So we guess there is a silver lining to everything. We just hope that most of these breakups ended amicably and not too sour. There’s only one way to find out though. Put on your life vests and climb into the love boat with us while we sail through some LGBTQ+ relationships that sadly sank.
Cara Delevingne & Ashley Benson
Ultimate girl crush Cara Delevingne has certainly electrified the A-list dating circuit. She and her ex-girlfriend, Ashley Benson, gave everyone goosebumps after announcing their relationship on Instagram in an homage to the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall riots. Cara admitted that external stresses placed a toll on her and Ashley’s relationship which sadly resulted in them heading to Splitsville.
The global pandemic played a huge part in her and Ashey’s break up. For Cara, the pandemic made dealing with the breakup harder since she was forced to sit with things and deal with it. No getting over it by going out or meeting friends. Although everyone wanted this pairing to be endgame, we are glad to report that the two remain on good terms.
Elliot Page & Samantha Thomas
Elliot Page has had a number of rather public splits and he is featured more than a few times on this list! But his relationship with Samantha Thomas was arguably one of the most captivating and heartbreaking for fans. One of Page’s first public break-ups was with actress and producer Samantha Thomas. Page and Thomas began dating in 2015 when Page identified as a gay woman
They made their red carpet debut that same year, looking completely smitten with each other. The couple led a rather private life and shared few details of their romance except for Page taking any opportunity to praise Thomas when asked in interviews. After almost two years of being together, Page and Thomas sadly called it quits.
Amber Heard & Tasya van Ree
Amber Heard has unfortunately made the news for all the wrong reasons lately. Her tumultuous relationship with Johnny Depp has certainly overshadowed aspects of her career and her past. This is why it might come as a surprise for fans to know that she dated photographer and artist Tasya van Ree for a full four years from 2008 through to 2012 before they went their separate ways.
Those who followed every minute of the Depp-Heard trial will also know that Tasya was the ex-partner Amber had allegedly been in altercations with. Tasya set the record straight later with a public statement saying her ex was wrongfully accused. Van Ree got a tattoo of Heard’s name on her arm and still bears it to this day.
Ruby Rose & Jessica Origliasso
Things got turned upside down in the land down under when this Australian power couple called off their relationship in 2018. After a brief (and we assume fiery) affair way back in 2008, Ruby and Jessica reconnected in 2016 at a gathering for marriage equality. The old flame must have flickered hard as they soon found their heels over their heads again. Distance finally got the better of them as Jessica remained in Australia while Ruby was based in the United States.
Ruby didn’t share too many details about the breakup apart from it being “relatively amicable.” But Jessica later revealed that the spit was anything but. Ruby followed up by saying that telling the truth and exposing her ex was high on her agenda too.
Kristen Stewart & Stella Maxwell
The romance between Kristen Stewart and Stella Maxwell was seemingly a tug of war that ultimately was a tug on the heartstrings for the rest of us. Whispers about their romance first began making the rounds in January 2017. Just five months later, the couple moved in together.
A real rollercoaster of a relationship, the pair had a string of breakups and makeups in their three years of on-and-off dating. Sources close to the pair say that disagreements and conflicting work schedules replaced the fun. Stella is now reportedly dating bombshell Irina Shayk while Kristen is in a relationship with screenwriter Dylan Meyer. Plus, the two still share many friends together. All’s well that ends well!
Ellen Degeneres & Anne Heche
It would be hard to find a couple that trailblazed out celebrity relationships more than Ellen Degeneres and Anne Heche. Walking hand in hand at red carpet events throughout the late ‘90s, Ellen and Anne ushered in a new attitude towards same-sex relationships. The late Anne has said the night she met Ellen changed her life…and not in a good way.
Anne revealed that her three-year relationship with Ellen caused so much upset in upper-Hollywood circles that she was essentially barred from auditioning for any big-title roles. She famously stated that Ellen’s primary goal was to make more money. Hers had always been to find love. In August 2022, Anne sadly passed away.
Zachary Quinto & Miles McMillan
A couple that seemed destined for lifelong bliss certainly was actor Zachary Quinto and his longtime partner model Miles McMillan. A cheeky Instagram snap posted by Miles featured a close-up of a silver ring on Zachary’s ring finger. Almost tragically, the couple confessed to it being a paid advertisement for Amazon.
But the romance seemed rock solid regardless. Fans later noticed that something was amiss. Neither had posted about or with each other on their socials for a while. Zach and Miles announced their parting of ways with little fanfare and drama. If only it was an engagement ring and not product placement for Amazon things might have been different…
Gus Kenworthy & Matt Wilkas
We think we know what the number one killer of relationships is: long-distance. Sportsperson Gus Kenworthy and actor Matt Wilkas set the world ablaze when they lovingly locked lips at the 2018 Winter Olympics where Gus was competing in skiing. Fast forward and the couple’s lips were very much unlocked.
The skier revealed in an interview that their love story began on Instagram. Yes, he slid into Matt’s DMs and the rest was history. About a month before, Gus had publicly come out as gay. Gus confessed that his taxing schedule meant the couple spent a lot of time apart and ultimately drifted. Seriously, no more long-distance relationships. We can’t handle the avoidable breakups!
Sam Smith & Brandon Flynn
Sam Smith and actor Brandon Flynn titillated us during their nine-month-long relationship with displays of affection that were very, very public. Fans noticed that Sam and Brandon followed the sacred law of partners unfollowing each other on Instagram after breaking up and Sam, with lightning speed, deleted all trace of Brandon from their profile.
While this seems like an acrimonious end, both Sam and Brandon insisted that the split was amicable and they remain “close.” They never addressed the reasons for the breakup. Sam said Brandon was “wonderful” during their relationship. There were no hard feelings. The singer explained how their relationships never ended nastily. Apparently, in a case of life imitating art, Sam Smith is "Too Good at Goodbyes."
Sera Cahoone & Megan Rapinoe
Megan Rapinoe certainly values commitment. Before becoming the fiancée to Sue Bird, Megan was engaged to singer-songwriter Sera Cahoone. Megan, not being shy of announcing her love interests to the world, enjoyed an Instagram-filled romance with the singer-songwriter for two years before announcing their engagement.
