Celebs Who Ditched Their SO For Someone More Famous

The following article includes references to domestic abuse and sexual assault allegations.

Like us regular, non-famous folk, celebs can go through serious relationship problems. However, sometimes the stars might be fully to blame for their own romantic issues — like, say, when they swap out their longtime partner for a high-profile lover with a household name. Over the years, there have been tons of celebrities who have stepped out on their significant others, not only cheating on them but also leaving them behind for an A-lister. And, well, that's got to sting.

So, which rapper was exposed for cheating on his wife with a popular model and entrepreneur? Which actor left his longtime girlfriend for a former Disney Channel darling? And which singer ditched his girlfriend on Christmas Day to spend time with his ex-lover, who, we might add, is a major pop star? From Liam Hemsworth and Dwyane Wade to Zayn Mailk and Frank Sinatra, let's explore all the celebs who broke their SO's hearts after seemingly leaving them for huge stars.

Marilyn Manson had been dating burlesque dancer Dita Von Teese for six years before they married in November 2005, but there'd soon be trouble in paradise. In 2006, Manson sparked a romance with actor Evan Rachel Wood, who was 18 years old at the time, after meeting at a party. Wood would later tell Rolling Stone she was instantly fascinated with the rocker, despite their 18-year age gap, and felt like pursuing a relationship with him because, "I met somebody that promised freedom and expression and no judgments. And I was craving danger and excitement."

Manson, on the other hand, told Spin magazine (via People) that he felt trapped in the marriage: "I was completely destroyed. I had no soul left. ... It's the old cliche, marriage changes everything." Their marriage officially ended when Von Teese filed for divorce in December 2006. Manson and Wood then had an on-and-off relationship for four years and got engaged in January 2010 after he proposed to the TV star during his concert in Paris. But the couple would never make it to the altar, because they broke up the following year. While speaking at Cannes Lions in 2015, Manson expressed regret over his failed marriage, and simply later said of his ill-fated relationship with Wood, "Mistake!" (via the Daily Mail).

In 2021, Wood levied disturbing abuse and rape allegations against her ex; Manson denied the claims and, in 2022, filed a defamation lawsuit. Of the ongoing case, Wood told "Good Morning America," "I stand by everything that I've said about the abuse allegations."

If you or someone you know is dealing with domestic abuse, you can call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1−800−799−7233. You can also find more information, resources, and support at their website.

If you or anyone you know has been a victim of sexual assault, help is available. Visit the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network website or contact RAINN's National Helpline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673).

By March 2018, Rich The Kid's wife, Antonette Willis, was so fed up with his alleged cheating that she took to his Instagram account and blasted him online for his supposed affairs with models Miracle Watts and India Love. But the most surprising claim from Willis was that Rich had allegedly stepped out on her for social media star Blac Chyna. According to Willis, Chyna's relationship with her then-boyfriend, rapper YBN Almighty Jay, was allegedly just a cover-up for her real romance with the "Plug Walk" rapper.

It's unclear whether Rich ever tried to get his wife back and right his apparent wrongs, but Willis proved she definitely wasn't bluffing when she filed for divorce just days after going public with her accusations. According to TMZ, Willis requested full physical custody and joint legal custody of their two young children, as well as spousal support. That May, Willis accused Rich The Kid of physical abuse, as well as allegedly forcing her to get several abortions.

Not long after the end of his marriage, Rich moved on with Tori Brixx, with whom he welcomed his third child in April 2019.

If you or someone you know is dealing with domestic abuse, you can call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1−800−799−7233. You can also find more information, resources, and support at their website.

Chris Brown and Karrueche Tran's on-and-off four-year relationship first came to a screeching halt when the "Loyal" singer was spotted at a Lakers game alongside his ex-girlfriend Rihanna in 2012. Brown had reportedly left Tran at his condo in Los Angeles on Christmas Day (SMH), telling her he was only stepping out for a moment. But the jig was up when Tran discovered photos of him out with the Barbadian beauty on social media. This led to some back and forth digs between Rihanna and Tran on social media. Meanwhile, Tran later told Iyanla Vanzant for OWN, "I was under the impression that it was a friend type of — not a friend — but it wasn't what it became to be. I didn't want to believe it."

The rekindled romance with Rihanna didn't last long though, with Brown contributing their downfall to the "Diamonds" hitmaker's hectic schedule during an interview with Australian radio program "The Kyle and Jackie Show." But Tran apparently still had time for the "Poppin" crooner, as the two reconciled — that is, until 2015, when it was revealed that Brown had actually fathered a daughter behind Tran's back with her former friend.

