Inside Rebel Wilson's Relationship
Rebel Wilson is one of Hollywood's most popular comedic actors. She's starred in huge movies like Pitch Perfect, Jojo Rabbit, The Hustle, and, well the ill-fated Cats. She's also known for her iconic roles in romantic comedies like Bridesmaids, Isn't It Romantic, and How To Be Single. But it eventually seemed like Wilson didn't need to know much about "how to be single" anymore, as her very own romance began to unfold before our eyes.
Amid her self-titled "Year of Health," Wilson made her well-being a priority as she turned 40 years old in 2020. And while this movie star lost over 60 pounds, she actually gained a lot more than she lost on this journey. The Australian star became more self-confident, she had more energy, and her relationship blossomed with businessman and entrepreneur Jacob Busch. These two seemed to be total #RelationshipGoals: After going public with their love on social media in September 2020, they began sharing tons of sweet, PDA-filled moments with their followers, and fans just couldn't get enough of seeing Wilson living her best life.
But sadly, by February 2021, this whirlwind Hollywood romance was suddenly over, and the actor was once again living the single life. So, what happened? Let's take a retrospective deep dive inside Rebel Wilson's latest relationship.
Rebel Wilson's ex is an heir to a very famous beer family
While Rebel Wilson's former beau wasn't necessarily another A-list celebrity, he is part of a very famous family. According to Page Six, Jacob Busch is an heir of the massive beer-brewing company Anheuser-Busch. Their beer brands include Bud Light, Stella Artois, Budweiser, Michelob Ultra, and Natural Light, just to name a few. Per the outlet, Busch's father, Peter W. Busch, is "a descendant of Adolphus Busch who co-founded the Missouri-based brewery in 1852."
Being a member of such a successful family means that Wilson's ex-boyfriend probably didn't have to work a day in his life, if he didn't want to. According to Celebrity Net Worth, he's worth an estimated $100 million, and Forbes lists his family's worth at $17.6 billion. But Busch is actually quite the successful businessman and entrepreneur in his own right. On his Instagram page, Busch has shared photos of his own beer brand, Barrels & Sons Brewery. In addition to following in his family's footsteps, Forbes reports that Busch teamed up with other famous beer heirs to launch the brand. Busch told the publication, "Like my Grandfather, August Busch Jr. always said, 'making friends is our business.'"
But Busch isn't only in the beer business — he's also the founder of his own dairy-free ice cream company, Napp's Ice Cream. According to the brand's website, Napp's products contain the "finest organic ingredients in their purest, healthiest form, free of the artificial binders, gums, preservatives or processed sweeteners found in other ice creams."
Who did Rebel Wilson and Jacob Busch date before each other?
Before Rebel Wilson and Jacob Busch's short-lived romance began, both of them dated other people in the entertainment industry. According to Us Weekly, between 2013 and 2015, Busch was romantically linked with The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star Adrienne Maloof. According to his IMDb page, Busch even appeared on three episodes of the hit Bravo show. Unfortunately, Maloof and Busch received criticism during their relationship for their nearly 30-year age difference, but in October 2013, Maloof made it clear that she didn't have a problem dating a much younger guy, telling E!, "When we met we just hit it off. It felt so natural, so organic." (For what it's worth, Busch is 11 years younger than Wilson. Age really is just a number!)
As for Wilson, she spent a lot of time as a single lady before her relationship with Busch, even telling Us Weekly that she "didn't really date anybody" throughout her 20s. However, according to Life & Style, Wilson did have some former flings. She dated comedian Mickey Gooch Jr. in 2015 and stuntman Aden Stay in 2017, and also spent time on dating apps (like many of us). In November 2020, Wilson spoke to E! about this experience and even gave some dating advice: "If you're meeting someone over an app, you can't tell how sweet and genuine they are as a person ... You've actually got to just give it a go and flesh it out in real life." Wise words.
Rebel Wilson's journey to find love hasn't always been easy
While Rebel Wilson and Jacob Busch were happily in love, the actor met a lot of frogs before finding her apparent prince charming. During a January 2021 episode of the Ant Middleton & Rebel Wilson: Straight Talking docuseries, she revealed that she even tried "an experiment where [she] dated anyone who asked [her] out" in 2019 — a.k.a. Wilson's "Year of Love" (via Hollywood Life). She explained to Middleton, "I just gave people a chance and then I learnt lots about myself."
While many people spent 2020 sitting on the couch (#PandemicLife), Wilson turned the year into yet another theme: her "Year of Health." During a December 2020 Instagram Live session, the actor revealed that she was still working toward her goal, but said that she'd already lost over 60 pounds. "I do have access to really amazing personal trainers, but I want you guys to know that the majority of the exercise that I've done this year has just been me going out for a walk," she said (via Us Weekly). "... That is free."
As for how then-boyfriend Busch played into Wilson's health-focused year? Well, that November, Wilson spoke to E! and said that Busch loved her for her, regardless of her size: "I actually dated Jacob when I was at my heaviest as well. So, it's not like I suddenly lost weight, and then you're like, oh, you get a hot boyfriend — that's not how it works."
Rebel Wilson's former relationship was impacted by COVID-19
While Rebel Wilson is a celebrity, she met her former boyfriend, Jacob Busch, the way many people do. In March 2019, R Online reported that Wilson and Busch connected through a "mutual" pal and had their first date at Los Angeles hotspot, Catch. Hollywood Life also noted that the two "have friends in common so right away there was a mutual trust there."