Sadly, the hardships of Megan’s Olympic training and Sera dealing with a family tragedy proved too much for the relationship and it dissolved. Megan was nursing an injury. Sera was grieving the loss of a cousin who died under extremely tragic circumstances. The emotional and physical strain began taking a toll on them and they split. Megan did not take long to mend her broken heart and soon after the breakup announced that she had moved on.
Luke Evans & Jon Kortajarena
Clash of the Titans star Luke Evans is notoriously private so it is a bit hard to gauge what happened when it came to his relationship with Spanish model Jon Kortajarena. The dashingly beautiful pair was rumored to be in a tryst as far back as 2014.
Luke confirmed his bachelor status in a 2017 interview but tongues wagged after Jon posted Instagram stories hinting that they may be back together. But Evans maintained he was taking the time to find contentment within himself instead of relying on validation from another person. We can confirm that Luke is very much single now. Any takers?
Miley Cyrus & Stella Maxwell
Victoria’s Secret model Stella Maxwell seems to be every celebrity’s girl crush. Miley Cyrus certainly let her crush on Stella be known when she passionately kissed Stella while filming a music video. Rumors about them dating began soon after but there wasn’t so much as a peep from the duo. No confirmations nor denials.
It’s still not clear even to this day whether they may or may not have been in a relationship during this time. All signs pointed to it though. Sources close said the two would hug and hold hands and seemed very comfortable together. But it seems the relationship turned out to be more of a fling for both parties as it fizzled out after only a few, short months for reasons unknown. Perhaps it was Miley’s seemingly insatiable dating needs.
Ty Herndon & Matt Collum
Country singer Ty Herndon made history as one of the first out country singers when he announced his identity as a gay man in 2014. Before this, Ty kept his relationship with his boyfriend, Matt Collum, out of the limelight. It seemed to be a match made in heaven with Matt finally accompanying Ty on the red carpet at an awards show after Ty came out publicly.
Being out and proud in the Nashville circle was no mean feat. But Ty and Matt seemed to pull it off effortlessly. In October of 2021, Ty heart-wrenchingly posted their breakup on Instagram simply stating the couple have “decided to go our separate ways.” The split was amicable and Ty said they were dedicated to remaining lifelong friends.
Angelina Jolie & Jenny Shimizu
Angelina Jolie and Jenny Shimizu met on the sets of “Foxfire” (1996). “I fell in love with her the first second I saw her.” Angelina Jolie gushed when reminiscing of her relationship with fellow actor Jenny Shimizu. What makes the fact that Angelina was in a relationship with a woman even more interesting is that she was married to actor Johnny Lee Miller at the same time!
She was still figuring out her sexuality around this time, and slowly realizing that she also liked women. Jenny brought out a deep love that she never knew she could feel for a woman. Angelina and Jenny certainly had a blazing relationship as Angelina made no bones about the fact that she found herself constantly “wanting to kiss her and wanting to touch her.”
Adam Lambert & Javi Costa Polo
Long-distance with a dash of citizenship drama is sure to make any relationship hard. American Idol Adam Lambert flaunted his relationship with Spanish model Javi Costa Polo all over the social media verse. The flurry of messaging each other back and forth on Instagram led them to a first date. Things went extremely well.
Javi, who is almost twenty years younger than the singer, spent a whirlwind two years with Adam before his visa expired and he had to return to his native Spain. Adam seemed expectant of the breakup, stating “it’s difficult it is to make a connection with someone…being on the road all the time.” Javi said he loved Adam deeply and would’ve stayed on in America given the choice.
Ruby Rose & Phoebe Dahl
As tragic as each of these breakups has been, what is encouraging is that they have all ended on good notes. This rings true for the 2015 split between Ruby Rose and Phoebe Dahl. Engaged to be married, it seemed that the future was certain for the power couple. They got engaged in 2014 after Ruby pulled off the most unique proposal.
She broke into Phoebe’s house at 5 am with flowers and got down on one knee. Phoebe thought it was a prank. It was a proposal story for the ages. The downfall occurred when Ruby’s meteoric rise in the acting world placed a heavy burden on the couple’s quality time. Impossibly endearing, both Ruby and Phoebe expressed their admiration for each other on social media as they parted ways.
Lindsay Lohan & Samantha Ronson
Most of the newly anointed citizens of Splitsville have been pretty civil, but we have an example of the opposite in the form of the very tumultuous relationship and breakup between actress Lindsay Lohan and British musician Samantha Ronson. It started with them flirting and rumors about them dating which they categorically denied. Apparently the two were also fighting and not getting along, which they denied again.
After months of the same pattern on rinse and repeat, a gossip column finally broke the news that the couple had broken up. Lindsay ultimately admitted that “two toxic people cannot be together” when discussing the dissolution of her relationship with Samantha. What didn’t help was the incessant interference in her and Samantha’s private life. Today, Lindsay simply states that she and Samantha were “friends more than anything.” Yikes!
Sarah Paulson & Cherry Jones
"American Horror Story" actress Sarah Paulson stated in a 2016 interview that “My choices in romantic partners have not been conventional.” Having a very colorful dating history, Sarah was in a relationship with actress Cherry Jones, who was eighteen years her senior, for five years before meeting her current partner, Holland Taylor who is a full thirty-two years older than her.
Sarah met Holland while still in a relationship with Cherry but stated that Holland was “the most exquisitely beautiful woman” she had ever seen. Speculation about their split first began when Jones made no mention of Paulson during an acceptance speech at the 2020 Emmys. A few months later, the couple announced they were no longer together.
Anderson Cooper & Benjamin Maisani
This has to be the most curious breakup story in the history of breakups. Famed journalist Anderson Cooper dated French hospitality magnate Benjamin Maisani for a total of nine years before throwing in their relationship towel. The couple was careful about keeping their relationship private since too much publicity could get out of hand.
One of the reasons they broke up, claims Anderson, was that Benjamin was uncertain about having children. After the breakup, Anderson adopted his son Wyatt and asked his ex to co-parent. One would think that this would end in the pair rekindling their relationship but no – they remain separated but fathers to Wyatt. They had broken up as boyfriends but were committed to being a family together.
