in 2022, it's not for lack of trying. "I was going through IVF, drinking Chinese teas, you name it. I was throwing everything at it. I would've given anything if someone had said to me, 'Freeze your eggs. Do yourself a favor,'" she told the magazine.
Aniston is happy with her life and doesn't harbor any regret. "I actually feel a little relief now because there is no more, 'Can I? Maybe. Maybe. Maybe.' I don't have to think about that anymore," she noted.
Miss Puerto Rico and Miss Argentina are married
After dating in secret, two beauty queens, Fabiola Valentín and Mariana Varela, Miss Puerto Rico and Miss Argentina, respectively, revealed that they had gotten married. In a joint Instagram post, the newlyweds shared, "After deciding to keep our relationship private, we opened the doors to them on a special day," noting that the ceremony took place on October 28, 2022.
The two met at the Miss Grand International competition, and in a previous Instagram post, Valentín expressed her gratitude for having met her wife. "One of the great gifts in this experience was your friendship, walking this process with you was a special and real one," she said. Both of them were in the contest's top 10.
Per another Instagram post, the couple honeymooned in San Juan, the capital city of Valentín's home country. The two have yet to reveal where they'll reside as a married couple, but both women earn their livings as models, with Valentín represented by Major Models.
Zac Efron almost died
In 2013, E! News reported that actor Zac Efron had broken his jaw in an at-home accident, and his mouth had to be wired shut to heal. Nearly 10 years later, ET interviewed the "High School Musical" star about his new movie, "The Greatest Beer Run Ever," and learned that the accident was far more severe than had originally been reported. Efron was at the center of plastic surgery rumors for years, but as it turns out, the star's face changed from the accident, not elective procedures. "It was funny. It sucked. I almost died, but we're good," Efron said of the rumors and the accident.
Efron has long endured a public focus on his looks, and he's been interested in health and fitness for much of that time, particularly when he was preparing for his role in "Baywatch." But as he shared in a Men's Health interview, Efron is now more focused on balance. "That 'Baywatch' look, I don't know if that's really attainable. There's just too little water in the skin. Like, it's fake; it looks CGI'd," he mused. "And that required Lasix, powerful diuretics, to achieve. So I don't need to do that. I much prefer to have an extra, you know, two to three percent body fat," he said.
Matthew Perry revealed everything in his new book
In 2022, "Friends" star Matthew Perry released a memoir, "Friends, Lovers and the Big Terrible Thing," which details the actor's life in the spotlight and reveals loads of truths he hadn't previously shared, many of which regard his past relationships and struggle with addiction.
Perry has dated some of the most famous women in the world, and he ended his relationship with one of his exes, Oscar winner Julia Roberts, due to his own insecurities. "Dating Julia Roberts had been too much for me. I had been constantly certain that she was going to break up with me. Why would she not? I was not enough; I could never be enough; I was broken, bent, unloveable. So instead of facing the inevitable agony of losing her, I broke up with the beautiful and brilliant Julia Roberts," he wrote in the book (via USA Today).
The actor also revealed what inspired his sobriety. Though he had suffered a variety of prior health issues as a result of addiction, Perry's colon exploded when he was 49, nearly killing him. Perry was in a coma for two weeks and had to use a colostomy bag for nine months, and words from a health professional have kept him from drug misuse. "My therapist said to me, 'The next time you think about OxyContin, I want you to think about living out the rest of your days with a colostomy bag.' Having had a colostomy bag for nine long months, my therapist's words hit hard," he said.
If you or anyone you know is struggling with addiction issues, help is available. Visit the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration website or contact SAMHSA's National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).
Becca Tilley has been in a relationship for four years
Becca Tilley rose to semi-stardom as a member of Bachelor Nation, the group of former contestants and leads on "The Bachelor" and "The Bachelorette." Tilley appeared on two seasons of "The Bachelor," dating both Chris Soules and Ben Higgins, and afterward transitioned into a career as a podcaster and influencer.
On her podcast, "Scrubbing In," Tilley has often mentioned her dating life, referring to her partner as "95p," a nickname that meant 95 percent% — as in Tilley being 95% certain she would marry this person. Due to her dating history, many fans assumed Tilley's partner is a man, but in 2022, the former "Bachelor" contestant revealed on Instagram that she's been in a years-long relationship with musician Hayley Kiyoko. "Hard to say if this is a hard or soft launch, but it is a launch," she captioned the post.