But it wasn't all smooth sailing, as a source told Us Weekly that just when Wilson and Busch started getting more serious, the pandemic lockdowns hit. With Wilson living in Australia at the time, and Busch staying in Los Angeles, they couldn't visit each other — so they weren't officially boyfriend and girlfriend for a while. Distance really did make the heart grow fonder though. According to a source cited by Hollywood Life, "In a weird way being so far apart helped them get closer because both their lives were slowed way down and they had all this time to really get to know each other."
By July 2020, Wilson was able to travel back to the United States, and the two started to spend more time together again — and appearing on each other's social media pages, to boot. By that November, Wilson was gushing over her then-beau to E!, saying, "He is such a sweetheart and I adore him."
Rebel Wilson made her red carpet debut with her 'Prince Charming'
September 2020 was a big month for Rebel Wilson and Jacob Busch's short-lived romance. Wilson shared her first Instagram post featuring Busch, where they were casually taking a helicopter with some of their famous friends, like Helen Mirren and Kate Beckinsale. (No big deal.) Later that day, Wilson revealed that they were off to the Monte-Carlo Gala for Planetary Health in Monaco. According to People, this event marked the former couple's very first red carpet together.
Both Wilson and Busch made their relationship Instagram official with posts from the gala shortly after the event. Around this same time, a source told People that the two were "officially boyfriend and girlfriend," adding that Busch is "a gentleman, has very old school manners and treats her well." The celeb pairing met Prince Albert II that night, and alongside a slideshow of photos from the evenings, Wilson wrote, "Meeting the Prince with a Prince Charming by my side — what a night to remember in Monaco."
But while Wilson and Busch weren't afraid of sharing their love on social media, when it came to personal details about their relationship, they definitely kept it more low key. During a December 2020 Instagram Live session, Wilson told fans that Busch is "a very private person" (via Hollywood Life), adding, "So [I] don't like to give away too much in that department." Hey, that was fair enough!
Rebel Wilson and Jacob Busch supported each other's healthy lifestyles
While Jacob Busch met Rebel Wilson before she started her health and fitness journey, he quickly became her biggest supporter. Wilson said in her December 2020 Instagram Live session that she was still working toward her fitness goals — but she was also in great company with her then-boyfriend, who seemingly took his physique seriously. A source cited by Life & Style that October explained, "Jacob and Rebel are both into fitness and getting into shape." Indeed, after going public with their relationship, Wilson shared snapshots of the two in the gym and on hikes together, and revealed in another post, "We do a lot of exercise together."
But these two didn't just have a passion for wellness in common, as a source told People that Wilson and Busch "have amazing chemistry and seem to enjoy the same things." And one of those things seemed to be their love of dogs! Wilson and Busch had both posted about how much they love pups on social media (especially Busch's adorable French Bulldog, Napoleon). Another insider cited by People said, "You can tell that they are having fun and love spending time together," while another source explained to Hollywood Life that their group of friends "see how happy he makes Rebel and wish nothing but the best for them."
Seriously, based on all of the fun outings Wilson and Busch shared with fans on social media, it certainly seemed like these two really were a perfect match.
They even rocked some couples costumes during their relationship
Couples who dress up for Halloween together stay together ... right? We sure hoped so, at least in Rebel Wilson and Jacob Busch's case. The two dressed up on a few different occasions to celebrate their first (and only) Halloween as a couple in the public eye. Wilson first shared a video of her costume as a "RONA (Warrior Princess)" who apparently "destroys the coronavirus wherever she goes." Sounds like a perfect Halloween costume for 2020! Fans loved this costume so much that some even drew fan art and shared it on social media. Meanwhile, a shirtless Busch hopped in some of the "RONA" photos on Wilson's IG Stories (via People) — but later that day, the moment came when they shared their first couples costume.
For their matching look, Wilson and Busch rocked this impressive skeleton makeup, giving us major dead bride and groom vibes. Wilson revealed in one of her posts that they attended fellow Australian actor, Margot Robbie's, Halloween gathering. Meanwhile, both shared photos together from the party, including some spooky snaps in a makeshift morgue. We don't know about you, but these morgue photos, plus the bride and groom vibes, had us thinking it really could've been "till death do us part" for these two.
Why did Rebel Wilson's whirlwind relationship come to an end?
In early February 2021 — just four months after Rebel Wilson and Jacob Busch announced their relationship on Instagram — the Pitch Perfect star took to the social media platform once again ... this time to break all of our hearts. "Lots on my mind...aghhhhhh," Wilson captioned a casual snapshot of herself on the steps of her trailer, adding the hashtag, "#single-girl-heading-to-Super-Bowl!"
While some fans speculated that Wilson may have been busy at work on the potential fourth installment of her a cappella movie franchise, others were quick to notice her new relationship status. "HOLD UP... SINGLE?!" one fan (who was honestly all of us) wrote in the comments section. Meanwhile, Wilson found support from Pitch Perfect co-star Alexis Knapp (a.k.a. Stacie Conrad), who commented, "Single as a Pringle and ready to fuggin mingle? Lets goooo ... this hottie must not rest ... also — u are skinny dude!!!!"
Unsurprisingly, the ever-private Busch hasn't publicly commented on the breakup, and Wilson hasn't shared any more details either. But according to a source cited by People shortly after the headline-making split announcement, "Jacob was an amazing guy but just not the one for her long-term." Similarly, another insider told Page Six that their romance had "just run its course." As of this writing, there's no word yet on whether 2021 will be dubbed Wilson's "Year of Love 2.0," but at least she'll have Super Bowl LV to take her mind off of things.