The Real Reason These Celebrity Friendships Ended
When celebrities hit it off, they sometimes join forces to embark on a friendship that looks picture perfect by all outward appearances. Some of the greatest celebrity BFFs have even managed to keep their friendships intact for decades, including the likes of Ben Affleck and Matt Damon, as well as Oprah Winfrey and Gayle King. However, other famous faces have seen their once idyllic bonds implode right before their eyes.
Many times, their fans and the media alike might notice that the once-pals are spending less and less time together, before they stop mentioning each other in interviews or sitting next to each other at awards shows. When they hit that unfollow button Instagram, it's the final nail in the coffin. From Katy Perry reportedly allowing Rihanna's romantic relationship with an ex tear them apart to Jennifer Aniston allegedly snubbing Chelsea Handler for being a real-life Gossip Girl, here are all the real reasons these celebrity friendships ended.
Did Chelsea Handler share the deets on Jennifer Aniston?
Chelsea Handler and Jennifer Aniston seemed like an unlikely BFF match at first. Handler — with her penchant for telling raunchy jokes — was the polar opposite of the sweet and lovable rom-com actress. Despite their differences, they forged a friendship that we thought was built to last. According to People, they spent Thanksgiving 2010 together. Meanwhile, Extra reports that the comedian even snagged an invite to Aniston and Justin Theroux's 2015 wedding ceremony and honeymoon.
Sadly, the happy times reportedly didn't last too long. According to a source cited by Radar Online in 2017, "Jennifer found out that Chelsea was spilling secrets about her marriage, and talking behind her back." Welp, that's one way to tick off your bestie! In a follow-up piece, another insider told the gossip rag that the duo's longtime shared publicist, Stephen Huvane, allegedly "dumped Chelsea after she had a huge blowup with Jennifer — one of his very top-priority clients. He's no longer representing Chelsea." Handler even hinted she was experiencing issues with the former Friends star during an interview with Howard Stern, telling the shock jock, "I'm a great friend, but if you piss me off, you're out" (via Radar Online).
In a surprising twist, Handler was invited to Aniston's 50th birthday in 2019. At the time, a source told OK! magazine that "they've both moved past it and are friends again." Woohoo!
Bella Hadid and Selena Gomez unfollowed each other
What could have possibly gone wrong between Bella Hadid and Selena Gomez? We have two words for you: The Weeknd. Here's how it all went down...
Hadid had dated The Weeknd for a year and a half before People announced their split in November 2016 due to conflicting schedules. The crooner wasn't single for long though, as Gomez was spotted giving him a huge smooch while they were out on a "romantic dinner date" the following January. Once the news broke of this new celebrity romance, Hadid appeared to swiftly unfollow Gomez on Instagram, but continued to follow her ex, according to Elle. Following their 10-month whirlwind romance, Gomez and the "Starboy" singer had called it quits.
The former Disney starlet moved on by unfollowing The Weeknd on Instagram and hooking back up with ex-boyfriend Justin Bieber. The Weekend, on the other hand, ran back into the arms of Hadid as the two began "exclusively dating" in July 2018 (via E! News). Elle UK reports that Hadid has since liked an Instagram photo of Gomez posted by IMG Models, signaling this beef might finally be simmering down.
Kim Kardashian didn't want to mix business with friendship
Wherever Kim Kardashian went, longtime assistant Stephanie Shepherd wasn't too far behind. Sadly, the lines between their business and personal relationship eventually began to blur and, according to People, the reality TV star fired Shepherd in November 2017. An insider cited by the magazine claimed that while Shepherd had been promoted to COO of Kardashian West Brands, she reportedly failed at transitioning into a "larger role with Kim's brand and businesses." To make matters even worse, the source added, "[Shepherd is] still friendly with the other sisters but she and Kim aren't really speaking."
Days later, People dished the dirt on why Shepherd had been axed. It all reportedly had to do with the former assistant getting a little too close to the rest of the Kar-Jenner clan — and closer to big sis Kourtney Kardashian, in particular. "Kim needed an assistant where the relationship is more professional," an insider alleged. "The bottom line is that Steph was hired as an assistant, and Kim wanted to keep it like that. They are not friends now." As of this writing, Shepherd and Kourtney Kardashian are still quite chummy. At least one friendship has remained intact.
