The Most Devastating Celebrity Breakups Of 2019
2019 was a roller coaster in love for everyone. While some people simply blamed their turmoils on Mercury retrograde, others jumped ship and swapped relationships at an alarming rate. Whatever the case, this year proved to be the equivalent to a Spanish telenovela — especially in the world of celeb romance, where our fave couples seemingly dropped to the ground like flies.
With so many changes in the world of A-list courtship, us regular folk out here were busy living for the goss, giving our two cents for every breakup, make-up, and newfound budding romance that cropped up out of nowhere.
While it would be difficult to list all the shattered hearts of 2019, we're giving you the worst of the worst — you know, the ones that really made us cry. While some of these celeb splits were splashed all over the tabs, others may have flown under the radar, with the solemnness of the situation sometimes hitting just are hard. Without further ado, here are the most devastating celebrity breakups of 2019.
Nothing breaks like a heart ... unless it's Miley's
Nobody expected a breakup from Miley Cyrus and Liam Hemsworth in August 2019. The couple went back a full decade, having met on the set of the Nicholas Sparks-adapted tearjerker, The Last Song, in 2009. The two were on-again, off-again for years until they finally got engaged in 2012 – only to call off the engagement the following year. Giving us all a break from the guessing game for a few years, the pair was seen together yet again in early 2016.
In December 2018, the former co-stars filled all our inner-teenage hearts with glee when they announced their marriage. Even Sparks, who penned the novel their flick was based on, tweeted his happiness for the newlyweds. Marital bliss didn't last long, however, as the couple announced their split eight months later.
Although Cyrus' camp announced the news first, Hemsworth remained silent, until a few days later when he posted a simple sentiment to his Instagram account. It turned out the split wasn't exactly mutual, as he reportedly found out about his divorce in the cruelest way possible — through social media. To make matters worse, hours after Cyrus announced the split, photos of her kissing now-ex girlfriend Kaitlynn Carter began surfacing. Naturally, Hemsworth filed for divorce. As a source told Us Weekly, the Hunger Games star was hoping for a reconciliation until the photos surfaced, which were a total nail in the coffin.
A celebrity breakup scandal is born
Bradley Cooper and Irina Shayk's relationship came to a close in 2019 — only months after the actor-director's flick, A Star Is Born, was released. First, let's rewind. Cooper and his model missus were first linked together in August 2015, when they were snapped frolicking in Capri. By 2017, the couple welcomed their daughter, Lea, into the world. For the most part, the duo remained pretty private about their personal life. Shayk even explained the reason behind it in a February 2019 interview with Glamour: "Because my work requires me to be out there, I just decided my personal life will be quiet. That's why it's called personal, because it's something for you and your family." Hmm, okay.
However, even during Shayk's interview, rumors were flying about Cooper's alleged romance with his ASIB co-star, Lady Gaga. The height of speculation happened during the co-stars' Oscars performance of their hit song, "Shallow." The goss was so intense, in fact, it actually caused Gaga to address the rumors and deny them on Jimmy Kimmel Live!
Nevertheless, be it because of Gaga or not, Shayk and Cooper announced their breakup in June 2019. As a source told People, "The rumors about Bradley and Gaga having a love affair didn't help ... whether it becomes a real love story in their lives for all the world to see is premature, and it's difficult to speculate at this sensitive time."
Nosferatu and Wolf Man just weren't meant to be
Perhaps the most devastating part of Christina Hendricks and Geoffrey Arend's breakup is the fact that there weren't any rumors — simply put, they drifted apart. The once-happy couple met through Hendricks' Mad Men co-star, Vincent Kartheise, in 2007, according to The Guardian. As the redhead beauty told Cosmopolitan (via the Daily Mail), "Geoffrey walked in and I was like, 'Who is this guy?' ... He just came in with this very high energy." Gushing, she went on, "He was just charming, funny and very magnetic."
To make the final outcome even more heartbreaking, the former pair walked the red carpet together countless times and couldn't help but praise one another constantly. As Arend told People shortly after their 2009 wedding, "Having the ring on my finger it makes me realize this is the person I've chosen for the rest of my life. So everything that was a small little problem that could have turned into a fight, just sort of disappeared. We're both very happy." No, you're crying.
In October 2019, Hendricks posted an adorable throwback photo of the couple on Instagram, writing, "My proudest costume moment to date ... Ladies and Gentlemen, Nosferatu and wolf man." But fans didn't have time to coo for long, as less than a full 24 hours later, the couple mutually announced that they were splitting up — after ten years of marriage.
Solange ditched her man for a 'spiritual transition'
Longtime loves Solange Knowles and Alan Ferguson called it quits in 2019, after almost five years of marriage.
Their marriage itself in 2014 was something for the Instagram history books, with perfect decor and the singer's whole family in tow. In an email to Vogue, Knowles gushed, "Everyone I worked with on the wedding are friends who I love. Everything was a labor of love." The Cut reported that the wedding guests were all required to wear white, while Knowles looked breathtaking in her dress and a cape. Trust us when we tell you, you'll need to update your Pinterest wedding board.