Teddy Geiger & Emily Hampshire
Songwriter Teddy Geiger started dating "Schitt’s Creek" actress Emily Hampshire in 2018, a year after coming out as a trans woman. They had been dating for just a few months when Emily bought a heart-shaped diamond and proposed. It was sudden but both of them seemed excited.
Everyone’s Instagram was constantly updated with the pair’s romance as they consistently posted very public sweet nothings. Sadly, this turned into a very unsweet nothing as the couple called it quits less than a year after getting engaged. Both Teddy and Emily refused to share any details around the breakup and have seemingly moved on with their lives.
B.D. Wong & Richie Jackson
"Law and Order" mainstay B.D. Wong is a committed man. B.D. and his ex-husband, talent agent Richie Jackson, were in a relationship for sixteen years before irreconcilable differences forced them to part ways. Richie and B.D. had twin sons through a surrogate in 2000, but one of the boys died 90 minutes after childbirth.
Today they are devoted parents to son, Jackson Foo Wong. The two have remained close and dutifully share parenting responsibilities. Richie found love again and married Jason Roth. It took a while – a good fourteen years in fact – but B.D. has since remarried videographer Richert Schnorr.
Janelle Monáe & Tessa Thompson
Actress Tessa Thompson and musician Janelle Monáe have mastered the mystery of their relationship and have kept us all in suspense as to the true nature of it. When the question of whether or not they were in a relationship was posed to Tessa, she added to the vagueness, stating that privacy is of the utmost importance to both of them.
She went on to explain that it’s challenging to maintain that need for privacy while using their status to influence. We guess there’s no right or wrong answer here! Although the queer community wanted so badly to wish this relationship to life, neither Janelle nor Tessa have ever officially confirmed their romantic relationship. The open-endedness is refreshing and frustrating.
Portia de Rossi & Francesca Gregorini
Before Ellen there was Francesca. "Arrested Development" actress Portia de Rossi owes part of her fame to her much-publicized relationship with Ellen DeGeneres. However, prior to this, Portia was in a three-year-long relationship with filmmaker Francesca Gregorini.
It took Francesca a full decade before she cleared the air around their breakup and it woefully turns out that Portia broke off her engagement with Francesca to pursue a romance with Ellen. The tabloids went to town, with headlines that said she was dumped by “America’s Most Famous Lesbian.” Gregorini’s loss and heartbreak played out on a national stage. Although describing the split as “harrowing,” Francesca has made peace and says “Everything turned out as it was meant to.”
Kaitlynn Carter & Miley Cyrus
Mutual understanding seems to have been the downfall of this dalliance. Miley Cyrus, who at the time was fresh off the divorce boat, entered into a jet-setting courtship with reality-TV star Kaitlynn Carter. Kaitlynn should have known that Cyrus, being a recent divorcee, was not exactly in the market for immediate commitment and found herself more of a rebound for Miley.
Kaitlynn said that while the relationship was fleeting, it taught her valuable lessons in expectations and keeping her private life out of public scrutiny. Moving on was tough for Kaitlynn. She was not prepared for the intense media attention and gossip after she and Miley broke up.
Christian Siriano & Bradley Walsh
After walking down the wedding aisle, Christian Siriano and Brad Walsh regrettably found themselves walking in reverse. Christian, a highly reputable fashion designer, and Bradley, a singer and DJ, shared eleven magical years together that ironically came to a crashing halt after only two years of being wed.
The couple kept their separation a secret for a whole month. But a reporter soon found out and contacted Bradley for comments. He decided to break the news himself instead of having his followers read about it in the papers. The pair did not divulge what the final straw was but what we do know is that it took a full three years for them to finalize the divorce. Love dies hard.
Rosie O’ Donnell & Kelli Carpenter
Rosie O’Donnell was a champion of the early LGBTQ+ movement. Rosie and her ex-wife, Kelli Carpenter, defied the odds and even got married when same-sex unions were not legally recognized in America. Rosie and Kelli welcomed their first child in 2002 and the growing family prompted Rosie and Kelli to declare their vows to each other two years later.
In yet another instance of marriage spelling doom, the pair divorced only a few months later. They felt strongly about their relationship at personal and political levels but it was just not meant to be. The split wasn’t easy but they were committed to remaining a family.
Ellen DeGeneres & Alexandra Hedison
The coming together of Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi was scandalous on both sides. As some of you might know, Portia left her fiancée, Francesca Greogorini, for Ellen, and in a 2005 interview, Ellen revealed that she too left her partner at the time – director Alexandra Hedison – for Portia.
Ellen and Portia, recognizing their inevitable destiny, chose the high road and did not have an affair with each other. Instead, they abandoned their current relationships and got together. Ellen said she and Alexandra wanted to keep it private and had every intention of being in each other’s lives after going their separate ways. Alexandra moved on and is currently married to Jodie Foster.
Kristen Stewart & Alicia Cargile
This lightning liaison between actress Kristen Stewart and visual effects producer and editor Alicia Cargile burnt out after two years of dating. Kristen, who is publicity-shy at the best of times, had a barrage of focus on her previous relationships, the most high profile being with "Twilight" co-star Robert Pattinson.
Speculation that Alicia and Kristen were an item started when Kristen and Robert broke up. She allegedly cheated on him with director Rupert Sanders. Alicia, being relatively unknown and low-key, seemed to be a nice change of pace for the actress. Unfortunately, this was to be what ended their relationship as Alicia grew tired of Kristen’s “jet-setting lifestyle.”
Colton Haynes & Jeff Leatham
Known for roles in shows such as "Teen Wolf," the striking actor Haynes, tragically succumbed to unexpected mental and emotional distress that led to the dissolution of his marriage to florist and writer, Jeff Leatham, after only six months. They had met occasionally over the years in different circles. A mutual friend (Serena Williams) even set them up. But they never ended up meeting.
It was a chance run-in at the Paris airport that got sparks flying. Colton claims that coming out brought such public focus into his life that he found it difficult to cope. This, coupled with his mother’s passing, caused Colton to turn to substance abuse, and he finally checked himself into a mental health institute. Colton remains sober and optimistic.
Elliot Page & Emma Portner
Actor Elliot Page and professional dancer Emma Portner’s knot became untied in January 2021 after three years of marriage. They got married in 2018 in a secret ceremony and later announced the news on Instagram. Neither Elliot nor Emma have disclosed what led to and ultimately caused the breakup but both parties remained incredibly affectionate and civil during the separation.
