LOVE IS DEAD

In Memoriam of 2018’s Most Devastating Celebrity Breakups, So Far


2018 MTV Video Music Awards - Arrivals
Nicholas Hunt/Getty Images

If there’s one thing to be certain of, it’s that celebrity romance giveth and taketh. While 2018 brought us new couples like Amy Schumer and the chef Chris Fischer; Dakota Johnson and Chris Martin; and Laura Dern and Baron Davis early on; it’s also seen the end of some of Hollywood’s most beloved pairings. In February, Jennifer Aniston and Justin Theroux announced they would be splitting after two and a half years of marriage—only for The Crown’s (now-exited) queen Claire Foy to share news of her own split just a few days later. Indeed, this year, which started off with the erstwhile Brooklyn-dwellers Lena Dunham and Jack Antonoff officially calling it quits, has already been eventful enough to include the entire lifespan of an unforgettable celebrity couple: Ariana Grande and Pete Davidson, who now have more than a few tattoos to serve as reminders of their relationships. Here, a look back at the most devastating celebrity breakups of the year, so far.

1
Natalie Dormer and Anthony Byrne

After eleven years together as a couple, Natalie Dormer and Anthony Byrne called off their engagement recently due to disputes from working together on their film, In Darkness.

2
Robert DeNiro and Grace Hightower

Robert DeNiro and his wife Grace Hightower recently announced their split after 20 years of marriage.

3
Paris Hilton and Chris Zylka

Paris Hilton and the actor-artist Chris Zylka reportedly called off their engagement in November, bringing their two-year relationship to an end. After meeting at Art Basel Miami and keeping in touch via text, the pair went on their first date—the actual first time around, since, as Zylka told W earlier this year, “I got so nervous that I cancelled and said I was sick.” According to him, at least as of this past March, they hadn’t spent more than four hours apart from each other since that first date, making it only natural that Zylka proposed to Hilton with a $2 million ring earlier this year. Having called things off, things are reportedly back to usual for the pair: “Paris will be focusing on her brand, like deejaying and fragrances, while Chris will get back into acting and art, like his gallery pop-ups with Banksy during Art Basel.”

4
Antoni Porowski and Joey Krietemeyer

Antoni Porowski had been dating Joey Krietemeyer for about seven years before he became an overnight celebrity thanks to Netflix’s Queer Eye, and the show’s designated food expert even said that the pair were “basically married.” Though, in recent months Krietemeyer didn’t appear with Poroski in public nor on his popular social media channels. Us Weekly now reports that the two broke up two months ago, but that they remain friends.

5
Cassie and Diddy

The relationship between Diddy and “Me & U” singer Cassie has always been steeped in a mystery. They first started dating back in 2006, but had broken up and gotten back together before. As of now, the pair have once again split.

6
Pete Davidson and Ariana Grande

Pete Davidson and Ariana Grande’s whirlwind relationship and engagement didn’t just set a new precedent for news-cycle domination; it also arguably broke records in terms of plain old productivity. In just five months, the pair got seemingly countless tattoos together; went through bottle after bottle of bleach and hair dye; made the trek to Staten Island; moved into a $16 million apartment; adopted a pet pig; made merch for each other; and prompted a new strategy at SNL. (On a much more serious note, they also dealt with some very real tragedy: the untimely death of Grande’s previous partner Mac Miller.) Davidson and Grande may have now called it quits romantically, but their bond apparently remains; according to TMZ, which broke the news, “the two still have love for each other.”

7
Brandon and Leah Jenner

Brandon and Leah Jenner announced via Instagram that they would be separating as of September 2018, after six years of marriage and 14 years together in total.

8
Noah Cyrus and Lil Xan

Shortly after Noah Cyrus and the rapper Lil Xan made their red-carpet couple debut, at the 2018 MTV VMAs, cheating rumors reportedly put an end to the relationship in September 2018.

9
Camila Mendes and Victor Houston

The short summer fling between Camila Mendes and her boyfriend Victor Houston reportedly ended with some deleted Instagrams in August 2018, about a month and a half after the two were spotted celebrating the Riverdale star’s birthday in Montauk.

10
Ben Affleck and Lindsay Shookus

The endless iced coffee dates could not keep Ben Affleck and Lindsay Shookus together after their yearlong relationship reportedly fizzled out in August 2018.

11
Rhea Butcher and Cameron Esposito

Comedians Rhea Butcher and Cameron Esposito announced via Twitter that they were “separating to live individual lives for a time” in August 2018, after nearly three years of marriage.

12
Josh Duhamel and Eiza González

Josh Duhamel and Eiza González reportedly split after just five months of dating, in July 2018.

13
G-Eazy and Halsey

G-Eazy and Halsey split in July 2018, just a year after the couple officially began dating.

14
Cheryl and Liam Payne

The day after the singer Cheryl celebrated her 35th birthday, and a little over a year after she gave birth to a son named Bear with her partner of two years, Liam Payne, she and the former One Directioner posted identical tweets saying that they were “sad to announce that [they] are going [their] separate ways.”

15
Sam Smith and Brandon Flynn

Sam Smith and the 13 Reasons Why star Brandon Flynn reportedly ended their relationship in June 2018, after nine months of dating.

16
Christian Siriano and Brad Walsh

Christian Siriano and Brad Walsh were together for 11 years and married for nearly two of those, before Walsh announced via Instagram Stories that the couple is officially over as of June 2018.

17
Emma Watson and Chord Overstreet

After just a few short months of dating, Emma Watson and Chord Overstreet reportedly called it quits in May 2018.

18
Usher and Grace Miguel

“After much thought and consideration we have mutually decided to separate as a couple,” Usher and his wife Grace Miguel shared in a statement announcing their divorce.

19
Ruth Negga and Dominic Cooper

The Preacher costars quietly dated for eight years before splitting in April—just in time for people to realize they were even a couple.

20
Danny Amendola and Olivia Culpo

After famously dating Nick Jonas, Olivia Culpo moved on to the New England Patriots player Danny Amendola, but the pair called it off post–Super Bowl.

21
Anderson Cooper and Benjamin Maisani

Anderson Cooper and Benjamin Maisani were together for nine years before breaking up in March.

22
Channing Tatum and Jenna Dewan

The pair met on the set of Step Up and have one daughter together, but called it quits in early April. Their love lives on in DVD form and countless ABC Family re-runs.

23
Tiffany Trump and Ross Mechanic

After two years and many front-row fashion show appearances, Tiffany Trump and the dubiously named Ross Mechanic officially split in early 2018.

24
Nas and Nicki Minaj

Though they never officially confirmed their courtship, it was reported that the rappers had broken up in the winter after seven months of dating.

25
Eric Dane and Rebecca Gayheart

Rebecca Gayheart filed for divorce from Eric Dane after 13 years of marriage, citing irreconcilable differences.

26
Sarah Silverman and Michael Sheen

Sarah Silverman released a statement announcing that she’d broken up with boyfriend Michael Sheen, stating, “We just live in different countries & it got hard.”

27
Claire Foy and Stephen Campbell

The Crown star and her husband announced their separation in February, stating that they haven’t been together “for some time.”

28
Lena Dunham and Jack Antonoff

The Girls creator and her musician boyfriend broke up after five years of dating, with many speculating Antonoff had moved on to mutual friend Lorde.

29
Justin Theroux and Jennifer Aniston

In February, after six years together, two and half of which were as husband and wife, Jennifer Aniston and Justin Theroux revealed they broke up late last year.