Meryl Streep and Don Gummer, Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith.Photo:Steve Granitz/WireImage; Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty
Steve Granitz/WireImage; Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty
These celebrities protected their privacy while going through especially tough times.Beforetheir separationsmade headlines, stars likeMeryl Streep,Florence Pugh,Ariana GrandeandElliot Pageweathered their hardships out of the spotlight. While some A-list couples hid their fallouts for years — likeWill Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith— others only waited a few months before dropping their breakup bombshells.See which Hollywood pairs quietly cut their romantic ties before sharing the news with the world.
These celebrities protected their privacy while going through especially tough times.
Beforetheir separationsmade headlines, stars likeMeryl Streep,Florence Pugh,Ariana GrandeandElliot Pageweathered their hardships out of the spotlight. While some A-list couples hid their fallouts for years — likeWill Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith— others only waited a few months before dropping their breakup bombshells.
See which Hollywood pairs quietly cut their romantic ties before sharing the news with the world.
01of 10Jada Pinkett Smith and Will SmithWill Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith.Steve Granitz/FilmMagicDuring a fall 2023 appearance on theTodayshow,Jada Pinkett Smithgot candid about her relationship withWill Smithand revealed the longtime partners had beenseparated for seven years, living completely separate lives.TheWorthyauthor also spokeabout their rollercoaster relationshipon an episode ofOn Purpose with Jay Shetty. According to Jada, she and Will — whom she wed in 1997 — went through several breakups throughout their time together. The “ultimate break,” as theRed Table Talkco-host called it, came in 2016. “But the world didn’t know,” she noted.
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Jada Pinkett Smith and Will Smith
Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith.Steve Granitz/FilmMagic
Steve Granitz/FilmMagic
During a fall 2023 appearance on theTodayshow,Jada Pinkett Smithgot candid about her relationship withWill Smithand revealed the longtime partners had beenseparated for seven years, living completely separate lives.
TheWorthyauthor also spokeabout their rollercoaster relationshipon an episode ofOn Purpose with Jay Shetty. According to Jada, she and Will — whom she wed in 1997 — went through several breakups throughout their time together. The “ultimate break,” as theRed Table Talkco-host called it, came in 2016. “But the world didn’t know,” she noted.
02of 10Meryl Streep and Don GummerMeryl Streep and Don Gummer.David M. Benett/Dave Benett/ GettyA few weeks after their 45th wedding anniversary, PEOPLE confirmed thatMeryl Streepand her husbandDon Gummerquietlyended the romantic nature of their relationshipsix years earlier.“Don Gummer and Meryl Streep have been separated for more than six years, and while they will always care for each other, they have chosen lives apart,” a representative for Streep said in a statement to PEOPLE.Though Streep and Gummer had not been seen publicly together since 2018, the Oscar winner was wearing her wedding band just beforePage Sixbroke the news of their separation.
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Meryl Streep and Don Gummer
Meryl Streep and Don Gummer.David M. Benett/Dave Benett/ Getty
David M. Benett/Dave Benett/ Getty
A few weeks after their 45th wedding anniversary, PEOPLE confirmed thatMeryl Streepand her husbandDon Gummerquietlyended the romantic nature of their relationshipsix years earlier.
“Don Gummer and Meryl Streep have been separated for more than six years, and while they will always care for each other, they have chosen lives apart,” a representative for Streep said in a statement to PEOPLE.
Though Streep and Gummer had not been seen publicly together since 2018, the Oscar winner was wearing her wedding band just beforePage Sixbroke the news of their separation.
03of 10Haley Lu Richardson and Brett DierHaley Lu Richardson and Brett Dier.Jon Kopaloff/FilmMagicHaley Lu RichardsonandBrett Diersplit up two years before theWhite Lotusstar announced their breakup news onher Instagram Story. In November 2022, Richardson posted a photo of her and her ex-fiancé posing with their thumbs up, writing, “Hey guys. This is me and Brett. We actually separated two years ago.“The actress continued, “But life goes on and we are both existing and doing pretty well turns out. We shared a deeply special chunk of our lives together. I’m so glad to have had the last couple years to heal and grow without the internet knowing but we kinda just wanted to share it and move on now.”