Emma stated that they were always supportive and encouraging of Elliot’s transition and would continue to champion LGBTQ+ rights in light of it. In December 2018, Elliot came out to the world as trans. He introduced himself as Elliot for the first time with his preferred pronouns as he/they.
Taryn Manning & Anne Cline
We’ve been very frank about our feeling that long distance is the great undoer of relationships. We’re now becoming suspicious that marriage might do the same! "Orange Is the New Black" actress Taryn Manning and musician Anne Cline sealed the engagement deal in a venue full of spectators. Taryn said afterward “It was the easiest yes I’ve ever said!”
Three months later Taryn then possibly said the hardest “no” she ever had to when she called the entire engagement off. Insiders say that Taryn ultimately felt unduly pressured to wed. Anne proposed to her while they were at a bar in Panama City. Taryn appeared to have said “Yes.” Sources close to her later revealed that she said “Yes” only because she had been put on the spot.
Carrie Brownstein & St. Vincent
Musicians Carrie Brownstein and St. Vincent are thought to have had a fleeting involvement way back in 2012. The two had been fast friends for a long time but was it more than that? The press often spotted them together at numerous events. Speculation may have been rife but neither has confirmed that this was the case.
Let us also point out that neither has denied it either! The pair did come back together though to film and produce a 2020 mockumentary featuring themselves. In the movie, St. Vincent refers to Carrie as her “best friend.” Enough to lay any rumors to rest?
Carrie Brownstein & Corin Tucker
Fellow bandmates Carrie Brownstein and Corin Tucker, guitarists for the riot-grrrl-inspired band Sleater-Kinney, found themselves in each other’s arms when they put the guitars down. The world learnt about their relationship through a now-infamous article that Corin then trashed as pure gossip.
The smoldering tension between the two musos burnt out when, according to Carrie, the duo realized that they were “more in love with the band than with each other.” Fortunately, not only did they remain collaborators, they used their relationship and subsequent breakup as creative material for their music. Corin had initially come out as lesbian but today identifies has bisexual.
Ross Mathews and Salvador Camarena
A decade of love down the drain! These two decided to end their relationship after 10 years of being together. Is love even real anymore? It seems like only yesterday when they began dating, sold their LA home together, and bought a new one for the mountain views. It sure seemed like happily ever after back then.
Mathews, who is most notably known as a RuPaul's Drag Race Judge, had said that the break-up was "amicable." He said they were leaving the relationship feeling like they had a cheerleader in their corner forever. Well, here's hoping because that’s incredibly touching.
Kate McKinnon & Bari Weiss
"Saturday Night Live" actress Kate McKinnon and notable New York Times columnist Bari Weiss may seem to be the unlikeliest of pairings but the two had a long-term (well, as long-term as can be when in college) love affair when they were both students at Columbia University.
Bari has stated she has not felt the need to overtly discuss her relationship with Kate as she doesn’t want to “trade on” her sexual identity to gain “political points.” She said it was “lame” and just not her style. The columnist has made a name for herself sticking to her convictions. She was not looking to demand any more rights than what she already had. Kate has remained largely mum on the episode.
Linda Perry & Sara Gilbert
Sara Gilbert and Linda Perry were instantly recognizable faces in the ‘90s. Sara starred in the wildly successful show, "Roseanne," and Linda, with her trademark high hats and goggles, blessed an entire generation with the chorus “What’s Going On?” Sara and Linda married in 2014 after three years of dating.
The wedding bells didn’t take long to stop ringing and Sara and Linda filed for divorce in 2019. The reason? The old classic “irreconcilable differences.” Linda discussed the split in an interview, saying that things ending doesn’t always have to be a bad thing. She wanted to believe she was evolving into a different person and place. The two remain in each other’s lives as co-parents to their three children
Allison Mack & Nicki Clyne
Allison Mack turned from famous to infamous when she was implicated in legal battles. While facing charges, she and fellow actress Nicky Clyne, famed for her role in "Battlestar Galactica," got married. It’s not hard to imagine why this union quickly fell apart. Allison filed for divorce from Nicki in 2020.
Alison Mack, best known for her role in “Smallville” was found guilty of racketeering, forced labor, and extortion in a sex cult. You would think it doesn’t get worse, but it did. Nicki was also in the same cult. It’s probably best not to think about how this particular romance might have begun.
Bella Thorne & Tana Mongeau & Mod Sun
Fashionista and actress Bella Thorne is no stranger to the unconventional. Bella was in a relationship with YouTube sensation, Tana Mongeau, for over two years and during this time was also in a relationship with rapper Mod Sun. The trio had agreed on a polyamorous relationship and seemed to be making the most of it.
However, it all became a bit too much to juggle as Bella broke up with Tana and Mod within one month of each other. Bella is now in a very monogamous relationship with Benjamin Mascolo. This triad had nothing but kind words to say about each other. Alas, the good times didn’t last. Tana and Mod Sun became closer after the breakup and drama ensued!
Richard Pryor & Marlon Brando
This one might elicit a few quizzical and incredulous expressions. It was Quincy Jones who first alleged that Richard Pryor and Marlon Brando were lovers. As confirmed by Richard Pryor’s widow, Jennifer Pryor, Richard, and Marlon Brando shared several passionate encounters during a brief fling.
Using somewhat colorful language and some x-rated descriptions, Jennifer affirmed the rumor that had long been circulating as Hollywood legend. The era gave everyone a license to go wild. But the 70s were still a long way off from the social inclusion that the LGBTQ+ community has today. Richard spoke openly about his sexual experiences and even used his standup to call out homophobic hypocrisy.
Luke Evans & Rafa Olarra
The relationship between "Beauty and the Beast" star, Luke Evans and footballer Rafael Olarra, may have been brief, but famously private Luke felt confident enough to announce it to his millions of Instagram followers. A short while after this, eagle-eyed fans noticed that Luke had unfollowed Rafael on Instagram but pictures of them together remained on Luke’s profile.
These soon disappeared one by one and Luke laid to rest the rumor that they’d split by confirming it in an interview. “It is what it is," stated Luke. Olarra also kept the details of the breakup private. Heartbroken fans who were cheering them on can only speculate.