Tilley revealed more about her relationship and sexuality on the "Quitters Podcast." "I'm attracted to people. And I'm attracted to men. I'm attracted to women, and specifically Hayley I fell in love with." Tilley also went on to note, "I just hope that one day people don't have to come out. It causes a lot of stress and weight added, and life is already really hard. Falling in love should just be a natural and beautiful thing that people don't have to explain to anybody."
Abigail Breslin was in an abusive relationship
"Little Miss Sunshine" actor Abigail Breslin made a confession in 2022 in hopes of raising awareness for others. In an Instagram post amid National Domestic Violence Awareness Month, the Oscar nominee shared, "I was in a very abusive relationship for close to 2 years. It all started out perfectly, I was so in love. Unfortunately, my abuser took advantage of my innocence and naïveté and the relationship subsequently became violent."
Breslin continued by detailing the abuse she suffered, as well as her efforts to hide what was happening in her relationship. Heartbreakingly, she noted, "I felt like I deserved less than dirt. I was certain, there must be something inherently WRONG with ME."
Fortunately, Breslin is no longer in this relationship, and she shared in the same post, "I now am in a wonderful, healthy, happy and amazing relationship with my fiance." In early 2022, the actor shared news of her engagement to Ira Kunyansky on Instagram.
If you or someone you know is dealing with domestic abuse, you can call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1−800−799−7233. You can also find more information, resources, and support at their website.
Brian Laundrie killed Gabby Petito
Note: The contents of this slide and relating news links include disturbing and graphic details.
In 2021, news that influencer Gabby Petito had gone missing spread across the United States. Pretty soon, everyone knew Petito's name and that of her boyfriend, Brian Laundrie. Her disappearance came on the heels of footage released of Petito and Laundrie speaking to the Moab, Utah, police after being pulled over for speeding in their van. Petito was visibly upset, and revealed they had been fighting that morning.
Laundrie later returned alone to the couple's town in Florida, sparking suspicion that he was involved in Petito's disappearance. Weeks later, Petito's remains were found, strangulation her cause of death, as told by ABC 7. Less than a month after his girlfriend had gone missing, Laundrie died, too, his remains found shortly after.
The case of Petito's death remained open for months, and it wasn't until 2022 that authorities had definitive answers. As found in a disturbing letter that he wrote, Laundrie died by suicide. He also killed Petito and claimed she had been injured in a creek. Per CBS News, the Petito and Laundrie families settled a wrongful death lawsuit for $3 million; though less might be granted, any funds will be placed with the Gabby Petito Foundation.
If you or someone you know is dealing with domestic abuse, you can call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1−800−799−7233. You can also find more information, resources, and support at their website.
If you or anyone you know is having suicidal thoughts, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline by dialing 988 or by calling 1-800-273-TALK (8255).
Rebel Wilson is dating a woman and is a mom
In 2022, Australian actor Rebel Wilson posted a photo to Instagram of herself next to a woman, Ramona Agruma, with the caption, "I thought I was searching for a Disney Prince... but maybe what I really needed all this time was a Disney Princess," revealing she's in a same-sex relationship for the first time in her life.
Though Wilson's announcement was seemingly of her own volition, reporter Kate Doak tweeted, "So apparently it wasn't [Rebel Wilson's] choice to come out... The [Sydney Morning Herald] have admitted to giving her a heads up 2 days in advance that they were going to 'out' her." The article has since been removed from the outlet's website, and journalist Andrew Hornery wrote a separate article apologizing for his actions. "I genuinely regret that Rebel has found this hard. That was never my intention," he said. Hornery added, "My email was never intended to be a threat but to make it clear I was sufficiently confident with my information and to open a conversation." However, he accepted that his actions appeared threatening.
Wilson's year was full of announcements and more incredible news. Months after sharing her relationship, the actor told fans she's a new mother. "Beyond proud to announce the birth of my first child, Royce Lillian, born this past week via surrogate. I can't even describe the love I have for her, she's a beautiful miracle!" she said on Instagram.