While their wedding was truly idyllic, Knowles sadly announced their split in November 2019 — although they'd allegedly been separated for months. Posting a long but heartfelt note on her Instagram, the "Almeda" crooner explained, "The past 2 years have brought me more physical and spiritual transition and evolution than ever before my body left me with no choice but to listen ... 11 years ago I met a phenomenal man who changed every existence of my life. early this year we separated and parted ways." While it's not clear what she was talking about exactly, perhaps Knowles was alluding to the health issues she's suffered in more recent years. If that's the reason to break up with her love, it truly is devastating news.
An 'incompatibility of temperament' led to this celebrity breakup
When Todd Palin filed for divorce from his wife, Sarah Palin, in September 2019, the world was shook. After all, the couple had been together for a whopping 31 years, having initially been high school sweethearts. As revealed by People, Todd decided to say goodbye to the former Alaska Governor on his birthday, citing an "incompatibility of temperament ... they find it impossible to live together as husband and wife." Yikes.
Naturally, those closest to them were stunned. "They seemed wonderful together," family friend Dean Cain said to People. "What happens behind closed doors ... is something no one can ever predict or understand." It looks like out of everyone, Sarah may have been shocked the most — as she found out about her divorce through an email. As she told Christian broadcaster James Dobson on Family Talk (via the New York Post), "I'll never forget it ... It was devastating. I thought I got shot."
While some were under the impression that things were fine between the once-happy couple, others claimed there indeed were problems. "There have been from day one," Levi Johnston, the father of their grandson and ex-fiance of daughter Bristol, claimed to Radar Online back in 2009. Nevertheless, Sarah had hope, telling Dobson that her relationship with Todd wasn't "over, over." At the time of this writing, only time will tell.
Keeping up with the most publicized breakup of 2019
You can always count on the Kardashians to deliver the hottest goss of the year — usually giving them enough fodder for a new season of Keeping Up with the Kardashians, too. When news broke that Khloé Kardashian's longtime boyfriend, NBA star Tristan Thompson, was caught allegedly cheating on her with none other than Kylie Jenner's then-BFF, Jordyn Woods, in February 2019, everyone had something to say.
TMZ broke the news that Kardashian dumped Thompson, with a source telling the gossip rag that "she has had enough." Truth be told, anyone would throw in the towel considering this wasn't the first time the basketball star got caught with wandering hands. Thompson denied the reports in a since-deleted tweet (via E! News), while Woods went on Jada Pinkett Smith's Red Table Talk series to share her side of the story. Kardashian certainly wasn't convinced, taking to her own Twitter to put Woods on full blast: "Why are you lying @jordynwoods ... BTW, You ARE the reason my family broke up!" Talk about brutal.
With Woods becoming Kardashian Enemy No. 1, it all made for great TV. By September, the dust had settled, and the former couple decided to keep things cordial for the sake of their daughter, True. Incredibly enough, by October, a source told People the reality TV starlet had been "toying" with the idea of getting back together with Thompson. Color us surprised.
An American celebrity breakup story
Even we at Nicki Swift have had trouble keeping track of Emma Roberts and Evan Peters' relationship throughout the years, mainly because it's had more twists and turns than one season of American Horror Story — a show which sees the duo sharing the screen. The pair began dating in 2012, with things seemingly going well until July 2013 — when the blonde starlet was arrested for alleged domestic abuse. In what turned out to be its own relationship horror story, TMZ reported that Peters had a bloody nose and bite marks — enough reason to haul Roberts away. Surprisingly enough, the actor didn't press charges, and by July, he had instead proposed to her. Lo and behold, a year later, they called off the engagement, but started dating yet again by August 2016. It's all a headache, we know.
The following year, in September 2017, news broke that another celeb couple, Rachel Bilson and Hayden Christensen, had called it quits. Things got super messy when a source dished to Us Weekly that The O.C. actress reportedly found "inappropriate texts" between her beau and Roberts, causing her to end things immediately. You'd think this would be the last straw for Peters, yet, as an insider revealed to Us Weekly, he and Roberts were "very much together."
The whole ordeal came to a close after another engagement in March 2019, which saw Roberts dumping Peters one last time, and moving on to her next man, Garrett Hedlund.
This comedian is begging that someone says, 'Thank u, I'm staying'
Once Ariana Grande said "Thank U, Next" to Pete Davidson, the general public wasn't necessarily kind — with the pop starlet's fans resorting to online bullying. It got so bad, in fact, that even Grande herself had to go on her Instagram story to defend her ex-beau. "I care deeply about Pete and his health," she wrote (via Entertainment Tonight). "I'm asking you to please be gentler with others."
All was suddenly well at the start of the New Year in 2019, however, with the tabs spotting the comedian flirting with Kate Beckinsale at the Golden Globes. Only a few days later, the Underworld actress was seen in attendance at Davidson's stand-up show, where he very tellingly confirmed the two as a couple.