TR Knight & Mark Cornelsen
Here’s a throwback. Millions of television screens had TR Knight grace them each week as Dr. George O’Malley on "Grey’s Anatomy." At the time, TR was dating events coordinator Mark Cornelsen who was sixteen years TR’s junior. This might be a vital puzzle piece as to the nature of the breakup. The press was already having a field day about TR Knight and his “much younger boyfriend.”
Allegedly, the then thirty-six-year-old TR had brought up having children and within a few weeks of this proposal, Mark had moved out. Friends described the breakup as “organic” and said there were no hard feelings between the two. As for TR, the actor said he was still hopeful about having a family one day.
Lena Waithe & Alana Mayo
Actress Lena Waithe and film executive Alana Mayo win the marriage-causes-breakup trophy. They lasted a record-shattering two months as a wedded couple. Alana and Lena first met at a business meeting and it went down exactly the way it does at these things. No butterflies or flashing lights, just a seed that had been planted. They kept bumping into each other on and off after that.
One day, they grabbed a drink together and something clicked. While sharing what seemed an idyllic three years together, Lena and Alana got married in court and within eight weeks were back in it to sign divorce papers. Rumors of infidelity surfaced when Lena had been accused of purchasing so-called expensive gifts for other women. Lena had been Alana’s first gay relationship.
Zachary Quinto & Jonathan Groff
Jonathan Groff, of "Hamilton" fame, may have had an ironic instance of “famous last words” after speaking about his relationship with fellow actor and "Star Trek" star, Zachary Quinto. Speaking about dating, Jonathan highlighted the sympathetic understanding between actors of long-distance and conflicting work schedules.
A year after falling in love, that very same conflicting work schedule and faraway filming demands put a burden on the couple that neither could come back from. Distance and hearts growing fonder is a great saying but largely a myth, thus proven. Sources said the spit wasn’t easy since the two really did love each other. They remain on friendly terms.
Angel Haze & Ireland Baldwin
Rapper Angel Haze and model Ireland Baldwin’s relationship came to a heart-wrenching end when Ireland voluntarily checked herself into a rehabilitation clinic. The split came just before she sought help for emotional trauma. Her relationship wasn’t the reason Ireland checked into rehab, but rather a combination of several extreme pressures in her life.
The feisty pair, who got people talking with their provocative and eccentric romance, dated for a year before Ireland began struggling with mental health issues. Although neither has explicitly spoken about the lead-up to the split, Ireland did confirm that she needed to have “a breather” and “rid myself of all the pain.”
Ricky Martin & Carlos Gonzalez Abella
Smooth-as-silk crooner Ricky Martin came out in 2010 and revealed he was in a relationship with a stockbroker by the name of Carlos Gonzalez Abella. Ricky and Carlos called their relationship quits in 2014, after just over three years of being together. Nobody saw it coming. The pair had seemed deeply in love and always spoke highly of each other.
Oddly, in the month preceding the breakup, Ricky appeared on The Ellen Show and gave no hint as to trouble in the relationship. A crestfallen Ricky posted a string of tweets that alluded to his newly single status before officially announcing it. A spokesperson said that the two had spent very little time together and had grown apart. But they continued “to be united by friendship.”
Jane Lynch & Lara Embry
Waxing lyrical in a tell-all book about your partner appears to not be enough to salvage a marriage. Silver screen legend Jane Lynch had been married to psychologist Lara Embry for three years and published an autobiography a year after their marriage. In it, Jane effuses over Lara, saying she was “smitten” from the start. Jane and Lara first met at a fundraiser in San Francisco. Sparks flew.
After confirming their engagement, they got married in the presence of close friends and family in Sunderland, Massachusetts. Not too many states had legalized gay marriage then. Sadly, two years after the famous Jane Lynch memoir hit shelves, Lara and Jane settled their divorce. Lara claimed half of Jane’s estate, being paid out over a million dollars.
Maria Bello & Clare Munn
Maria Bello’s coming out to her son as bisexual resulted in a book. Maria found herself falling in love with her best friend and son’s godmother, Clare Munn. The undercover relationship did not go unnoticed by Maria’s son and she admitted to feeling “dread” when he asked her about the nature of the relationship.
His response that “love is love” prompted Maria to write a book about labeling ourselves. Love might be love but it didn’t keep Maria and Clare together, and the two split a year later. Maria made headlines soon after for her “rebound” with a 29-year-old guy after splitting from Clare.
Troye Sivan & Jacob Bixenman
Australian musician and YouTuber Troye Sivan and American model Jacob Bixenman were a match made in heaven. The couple delighted fans throughout their four-year relationship with an intimate glimpse into their lives via Troye’s YouTube channel and their respective Instagram accounts.
It became clear there were rocky times ahead as the Instagram declarations of love dwindled and there seemed to be less and less interaction between the two. The relationship met a quiet and inevitable death after Troye left for Australia from LA during the pandemic while Jacob stayed back. Not long after the breakup, Troye spent half a year in his native Australia and professed to want to move back.
Lea DeLaria & Chelsea Fairless
We’ve heard of fun wedding announcements but a creative break up announcement? This one takes the cake. A regular cake, decidedly not a wedding cake. Comedian Lea DeLaria stayed true to her art form by hysterically uploading an Instagram post with her and her ex-fiancee Chelsea Fairless photoshopped into a picture with Michael Jackson and Elizabeth Taylor.
It stated “our relationship has gone the way of David [Gest] and Liza [Minnelli]” while “It Must Have Been Love” plays in the background. Lea further requested that people “exclude us from the tragic…celebrity breakup narrative” and “we look forward to finding new ways to torture each other.” Hilarious! Safe to assume that these two probably remain friends.
Daniel Franzese & Joseph Bradley Phillips
"Mean Girls" star Daniel Franzese wrote a deeply moving note and posted it to Instagram to describe the feelings around having to break up with his fiancee Joseph Bradley Phillips. The actor professed his eternal care for his ex-fiancee but highlighted the fact that their relationship might have been too involved – to the point of neglecting their individual and personal growth.
Franzese described it beautifully and poetically as shooting stars shining so brightly that they must inevitably burn out. They had to go their separate ways but hoped that their paths would always cross. Both of them took their time to heal before moving on.