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Haley Lu Richardson and Brett Dier
Haley Lu Richardson and Brett Dier.Jon Kopaloff/FilmMagic
Haley Lu RichardsonandBrett Diersplit up two years before theWhite Lotusstar announced their breakup news onher Instagram Story. In November 2022, Richardson posted a photo of her and her ex-fiancé posing with their thumbs up, writing, “Hey guys. This is me and Brett. We actually separated two years ago.”
The actress continued, “But life goes on and we are both existing and doing pretty well turns out. We shared a deeply special chunk of our lives together. I’m so glad to have had the last couple years to heal and grow without the internet knowing but we kinda just wanted to share it and move on now.”
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Florence Pugh and Zach Braff
Florence Pugh and Zach Braff.Jeff Spicer/Getty
“We’ve been trying to do this separation without the world knowing, because it’s been a relationship that everybody has an opinion on,” Pugh said. “We just felt something like this would really do us the benefit of not having millions of people telling us how happy they are that we’re not together. So we’ve done that.”
The couple has remained on good terms though, and they’ve continued on as friends and collaborators. In 2023, Pugh starred in Braff’s filmA Good Person, and heraved about her acting skillsin an interview withEntertainment Tonight.
“I’m just in awe of her talent and I said, ‘I wanna write this for Florence. What I’m writing is really gonna be challenging, and she’s incredible,'” he said of his casting Pugh in the emotional movie. Braff went on to call his former flame “a next-level actress” and “just unbelievable.”
05of 10Olivia Wilde and Jason SudeikisOlivia Wilde and Jason Sudeikis.John Shearer/GettyIn November 2020, PEOPLE exclusively reported thatOlivia WildeandJason Sudeikishadended their engagementof over seven years. Per a source close to the couple, they broke up months before the announcement.“The split happened at the beginning of the year,” the insider told PEOPLE. “It’s been amicable and they’ve transitioned into a great co-parenting routine. The children are the priority and the heart of the family’s relationship.“Despite their initially low-key breakup, theDon’t Worry Darlingactress andTed Lassostar had a very publicchild custody case. Ultimately, the two settled into co-parenting and in September 2023, a source told PEOPLE they were “in a good place.”
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Olivia Wilde and Jason Sudeikis
Olivia Wilde and Jason Sudeikis.John Shearer/Getty
In November 2020, PEOPLE exclusively reported thatOlivia WildeandJason Sudeikishadended their engagementof over seven years. Per a source close to the couple, they broke up months before the announcement.
“The split happened at the beginning of the year,” the insider told PEOPLE. “It’s been amicable and they’ve transitioned into a great co-parenting routine. The children are the priority and the heart of the family’s relationship.”
Despite their initially low-key breakup, theDon’t Worry Darlingactress andTed Lassostar had a very publicchild custody case. Ultimately, the two settled into co-parenting and in September 2023, a source told PEOPLE they were “in a good place.”
06of 10Lauren Graham and Peter KrauseLauren Graham and Peter Krause.David Livingston/GettyLauren GrahamandPeter Krausestruck up a romance while costarring onParenthoodfrom 2010 to 2015, and continued dating after the show wrapped.In 2022, a representative for theGilmore Girlsalum confirmed to PEOPLE that she and Krause had “quietlyended their relationship” the previous year.
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Lauren Graham and Peter Krause
Lauren Graham and Peter Krause.David Livingston/Getty
Lauren GrahamandPeter Krausestruck up a romance while costarring onParenthoodfrom 2010 to 2015, and continued dating after the show wrapped.
In 2022, a representative for theGilmore Girlsalum confirmed to PEOPLE that she and Krause had “quietlyended their relationship” the previous year.
