Shock Splits and Surprise Rebounds Define 2025 in Celebrity Relationships

A year-end wrap of 2025 from Daily Mail highlights a trend of shock splits and surprise rebounds among high-profile couples, underscoring how demanding schedules, personal growth, and evolving life goals can redefine even the longest-standing unions. The year saw enduring showbiz power couples part ways, while emerging romances captured headlines and social-media chatter alike, reflecting a broader, global fascination with how celebrities navigate love in public.

One of the year’s most talked-about splits involved Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban, a pair long described as Australia’s premier power couple. After 19 years of marriage, the Oscar-winning actress, 58, and the country star, 57, reportedly began living increasingly separate lives as Kidman juggled back-to-back international projects while Urban toured on the road. Insiders told Daily Mail there was substantial love between them, but the current reality of their schedules had created a distance that neither issues nor potential reconciliation could easily bridge. The couple share two daughters, Sunday Rose and Faith Margaret, who have long been central to the family narrative.

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Another prominent Australian chapter closed when Hugh Jackman and Deborra-Lee Furness announced the end of their marriage after 27 years together. In a joint statement, the couple emphasized a decision made with love and respect, adding that they would pursue individual growth while prioritizing their family. Jackman, 56, and Furness, 69, have two children, Oscar and Ava, who have long been part of the public-facing story of their household. The news underscored how even two decades-long fairytales can shift as personal and professional trajectories diverge.

Earlier in the year, former Neighbours star Holly Valance and billionaire property tycoon Nick Candy announced their split after 13 years of marriage. Friends described a long period during which the couple lived largely separate lives, amid Candy’s extensive international business commitments and political work. Valance, 42, and Candy, 52, share two daughters and have spoken publicly of prioritizing co-parenting as they navigate life after marriage. The evolving dynamic of high-profile households remained a common thread as both partners recalibrated their professional and personal priorities.

Anthony LaPaglia’s third marriage appeared to reach a similar turning point when Alexandra Henkel reportedly filed for divorce after seven years together. Court documents cited irreconcilable differences with separation listed in September. Henkel seeks spousal support and the division of proceeds from the sale of their Los Angeles home, while aiming to retain certain personal items. LaPaglia, 66, later hinted at extensive changes when he posted about “culling my personal watch collection” on Instagram, a moment that fed intrigue about the couple’s private life. The Frasier alum, who has a daughter from a previous marriage, had not publicly commented on the split by year’s end.

Meanwhile, Erik Thomson and Caitlin McDougall quietly ended nearly 25 years of marriage. The Packed to the Rafters alum and McDougall, who met in 1997 and wed in 1999, ceased public appearances together and unfollowed one another on social media, sparking talk of a formal dissolution though details remained scarce. The separation aligned with a broader pattern of long-running relationships recalibrating their paths away from the spotlight.

Isla Fisher and Sacha Baron Cohen also finalized a high-profile divorce in June after quietly separating in 2023. The private couple announced their £120 million settlement while emphasizing a continued commitment to co-parenting. Fisher, 49, and Cohen, 53, had formed one of Hollywood’s most discreet partnerships since their first meeting in 2001, marrying in 2010 and increasingly keeping personal matters out of the public eye.

In March, Sia filed for divorce from Dan Bernad after 26 months of marriage. Court documents revealed a deeply personal secret: Sia had secretly welcomed a child, Somersault Wonder Bernad, born on March 27, 2024. The singer sought legal and physical custody while entertaining potential visitation rights. The operation of Sia’s family life followed her previous experiences as a mother to two teenage boys adopted in 2019, underscoring a complex, evolving family portrait under the glare of public attention.

The year also mapped shifts in couples whose unions were shorter-lived or more high-profile for their public personas. Tammy Hembrow, a fitness influencer, and Matt Zukowski reportedly split in less than a year after their Byron Bay wedding in 2023, a reminder that even whirlwind romances can encounter lasting strains behind closed doors. Comedian and author Em Rusciano and Scott Barrow confirmed their separation in her memoir, citing personal changes intensified by late-diagnosis mental-health factors; the couple indicated ongoing co-parenting for their youngest child in the wake of their split.

The entertainment circuit also tracked new connections that captured attention as much for timing as for title recognition. Tammy Hembrow’s name appeared again in the context of a possible romance with AFL star Bailey Smith, with paparazzi capturing them on dinner dates and strolls that sparked debate about timing and motive—whether the pairing reflected genuine affection or a public-facing collaboration to boost visibility around a Tinder-style campaign. The chatter around these dynamics illustrated how the industry’s relationship narratives can shift quickly, propelled by social media and a culture of rapid speculation.

In Sydney, Jackie O Henderson, the KIIS FM breakfast host, drew headlines for a moment of public closeness with DJ Richard Ryan, captured in photographs on the balcony of her Clovelly home and later seen sharing drinks at a bar. The moment prompted discussions about boundaries, privacy, and the impact of public dating on personal lives. Meanwhile, former NRL star Braith Anasta was seen rekindling a romance with publicist Sara Bray, observed at a sunny lunch where the pair appeared comfortable and at ease, fueling talk of a renewed connection after past intersections.

Television hosts also moved into the spotlight for new chapters in their personal lives. Sunrise presenter Mark Beretta stepped out publicly with Renata Hickson, as he navigated the year’s challenges alongside a steady new partner, with friends noting the relationship’s supportive role through difficult family circumstances. Beretta later posted a tribute thanking Renata for unwavering support during a year marked by his father’s passing and his mother’s health issues, signaling a relationship that has clearly become a stabilizing force.

Olympic champion Emily Seebohm marked a fresh start with Brandon Caust, sharing joyful moments that blended romance and family life, including Caust posing with Seebohm’s young son, Sampson. The reveal followed public acknowledgment of Seebohm’s split from Ryan Gallagher, her ex-fiancé and the father of her child, underscoring how romantic narratives in the public eye continue to unfold with new partnerships while existing ones evolve or dissolve.

The 2025 roundup paints a landscape where long-term commitments can yield to new priorities, while other relationships re-emerge or reconfigure in surprising ways. Observers note that several couples splitting after decades together highlight the toll of global schedules on personal lives, while others show the resilience of co-parenting frameworks that help families navigate public scrutiny. The year also underscores how celebrities manage attention around relationships—whether through discreet transitions or highly visible moments that fuel conversation across media and social platforms.

For readers following pop culture and entertainment, the year’s end offers a consolidated view of how love, fame, and public expectations intersect in 2025. The Daily Mail’s retrospective captures a spectrum of outcomes—from amicable separations and family-first statements to new unions and headline-grabbing reunions—underscoring that celebrity relationships, even at their most stable, are subject to change as lives evolve in the public eye.