Jillian Michaels & Heidi Rhoades
Fitness guru Jillian Michaels of "The Biggest Loser" fame found herself the biggest financial loser when she was ordered to pay all child support costs after reaching a settlement in her domestic partnership dissolution with yoga instructor Heidi Rhoades. Jillian and Heidi had been together for nine years but struggled to maintain their partnership after getting engaged in 2016
Eventually capitulating to the inevitable, the two separated. Jillian wrote on Instagram that they were better as co-parents and friends who lived apart than together. Heidi never commented on the break up but the two are committed to co-parenting their two kids together. Jillian has moved on and is now in a relationship with fashion designer DeShanna Marie Minuto.
Johnny Weir & Victor Voronov
Johnny Weir, the famed Olympic Skater, got hitched to lawyer Victor Voronov in 2011. However, after a tumultuous relationship, their love was on thin ice. Eventually, Weir filed for divorce. Despite an acrimonious split, we think it was in both of their best interests to no longer be together.
Johnny said in an interview that being married to Victor had felt isolating. Their fights became increasingly more terrible and even started getting physical. Meanwhile, Victor – who had given up practicing law to be with Johnny - chose to speak through a lawyer. The lawyer said his client was healing and that the paperwork Johnny had submitted followed a “deceptive” pattern.
Rosie O'Donnell & Michelle Rounds
An utterly tragic ending. Twelve months was all it took for the marriage between comedian Rosie O’Donnell and Michelle Rounds to fail. The two were married in 2012 at a private ceremony after a year of dating but they couldn’t make things work. O’Donnell called it a “broken relationship” which was beyond repair at that point.
This resulted in a particularly brutal custody battle for their daughter, Dakota, with neither side willing to compromise. An agreement was finally reached in 2014 and Rosie and Michelle went their separate ways. In a devastating turn of events, Michelle passed away a year later. She was only 46.
Melissa Etheridge & Tammy Lynn Michaels
Musician Melissa Etheridge thought she found everlasting love in actress Tammy Lynn Michaels when they tied the (very loose) knot in 2003. Seven years Melissa Etheridge would announce on the "Oprah Winfrey Show" that the couple was filing for divorce.
Melissa shared at the time that the split was mutual but Tammy was blindsided by all of it. It was news to her literally because she found out about their alleged mutual split from the media. Neither one would back down or keep quiet after. What followed was a private hell for the couple that saw them wrestle for three years over what Tammy considered her monthly alimony.
Caitlyn Jenner & Kris Jenner
Kris Jenner initiated divorce proceedings after it emerged that her husband of twenty-five years, Olympian Bruce Jenner would be transitioning and she would be Kris’ wife, Caitlyn. Kris once dubbed her divorce the most “frustrating” and "passive-aggressive” experience. She was perplexed because her then-husband never explained why he wanted a divorce.
Of course, those reasons became clearer only later when she discovered he wanted to live as a woman. The divorce itself did not generate scandal per se but Caitlyn took to writing of her hardships with Kris in her 2017 book, "The Secrets of My Life." An irate Kris took revenge by lambasting Caitlyn on her reality-TV show, "Keeping Up With the Kardashians."
Jodie Foster & Cydney Bernard
Actress Jodie Foster was in a 14-year relationship with fellow actress, Cydney Bernard. The two first met on the sets of “Sommersby” in 1983. They never got married but were in it to commit regardless. They even shared two sons together. Jodie, known for her unbreakable demands for privacy, never made the relationship public.
She even went as far as not to employ household staff to ensure that no mention of her relationship with Cydney would emerge. Jodie took a leap when she acknowledged Cydney as her partner in an awards speech. Sadly, this spelled the end of the relationship as a few months later the two were separated for good.
Michael Sam & Vito Cammisano
Michael Sam made sporting history for the LGBTQ+ community when, upon hearing that he was drafted for the NFL, shared a passionate kiss with his boyfriend, Vito Cammisano. No other NFL draftee had been so openly unapologetic about his sexuality before Michael. Vito and Michael became one of the most talked about couples in 2014.
Their relationship set hearts ablaze and soon their relationship was being followed with as much intensity as Michael’s football career. It came as a shock when a mere six months after posting their engagement online that Michael scrubbed all traces of Vito from his social media. Scant on detail, sources close to the pair only revealed that things had been “rocky.”
Raven-Symoné & AzMarie Livingston
Actress Raven-Symoné seemingly doesn’t have the prognostication abilities of her famous eponymous TV character. Raven dated model AzMarie Livingston for three years from 2012 through to 2015. They had been close friends much before dating. Speculations that they were a couple began in 2012.
AzMarie was already an out and proud lesbian but Raven chose not to be labelled. Raven is explicit about separating her private life from her public life so details are hard to glean as to the true reason for the split. Inside sources have hinted that infidelity occurred on Raven’s part. There was a brief renewal of their relationship in 2016 but things fizzled out as quickly as they began.
Amber Heard & Bianca Butti
In between the revelations, drama, and public backlash around the Depp-Heard trial, most people might have forgotten about Bianca Butti. Actress Amber Heard and cinematographer, Bianca Butti were dating around the same time. Rumors of them getting together started in 2020 after they were spotted cozying up to each other in Palm Springs.
They disbanded their liaison due to an old favorite: long-distance. Amber had to constantly travel for work as an actress and being the face of skincare and cosmetic company L’Oreal. Bianca remained in their native United States to continue her cinematography work. Unlike Amber’s far more publicized breakups, this one simply seemed to just fade away as the two lost connection while living on separate continents.
JoJo Siwa & Kylie Prew
Oh dear, they didn’t even make it a full 365 days. JoJo, a dancer and singer, has sadly said of her breakup with Kylie Prew that it’s a case of “right person, wrong time.” JoJo highlighted that her work schedule had impacted the time she gets to spend with Kylie and mentioned the fact that they’re “both so young,” being 18 and 17 respectively.
JoJo continues to pour every ounce of sweat into her career and maintains that she and Kylie remain “best friends.” The couple had spilt up briefly once before and reunited but this young romance ended up being twice as fleeting. Prew said there was no bad blood between them.