Alyssa Milano made Rose McGowan 'want to vomit'
When allegations of sexual abuse ran rampant throughout the entertainment industry in late 2017, Alyssa Milano popularized the #MeToo movement on social media. Her Charmed co-star and friend, Rose McGowan, had been one of media mogul Harvey Weinstein's alleged victims, according to ABC News, and joined in on the crusade. However, their solidarity and friendship was put through the wringer when Milano told Megyn Kelly Today that Weinstein's then-wife, Georgina Chapman, was an "amazing woman." McGowan felt betrayed, and thus, she went on a social media rampage.
"You make me want to vomit," McGowan tweeted at the time. "You actually gave me a body flashback. Well done, fake one — People." She didn't stop there, and added in a second tweet that her former friend and Chapman should "call up" Bill Cosby's wife, Camille Cosby. While appearing on an episode of Nightline in 2018, McGowan said of Milano, "I don't like her ... cause I think she's a lie."
With their friendship ruined, there appeared to be no hard feelings on Milano's end, as she told Us Weekly, "I see that as a beautiful soul that was hurting so badly that she was talking from that hurt. And I understand."
Jordyn Woods and Kylie Jenner were shrouded in scandal
When you think of celebrity friendship goals, it's hard not to envision Kylie Jenner and Jordyn Woods. Their friendship began in 2012, according to Cosmopolitan. Jenner later shared on her YouTube channel that mutual friend Jaden Smith had introduced them, and soon enough, they were traveling the world together. The Keeping Up With the Kardashians star later launched a Kylie Cosmetics makeup collection in honor of her bestie, and Woods even moved into Jenner's pad, according to a beauty video the reality star filmed for Vogue.
Woods was so tight with the Kar-Jenner clan, she even modeled denim for Khloé Kardashian's Good American brand, TMZ reports. However, her friendship — and business deals with the famous family — came to a screeching halt in February 2019, when she was accused of hooking up with Kardashian's baby daddy, Tristan Thompson, at a house party (via TMZ). Though Woods tried to clear her name in an episode of Jada Pinkett Smith's Red Table Talk, Jenner showed that her allegiance was with her family. Woods slowly moved out of Jenner's pad and got her own place in March 2019 (which looks beautiful, might we add).
Months later, Us Weekly reported Jenner and Woods' relationship was "on the road to recovery," but we're pretty sure this former dynamic duo will never be the same again.
Kathy Griffin needed more support from Anderson Cooper
In May 2017, Kathy Griffin allowed photographer Tyler Shields to capture an image of her holding a bloodied replica of President Donald Trump's head (via TMZ). After receiving intense backlash, she issued a public apology in a since-deleted tweet, according to Entertainment Weekly. "I'm a comic," she said in part. "I crossed the line. I moved the line, then I crossed it. I went way too far."
Despite realizing her mistake, the photo cost Griffin tremendously in both her professional and personal life. She was fired by CNN as Anderson Cooper's co-host on their yearly New Year's Eve broadcast — a gig she'd held for nine years. The comedian also lost endorsements and many of her upcoming comedy shows were canceled, Fox Business reports.
Griffin later told The Cut she felt hurt when Cooper, her friend of 17 years, opted to release a statement on the matter via Twitter instead of reaching out and offering her support. "For the record, I am appalled by the photo shoot Kathy Griffin took part in," he wrote at the time. "It is clearly disgusting and completely inappropriate." Cooper announced in a July 2017 episode of Watch What Happens Live that he and Griffin were still friends. However, The Cut reports that when he finally did text her, "She told him their friendship was over."
The Rock battled Tyrese Gibson over a spin-off
Tyrese Gibson and Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson have respectively been making magic happen as the characters Roman Pearce and Luke Hobbs in The Fast and the Furious franchise. But all was not well between them after Johnson's character was slated to appear in the 2019 spin-off film, Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw.
When Johnson posted a photo of himself looking over paperwork on Instagram, Gibson wrote in part in a since-deleted comment, "If you move forward with that #Hobbs Movie you will have purposely ignored the heart to heart moment we had in my sprinter" (via E! News). He went on to write that while he supported the spin-off movie, its release would push back the debut of Fast & Furious 9, adding, "We can't let our loyal fans #FastFamily or our loyal fast and furious FANS down on any level from pushing the date."
Fast & Furious 9 was indeed delayed until April 2020, leading Gibson to sarcastically thank his co-star on social media. E! News reports that Johnson clapped back in a since-deleted video, where he referred to Gibson's 2015 album Black Rose by saying "it should be called big piece of black dog s**t." Ouch. While appearing on Watch What Happens Live in 2018, Johnson was asked whether he and Gibson had patched things up. He simply answered "no" and said there was "no need" for them to even have a conversation.
