Here’s what 7 women have shared about ending relationships with partners who became extremely famous
**Model Gigi Paris** broke up with Glen Powell after three years together, during which his career skyrocketed due to dating rumors between him and Sydney Sweeney. Gigi explained that Glen agreed to feed the speculation for PR, despite her discomfort, saying, “It was just, ‘This is what I have to do for my job.'” She emphasized her desire for respect, especially in the public eye, saying, “Just don’t make a fool out of someone you’ve been with for over three years.” For her, walking away was about maintaining decency and integrity, as she felt her boundaries were ignored.
**Ethan Slater**, before dating his Wicked co-star Ariana Grande, was married to psychologist Lily Jay. After their divorce, Lily wrote an essay revealing her shock: “I really never thought I would get divorced, especially after giving birth to my first child.” She described how their professional balance was fragile—her needing privacy as a psychologist clashed with his fame. She reflected on how publicity surrounding his new relationship brought back painful memories, stating, “Days when I can’t escape the promotion of a movie associated with the saddest days of my life are darker.”
**Chelsea Winstanley**, a successful Māori filmmaker, experienced tension when her ex-husband Taika Waititi rose to Marvel fame. She shared that she didn’t want to be the dutiful wife staying on the Australian Gold Coast while he filmed Thor, hinting at underlying issues that seeded their breakup. “I wasn’t that pandering, dutiful, get on my knees and whatever you want,” she said, suggesting that infidelity might have played a role, though she noted she didn’t discover this until years later.
**Anna Faris** has spoken candidly about how her ex, Chris Pratt’s rapid fame, contributed to their split in 2017. In her memoir *Unqualified*, she admitted the strain of his success: “It can be hard not to have a moment of self-doubt when my husband is acting with young women in big movies.” She also shared that Chris asked her if she felt pressure being in a high-profile relationship, which made her realize they were both navigating new territory amid his rising star.
**Justine Musk**, ex-wife of Elon Musk, reflected on their early days when both were students. She pointed out the power imbalance shaped by Elon’s rise: “Elon’s judgment overruled mine, and he was constantly finding ways to critique me.” She detailed how their disparities—financial and emotional—created a difficult dynamic. After their separation, Elon engaged to Talulah Riley just six weeks later, exemplifying how fame and personal upheavals often intersect.
**Cynthia Lennon**, wife of John Lennon, had her life closely tied to Beatlemania from the beginning. In her memoir, she recounted being told to “stay away” from her husband by security and her feelings of invisibility. Her relationship suffered as John’s fame grew, culminating in his infidelity—she walked in on him with Yoko Ono and later reflected, “If I’d known what falling for John would lead to, I would have walked away.”
**Mimi Rogers**, Tom Cruise’s first wife before his *Top Gun* fame, spoke about their relationship in 2001. She accepted her role as the less famous partner, saying, “I was doing what I wanted, and if I didn’t have Tom’s success, that was just luck.” She addressed the age gap as a source of tabloid scrutiny, noting how exaggerated stories about her age and fame were.
**Do any other high-profile examples come to mind?** LMK in the comments!
