What Is With All the Stars Like Sophie Turner, Sofia Vergara & More Becoming Single Right Before Cuffing Season?
After a summer of watching celebrity relationships fall like dominoes, the Hollywood dating pool has expanded enormously just in time for cuffing season. Right as the weather began heating up, a switch seemed to flip in the minds of some of our favorite celebs and, one by one, some of the industry’s most well-known couples called it quits.
Kicking off breakup season was Taylor Swift whose six year romance with Joe Alwyn came to an end in April. Kevin Costner’s 18-year marriage to Christine Baumgartner ended in May, spurring off a summer of heated legal battles for the Yellowstone actor that dominated the news cycle until Joe Jonas and Sophie Turner’s shocking August breakup took over.
Christine Baumgartner is paying no mind to the rumors surrounding her ex-husband, Kevin Costner. https://t.co/NSXhMM7cdZ
— SheKnows (@SheKnows) October 27, 2023
There was also Ariana Grande’s split from her husband, Dalton Gomez, Reese Witherspoon and Jim Toth’s separation, Sofía Vergara and Joe Maganiello, Britney Spears and Sam Asghari, Hugh Jackman and Deborra-Lee Furness separated after 27 years of marriage. And two honorable mentions — Jada Pinkett-Smith and Meryl Streep separated from Will Smith and Don Gummer, respectively, six years ago but didn’t announce it until this past month.
Like Ariana Grande watching the Wimbledon Men’s Final without her wedding ring on, we haven’t been able to look away as some of the most messy A-list breakups in Hollywood history play out before our eyes.
Now that we’re entering a period typically associated with tying down a significant other so you can have someone to spend these next chilly couple of months with, we’re still reeling from the whiplash of these breakups and wondering what exactly is in the water in Hollywood.
To answer our burning queries, SheKnows spoke to relationship expert Amy Chan, the founder of Renew Breakup Bootcamp and host of The Breakup Bootcamp — a podcast that delves into the healing stages post-breakup.
Chan tells us that this new wave of celebrity breakups might actually be because of the changing seasons not in spite of it.
“As the seasons change, the approaching holidays and colder weather can impose a sense of commitment or the need to define the relationship. Some people, including celebrities, prefer ending the relationship rather than escalating the commitment,” Chan tells us.
“The holidays, such as Thanksgiving and Christmas, often involve numerous family and social gatherings. This can lead individuals to assess whether they want to introduce their partner to their family, or alternatively, if they would rather avoid spending another holiday season with their partner’s family. Opting for a breakup before the holidays can be a tactic to avoid these potential complications.”
This hypothesis might be applicable to some of the more tame celebrity splits that played out in recent memory. But when it comes to couples like Jonas and Turner or Grande and Gomez, we know a little too much about the factors that led to their split.
For Turner and Jonas, disagreements over where to raise their kids and conflicting work schedules seem to have driven a wedge. Grande and Gomez reportedly hit a wall when her Wicked filming schedule kept her in London before she allegedly began an affair with her co-star.
Chan says these factors are inevitably harmful in relationships. “Maintaining a healthy relationship is hard for most people in this day in age, and celebrities face additional challenges,” Chan tells us. “They often travel — tours, filming, etc — and the physical space apart creates more disconnection from their partner. Some research suggests there are higher infidelity rates among those who travel frequently for work.”
Despite Meryl Streep’s separation from her husband, Don Gummer, the actress continues to wear her wedding ring for a reported sentimental reason. https://t.co/jGOdrpmmfr
— SheKnows (@SheKnows) October 26, 2023
After filing for divorce from Costner, reports emerged that Baumgartner had struggled with him being away for work so often. Swift’s breakup concurring with the beginning of her international tour also doesn’t seem to be a coincidence.
Yet for Chan, there is also other factors that explain why these couples in particular called it quits in comparison to other celebrity couples who are still standing.
“Joe Manganiello and Sofia Vergara dated for a mere 6 months before getting engaged,” Chan points out. “Ariana and Dalton were together for 9 months before getting engaged.”
“The early stage of a relationship is called the passionate stage. You’re blissed out on dopamine. Everything is exciting and about the future and possibility,” she explains. “This is why people often have ‘rose-tinted glasses’ and tend to overlook potential red flags or negative aspects of their partner. Research shows that these elevated love chemicals last on average for 12-18 months.”
Again, being a celebrity heightens these factors due to the additional pressure to put on a united front for fans and the media.
“Celebrities often need to constantly consider their brand and perception of their brand,” Chan notes “They are productized, branded and sold. There are downsides to this as they may feel an external pressure and the feeling of ‘living for the audience’ which can affect genuine emotions and dynamics.”
At least there is strength in numbers (we hope!) and we’re guessing the expanded celebrity dating pool has made finding a match on Raya much easier for these stars. That said, Chan advises them — and anyone else going through a cuffing season breakup — to tread carefully, take time to heal and don’t put pressure on themselves to be too close with their ex.
Though Chan also suggests not taking lessons from some of the more contentious divorces mentioned and try to keep it amicable! She says: “If they’re still blaming their ex, vilifying their ex, or psychoanalyzing their ex — they are still in a relationship with their ex!”
Before you go, click here to see surprising celebrity couples we never saw coming.