Tommy Dorfman & Peter Zurkuhlen
"13 Reasons Why" actress Tommy Dorfman came out as a trans woman in the middle part of 2021. The star had been “privately living as a woman” for a year before that. At the time, Tommy had been married to her husband, mogul Peter Zurkuhlen, for five years. Tommy stated that she and Peter had to “redefine” their relationship.
Tommy said, in reference to her ex-husband, that what interests her, as a trans woman, “is not necessarily reflected in a gay man.” Having come to this conclusion, Tommy and Peter signed their divorce papers and now define themselves as friends. On her transitioning, Tommy described it as finally aligning her soul with her body. She hoped to live a radically honest life going forward.
Greg Louganis & Johnny Chaillot
Legendary Olympic diver, Greg Louganis, took a plunge into the deep end and ended things with his husband, paralegal Johnny Chaillot. Greg made a splash in the 1984 and 1988 Olympics after bagging gold for his country. As is the modern way, Greg shared the heartbreaking news via an Instagram post.
Their split coincidentally happened during Pride Month. Greg and Johnny didn’t spill the tea as to the reason for the divorce with Greg simply stating “Marriage among all couples is often more challenging than not.” They went on to say how grateful they were to have the privilege to marry legally in the first place. Greg and Johnny were among the first queer celebrity couples to get hitched.
Cat Cora & Nicole Ehrlich
Professional chef Cat Cora’s marriage to record producer Nicole Ehrlich was taken off the menu after Nicole filed for divorce from her wife of three years. No signs of the marriage goose being cooked were evident seeing as Cat consistently posted Instagram posts declaring her undying love for Nicole.
She referred to her as “my rock, my dream, my love.” The recipe for the breakup remains a secret! Cora’s statement said that arriving at the decision wasn’t easy. Both of them considered all options before deciding that splitting up was best for everyone involved. They remain forever parents to their sons.
Lil Nas X & Yai Ariza
Fabulously flamboyant musician Lil Nas X thought he was up for the relationship challenge when professional Colombian dancer Yai Ariza pirouetted into his life. But it appears that the expectations of companionship were all too much for the young Grammy Award winner.
When asked what led to the split, Lil Nas X stated that even though he’s “wanting somebody for so long” it’s “a real responsibility.” He eloquently summed it up by saying “…I’m more in love with what I’m doing than people.” The rapper said he had no ill will towards his ex. It was the most serious relationship he had been in and he loved Yai “to death.”
Billy Porter & Adam Smith
Happy ending, anyone? American actor and singer Billy Porter of "Kinky Boots" fame walked his boots right out the relationship door after dating businessman Adam Smith for a year between 2009 and 2010. Shattered by the loss, Billy recounts he said to his therapist that “Now I know what love looks like and it just walked out the door.” Billy and Adam stayed in tentative touch and in 2015, while watching Hamilton together, Adam reached over and held Billy’s hand.
The ending? A happy marriage since 2017, or so it seemed. Billy once shared how getting married was a big milestone for him. Both of them had been raised in families where they were considered “abominations” for being themselves. Marriage was never on the card, until it was. Despite the profound declarations, they went their separate ways in 2023.
Amandla Stenberg & King Princess
Singer and actress Amandla Stenberg found creative and emotional fulfillment in musician King Princess (born Mikaela Straus). Amandla came out in 2018, a year after she and King Princess started dating. Skip forward a bit and it turns out that the two were toast.
King Princess hinted that the pressure of being a gay couple in the public eye placed a heavy emotional toll on the couple. In true modern-day fashion, the first signs of the rift came in the form of Instagram posts of the two being deleted on both sides. King Princess is known for bringing up her relationships frequently in her music. After breaking up with Amandla, she found love again with Quinn Wilson.
Cara Delevingne & Michelle Rodriguez
Most times, age gaps just cannot be filled. This is true in the case of Michelle Rodriguez and a much younger Cara Delevingne. The two dated back in 2014 and hid nothing from the public gaze about their blossoming romance. The PDA queens were snapped holding hands and locking lips everywhere they went. Cara, who was 21 at the time, was making a name for herself and enjoying being a free spirit. Michelle, at thirty-five years old, wanted to begin putting down roots and settling.
After many rounds of breaking up and making up, the couple ended their relationship for good. Michelle wasn’t one for the limelight and was allegedly tired of Cara being photographed with other young celebs. Cara was a young, very sought-after model who liked a certain lifestyle. The two, realizing their incompatibilities, ended the relationship.
Heather Matarazzo & Carolyn Murphy
Actress Heather Matarazzo was a face that appeared almost everywhere for every ‘90s movie fan. She and model Carolyn Murphy met in 2007 and a year later, Carolyn said “yes” when Heather proposed to her. The couple, living in California at the time, even decided to move back to their native New York as gay marriage was still illegal in California at the time but recognized in New York.
Tragically, they did not get to walk down the aisle and broke up after three years of being engaged. The spark had gone. The couple realized they loved each other deeply but were no longer in love. They were more best friends than anything else.
Antoni Porowski & Joey Krietemeyer
A toast to Queer Eye’s wine and avocado aficionado, Antoni Porowski who broke up with his long-time boyfriend, businessman, and artist Joey Krietemeyer. After stating that he’s “basically married” to Joey, Antoni found himself single a few months later. After seven years of companionship, the two simply outgrew each other and had a very amicable breakup according to sources close to the couple.
Antoni acknowledges Joey for being the driving force that helped him come out. He had never been open about his sexuality since he didn’t know too many people who had been on the same path as his. All that changed with Joey. The two were “basically married” to each other for seven years without any of the institutionalized trappings.
Cara Delevingne & St. Vincent
Cara Delevingne must have something utterly irresistible about her. We’ve seen her with a string of A-listers and now added to the mix is musician St. Vincent. She was particularly gushy when it came to Cara and said that their two-year love affair was so impactful that she wrote (slightly mysterious) lyrics about it for her album.
"Dating Cara was a big part of my life,” the musician confessed. One of the reasons for the break up was the constant long distance which reportedly became “too much.” Even though they decided to call it quits, they hoped to work things out and remain friends since they really did love each other.
Jonathan Van Ness & Wilco Froneman
Queer Eye’s Jonathan Van Ness had to groom his broken heart. Jonathan had been dating South African rugby player, Wilco Froneman, for a few months in 2018 before announcing it to the Instagram world. With much dismay, less than three months after the announcement Jonathan hinted at the fact that Wilco has been unfaithful.