07of 10Ariana Grande and Dalton GomezAriana Grande, Dalton Gomez.Jon Kopaloff/FilmMagicIn July 2023, PEOPLE confirmed thatAriana GrandeandDalton Gomezhad ended their marriage after two years.Theirbreakup newscame after theWickedstar was seen at Wimbledon without a ring on her finger. A source told PEOPLE that the pop star and luxury real estate agent had been “quietly and lovingly working on their friendship” since they separated months earlier.
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Ariana Grande and Dalton Gomez
Ariana Grande, Dalton Gomez.Jon Kopaloff/FilmMagic
In July 2023, PEOPLE confirmed thatAriana GrandeandDalton Gomezhad ended their marriage after two years.
Theirbreakup newscame after theWickedstar was seen at Wimbledon without a ring on her finger. A source told PEOPLE that the pop star and luxury real estate agent had been “quietly and lovingly working on their friendship” since they separated months earlier.
08of 10Elliot Page and Emma PortnerElliot Page and Emma Portner.VALERIE MACON/AFP via Getty; Mike Coppola/GettyAfter three years of marriage,Elliot PageandEmma Portnerannouncedtheir plans to divorcein January 2021. However, the two had beenestranged for monthsleading up to their decision.According to a joint statement, the two explained they “made the difficult decision to divorce” after separating the previous summer. “We have the utmost respect for each other and remain close friends,” said Page and Portner.
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Elliot Page and Emma Portner
Elliot Page and Emma Portner.VALERIE MACON/AFP via Getty; Mike Coppola/Getty
VALERIE MACON/AFP via Getty; Mike Coppola/Getty
After three years of marriage,Elliot PageandEmma Portnerannouncedtheir plans to divorcein January 2021. However, the two had beenestranged for monthsleading up to their decision.
According to a joint statement, the two explained they “made the difficult decision to divorce” after separating the previous summer. “We have the utmost respect for each other and remain close friends,” said Page and Portner.
09of 10Laurence Fishburne and Gina TorresLaurence Fishburne and Gina Torres.Kris Connor/Getty ImagesLaurence FishburneandGina Torrescalled it quits after 14 years of marriage, but they waited a year to make the breakup public. The actressconfirmed their separationto PEOPLE with a statement in 2017.“With heavy hearts, Laurence and I quietly separated and began the dissolution of our marriage in the early fall of last year,” theSuitsstar said at the time. “There are no bad guys here. Only a love story with a different ending than either one of us had expected.”
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Laurence Fishburne and Gina Torres
Laurence Fishburne and Gina Torres.Kris Connor/Getty Images
Laurence FishburneandGina Torrescalled it quits after 14 years of marriage, but they waited a year to make the breakup public. The actressconfirmed their separationto PEOPLE with a statement in 2017.
“With heavy hearts, Laurence and I quietly separated and began the dissolution of our marriage in the early fall of last year,” theSuitsstar said at the time. “There are no bad guys here. Only a love story with a different ending than either one of us had expected.”
10of 10Helena Bonham Carter and Tim BurtonHelena Bonham Carter and Tim Burton.Mark Cuthbert/GettyAfter 13 years as romantic partners and professional collaborators,Helena Bonham CarterandTim Burtonsplit in 2014. Though they announced the news in December, Carter’s representative told PEOPLE that they “separated amicably” earlier that year.At the time, her rep added that the actress and director “have continued to be friends and co-parent their children.“The exes worked together once more after their separation: In 2016, Carter reprised her role as the Red Queen in the sequel to Burton’s 2010 adaption ofAlice in Wonderland.
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Helena Bonham Carter and Tim Burton
Helena Bonham Carter and Tim Burton.Mark Cuthbert/Getty
After 13 years as romantic partners and professional collaborators,Helena Bonham CarterandTim Burtonsplit in 2014. Though they announced the news in December, Carter’s representative told PEOPLE that they “separated amicably” earlier that year.
At the time, her rep added that the actress and director “have continued to be friends and co-parent their children.”
The exes worked together once more after their separation: In 2016, Carter reprised her role as the Red Queen in the sequel to Burton’s 2010 adaption ofAlice in Wonderland.
source: people.com