After a month of the duo dating, even Grande gave her seal of approval, telling TMZ she thought the couple was "so cute" together. As a source told Heat magazine, "Pete is absolutely besotted ... He's been showering her with gifts and burning up her phone." Aww! Beckinsale even took Davidson out to meet the parents that March, clearly solidifying that the pair was moving fast — as Davidson is known to do. Unfortunately for the comedian, by April, his fling was over. The most devastating part of it all? It seems Davidson fell hard and fast, just like he did with Grande.
This celebrity breakup proved too much privacy might not be a good thing
It's probably due to her highly-publicized relationship with Tom Cruise that Katie Holmes decided to keep things so under-the-radar with Jamie Foxx for such a long time. According to Marie Claire, the duo was rumored to be dating since 2013, although they went kind of extreme to keep things private — even resorting to disguises in public. Uh, okay.
Finally, in 2019, the Dawson's Creek alum pulled the plug on her relationship. Perhaps it had something to do with the couple being too private? As a source told Us Weekly, "They keep it private ... Jamie rarely has her over his house and they mostly hang out separately from their kids." Kind of bizarre, considering they were reportedly together for six whole years.
Foxx appeared to add insult to injury when he moved on pretty quickly. According to the Daily Mail, the actor was spotted dating Sela Vave — a singer who's only a few years older than his daughter. It looked like Holmes didn't want to know anything about it, as, according to Page Six, she was reportedly overheard telling a friend at a restaurant, "What Jamie does is his business — we haven't been together for months." Kind of cold, but then again, nothing about this relationship really ever seemed warm, right?
Kylie Jenner blamed the internet for overdramatizing things
Yet another KarJenner-involved breakup makes our list, except this one nobody wanted to happen — considering the two are absolutely adorable parents together. Ever since Kylie Jenner surprised the world by giving birth to her daughter, Stormi, with now-ex beau Travis Scott in 2018, they were a total "It" couple. Don't believe us? When the makeup mogul finally posted a pic of Stormi to Instagram, it became the most-liked photo at the time of its release.
After having nearly their every move followed since the birth of their little girl, the couple suddenly called it quits in October 2019. According to a source cited by TMZ, the pair simply "fell out of love."
As with most things related to the Kardashian-Jenner clan, drama immediately followed the breakup, with fans noticing that the reality TV starlet was spending time with her ex, Tyga. Jenner quickly shut down those rumors, however, taking to Twitter to share her side of the story: "The internet makes everything 100 times more dramatic than what it really is. There was no '2am date with Tyga.'" She added, "Travis and i are on great terms and our main focus right now is Stormi‼️ our friendship and our daughter is priority." It looks like the former lovebirds have stayed true to their word, as Thanksgiving 2019 saw the rapper celebrating it with the KarJenners and his little girl.
We all secretly feel guilty for waiting for this post-breakup album
Adele was never one for splashy relationships. Unless she's wearing her heart on her sleeve while crooning post-breakup, the songstress has maintained a low profile when it comes to her love life. Case in point? Nobody really knows when she started dating her now ex-hubby, Simon Konecki. According to Today, the "Rumor Has It" singer casually revealed to her audience at a concert in Brisbane in 2017 that she was a married woman!
Raising their son, Angelo, the couple flew under the radar for years, with Adele maintaining that her family came first. "If my relationship with Simon or my relationship with Angelo started to flounder a bit now, I would pull out of my tour," she told Vanity Fair in 2016. "My life is more important to me than anything I'm doing." However, as the Mirror pointed out, the British starlet mentioned a very different creative process in 2011: "When I'm happy, I ain't writing songs ... If I ever get married, it'll be, 'Darling, I need a divorce ... I've got a record to write.'"
Sure enough, the couple announced they'd filed for divorce in April 2019. With fans already predicting her breakup album, a source confirmed to the Mirror what we all expected: Adele's been writing new music. We'll sit pretty and await her next tear-jerking hit.
Wendy Williams stood by her hubby until she simply couldn't anymore
Much like her own talk show, Wendy Williams' marriage to her hubby of over 20 years, Kevin Hunter, was as unfiltered as they come. Although her decision to dissolve the marriage in April 2019 came as devastating news — were any of us really surprised? 2017 saw the couple's marital issues take center stage when it was revealed that Hunter was allegedly having an affair. Miraculously enough, Williams maintained a brave face, even telling her audience on The Wendy Williams Show that she "[stands] by [her] guy."
In March 2019, Hunter's alleged mistress suddenly gave birth. It looked like the news was the final nail in the coffin. Williams eventually revealed on Andy Cohen's SiriusXM show, Radio Andy, why she stayed. "I knew a lot of things for years," she explained, adding that she kept up the facade for her son. "I'm not going to grab his hand and flee the scene and move zip codes. You know, now he has to move high schools ... So now he's away in college, and the person I am now is very single because he's not living with me."
Of course, the divorce process was definitely messy. According to documents obtained by Page Six, the starlet had to "pay Hunter $250,000 so that he can 'secure new living arrangements.'" Talk about rough.