In a somewhat passive-aggressive move, the reality TV star had previously used the hashtag #cheatersneverprosper on the same post, but promptly deleted it later. Jonathan urged his fans to “not go in on Wilco” further elaborating that “he doesn’t need the anger.” Sounds like a bit of a dog whistle to us! Wilco also spoke about their break up on Instagram and said that he would always love Jonathan.
Alaska & Sharon Needles
RuPaul's Drag Race gave us several memorable queens. Among them, Sharon Needles and Alaska were arguably the most entertaining. The two first met in Pittsburgh where they started a band called Haus of Haunt. Everyone’s favorite drag queen power couple Sharon Needles and Alaska applied for a spot in season four of the show.
Sadly, only Sharon was selected and Alaska was left out in the cold. Luckily, Alaska was chosen to be a participant for the following season. The changes to both the queens’ lives were immense and their relationship suffered as a result of it. As Sharon said, “…the survival of our partnership relies on simply changing the word 'boy' in boyfriend to 'best’.”
Lambda Garcia & Luja Duhart
Devilishly handsome Mexican actor Lambda Garcia and his ex-boyfriend, Mexican singer Luja Duhart, stole hearts internationally and then broke them as their relationship came to a crashing halt in 2020. Lambda wrote on his Instagram that ending the relationship wasn’t in anyone’s head. It just happened.
“You cannot be a prophet of your own fate,” wrote the actor. While that might’ve been true, what came next raised a few eyebrows all around. With a dash of scandal, Lambda is now dating Diego Oseguera, a friend of Luja’s that introduced the two when Luja and Lambda were still together. Lambda insists that his split with Luja was not initiated by Diego and that the two only really got to know each other long after he bid farewell to Luja.
Joe Exotic & Dillon Passage
The Tiger King himself, Joe Exotic, made the announcement on social media that he was separating from his husband Dillon Passage. Naturally, though, Passage (who is more than three decades younger than Exotic), was furious about the public announcement. He even commented on the post saying that it wasn't the right place to share such private matters.
In a backtrack of sorts, a day later Dillon made his side of the story known by affirming what Joe had said. “…yes, Joe and I are seeking a divorce” read his post. Dillon then posted images of his new beau. Divorce proceedings began even as Joe was serving his ongoing prison sentence. Although they had officially split a year before, Passage had not used the right legal channels to serve divorce papers. Both parties seemed keen on getting some closure and moving on to live and love freely again.
Dulceida & Alba Paul
2021 heralded the end of many an LGBTQ+ relationship. Catalonian influencers Dulceida and Alba Paul took to everyone’s favorite podium, Instagram, to announce what would be their inevitable divorce. The much-beloved European vloggers posted very lachrymose stories to their Instagrams to describe the impending doom and crisis in their marriage.
After agreeing on a split in 2021, the couple had taken a few months to “heal” in order to hopefully salvage their relationship. They remained cordial and loving, at least on social media. Fast forward to 2023, all signs point to a possible reconciliation after an extended and emotional break up. Here’s hoping!
Zachary Quinto & Jesse Tyler Ferguson
If only this had more meat on its bones! Rumors long did the rounds that actors Zachary Quinto and Jesse Tyler Ferguson were dating. An eye-rolling Jesse has consistently denied the rumors and emphatically stated that he and Zachary never dated.
Jesse elaborated, “Zachary Quinto and I never dated, but the report makes us happy because we love each other — as friends!” Friends…with benefits, we wonder? The two have famously got along, attending several events together where the press never stopped speculating. Some reports even went so far as to compare Jesse’s husband (Justin Mikita) to Zachary. Their point? Justin looked far too much like Zachary. They might be on to something.
Kristen Stewart & Soko
Actress Kristen Stewart and French singer-songwriter Stephanie Sokolinski, better known as Soko, shared a whirlwind romance in 2016. A photo emerged of the cozied-up couple while eating takeout! The couple first made headlines when they traveled to Paris together. They were spotted kissing unabashedly in the streets, which seemed like a fitting way to make the relationship public
But Neither Kristen nor Soko revealed whether they were officially dating. Kristen especially has always been an extremely private person. The pair broke up not long after Soko declared in an interview that she is “very, very, very in love.” Who with? That’s the burning question. In an interesting twist, Kristen was spotted not long afterward with Stella Maxwell.
Karamo Brown & Ian Jordan
Ten years is a long time to be together only to say goodbye. "Queer Eye’s" cultural expert, Karama Brown revealed to Ellen DeGeneres and her worldwide audience that he and his partner, Ian Brown, have officially taken separate paths and are no longer together. This after Brown had twice proposed to Ian, with the kicker being Ian saying “yes” twice!
Brown admitted that their career focus and familial responsibilities were ultimately responsible for the breakdown in their relationship. The marriage was initially put on hold due to the pandemic, during which time Karamo reflected on life and whether their relationship was really working. Wedding plans came to a halt for good soon after.
Camila Grey & Leisha Hailey
A bit of a throwback this one. Musician Camila Grey and actress and singer Leisha Hailey were members of the band Uh Huh Her and shared both creative and emotional passions while working together. The couple made headlines in 2011 when they were ejected from a plane (before takeoff – don’t panic!) for kissing in their seat.
An air hostess requested they stop since it was a “family airline,” which caused a furor. The world came to know of their relationship after drama unfolded on the plane – not exactly how the pair might’ve wanted to break the news. After breaking up in 2016, the band dissolved and Camila went on to pursue a DJ career as Leisha furthered her acting career.
Beth Ditto & Kristin Ogata
Best friends don’t necessarily make for best wives. Just ask singer-songwriter Beth Ditto who married her “best friend” Kristin Ogata only to become her best friend's ex-wife. After knowing each other for well over a decade, Beth and Kristin came to acknowledge the growing feelings between each other and decided to tie the knot in 2013.
Beth states that hindsight now has her realizing how young she was, thinking she had it all figured out. She explained how marrying a best friend might sound like a good idea. Yet, think about all the things that annoy you about a best friend and choosing to marry that. Beth said she had no idea what she’d signed up for in hindsight. Very sadly, she and Kristin have cut all ties and have no contact at all.