Lauren Conrad and Heidi Montag's bond was never the same
A few of our favorite moments on MTV's The Hills included the two stars of the show: Lauren Conrad and her then-bestie, Heidi Montag. However, when Montag began dating Spencer Pratt, Conrad didn't approve and infamously referred to him as the ultimate "sucky person." As a result, their friendship suffered.
With their relationship in shambles, Montag moved out of the apartment she shared with Conrad, according to PopSugar. Meanwhile, E! News reports that Perez Hilton posted a rumor in 2007 about Conrad allegedly making a sex tape with her then-boyfriend, Jason Wahler. According to a source cited by Us Weekly, Conrad believed Pratt was behind the vicious (and false) allegation (via Gawker). When asked about her friendships with her former cast members in 2012, Conrad told Us Weekly, "I don't talk to Heidi [Montag]." The possibility for a reconciliation was shattered three years later when Pratt admitted to Complex that he was indeed the person who had started the sex tape rumor, saying, "She tried to destroy us. If you want to throw missiles, I'm throwing a nuke. This is how I operate."
Wow. Is anyone really surprised that this friendship crashed and burned like it did?
Katy Perry and Taylor Swift feuded for years
Katy Perry and Taylor Swift first became friends in 2008, according to People. But when Perry began an on-again, off-again relationship with Swift's ex-boyfriend John Mayer in 2012, one of the greatest feuds in pop music history erupted.
It all came to a head in 2014 when Swift revealed to Rolling Stone that her track "Bad Blood" was about an anonymous female musician. "For years, I was never sure if we were friends or not," she said. Claiming that the woman did "something so horrible" that crossed the line, she added, "I was like, 'Oh, we're just straight-up enemies.'" While Swift insisted the feud wasn't about a guy, many believed she was referring to Perry ... and Perry felt the same. She took to Twitter with, "Watch out for the Regina George in sheep's clothing," and teamed up with Nicki Minaj for "Swish Swish" in 2017 (which many believed was a diss track aimed at Swift).
Luckily, the two finally kissed and made up in June 2019. In addition to hugging it out in Swift's "You Need To Calm Down" music video, Perry posted an Instagram photo of a plate of chocolate chip cookies with icing spelling out the words "Peace at Last" on the plate. In the caption, she wrote "feels good" and tagged Swift's account with an orange heart emoji.
All is well in the celeb-o-sphere ... for now!
Gwyneth Paltrow and Winona Ryder fell out over a role
Way back in the '90s, Gwyneth Paltrow and Winona Ryder were the BFF du jour of the entertainment industry. The besties were even dating best friends Ben Affleck and Matt Damon, respectively. But everything between Paltrow and Ryder reportedly went haywire after Paltrow found the script for Shakespeare in Love — a film she asked to audition for — lying around Ryder's house, according to The Telegraph. While their friendship came to a quick end, Paltrow went on to star in the movie and win the Oscar for best actress.
Years later, it was presumed that Paltrow had addressed her former pal in a post on her Goop website. "Back in the day, I had a 'frenemy' who, as it turned out, was pretty hellbent on taking me down," she wrote (via The Telegraph). After explaining that she'd attempted to restrain herself "from fighting back" and tried hard to take the high road, Paltrow added, "But one day I heard that something unfortunate and humiliating had happened to this person. And my reaction was deep relief and happiness." Wowzers!
Katy Perry didn't approve of Rihanna's reheated romance
At various awards shows, Katy Perry and Rihanna would sit next to each other and giggle over inside jokes to which the rest of us would never be privy. But then there suddenly appeared to be some distance between them, and the duo's friendship was called into question by many of their fans ... and it apparently all had to do with Chris Brown.
Rihanna and Brown famously broke up after he was arrested and convicted of physically assaulting her in 2009. Despite their tumultuous past, the "Work" singer gave Brown a second chance in late 2012. While spilling the beans on what really went down between the songstresses around this time, an insider cited by Us Weekly claimed, "They aren't tight anymore because Perry doesn't approve of Rihanna dating Chris Brown." Although Brown and Rihanna split up again in the summer of 2013, there still appeared to be tension between the former buddies once the 2018 Met Gala rolled around. After posing together for a super awkward photo on the red carpet, Perry was reportedly snubbed from Rihanna's "star-studded afterparty," according to The Sun.
Unlike her friendship with Taylor Swift, as of this writing, it looks like Perry has been unable to smooth things over with Rihanna. But it's never too late for these ex-besties to hash it out and get their relationship back on track!