After accusing her ex of domestic abuse, Tran was granted a restraining order against Brown in 2017 after he allegedly threatened her life.

If you or someone you know is dealing with domestic abuse, you can call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1−800−799−7233. You can also find more information, resources, and support at their website.

Before Liam Hemsworth hooked up with Miley Cyrus, he was reportedly in a six-year relationship with high school sweetheart Laura Griffin. However, he allegedly left her for the "Hannah Montana" star in 2009, after he and the singer-actor clicked on the set of "The Last Song." They got engaged shortly afterward. Although the moment might've been a dream come true for the Disney alum, Griffin told Celebuzz in 2012 that she was blindsided by the sudden engagement. "Hearing your high school sweetheart — who is the same age as you — is getting married, is a shock," she explained to the outlet. "Of course it hurts seeing someone I spent so many years with moving on, especially when I learned from the media."

Hemsworth and Cyrus' on-and-off relationship would temporarily end in 2013. Cyrus attributed their breakup to her desire to find herself, so that probably explains, at least in part, her wild-child "Bangerz" era. When Cyrus and Hemsworth rekindled their romance, they seemed stronger than ever, and even got hitched in December 2018 — only to call it quits for good the following August. 

Naturally, the divorce gave the "Flowers" hitmaker plenty of writing inspiration, but in 2020, Cyrus credited the wildfires that destroyed their Malibu home in November 2018 for their nuptials and subsequent downfall. "As you drown, you reach for that lifesaver and you want to save yourself," she told Rolling Stone. "I think that's really what, ultimately, getting married was for me. One last attempt to save myself."

Jeremy "Prison Bae" Meeks shot to superstardom after his mugshot went viral in 2014, thanks to his perfectly chiseled jawline and piercing blue eyes. So, it's no surprise that he often catches the attention of people all over the world. But it was a surprise when photos of Meeks were released in the summer of 2017 that allegedly showed him cheating on his wife of eight years, Melissa Meeks, with Topshop heiress Chloe Green.

The so-called "Hot Felon" ended his marriage and filed for divorce that October, just months after being spotted locking lips with Green. His wife would go on to say that she missed him, despite being blindsided by his infidelity, but Jeremy had already moved on. Jeremy and Green welcomed a son, Jayden, into the world in June 2018. By the following summer, however, the new couple would call it quits.

Jeremy Meeks — who has since dabbled in modeling and acting — opened up to Extra about living the single life in 2020, saying, "I am trying to focus on self." He even expressed his interest in going on "The Bachelor." However, Jeremy also revealed that he's on good terms with both of his exes, saying of Melissa and Green, "I have an incredible relationship with Chloe, the mother of my 2-year-old. And now I have a relationship with the mother of my oldest son. We're all coparenting. They are incredible mothers."

The timeline of Tristan Thompson's relationship with Khloé Kardashian is pretty fuzzy, but rumor has it that the NBA baller left his then-pregnant girlfriend, blogger and boutique owner Jordan Craig, for the reality star in August 2016. Craig was six months along when Thompson started dating Kardashian, welcoming their son that December.

About a year later, Kardashian and Thompson announced they were expecting a child of their own in a sweet message posted to the Good American businesswoman's Instagram page. But by April 2018, the pregnant reality star — about to give birth to daughter True — was blindsided by photos and videos that allegedly showed Thompson cheating on her with multiple women. While many people might've expected Craig to chime in and ridicule Kardashian for the sad moment, she took the high road, writing on her Instagram Story, "If you respect yourself and you respect others, you would never make light of the misfortune of anyone, nor would you feel indemnified when it comes at the expense of others. Wishing peace for everyone."

Perhaps the good juju Craig put out there is why Kardashian and Thompson tried to make it work, albeit in an on-and-off fashion amid various other infidelity allegations against the NBA star, and welcomed a son via surrogate in August 2022. However, shortly after baby No. 2 was conceived, Thompson admitted to fathering a child with personal trainer Maralee Nichols. Kardashian called it quits in January 2022 — seemingly for good, though rumors of a rekindled romance surfaced again in March 2023, so who knows?

Before Justin Theroux snatched up former "Friends" star Jennifer Aniston, he was in a long-term relationship with stylist Heidi Bivens. The two were together for 14 years, before splitting in 2011, and he quickly moved on to Aniston, whom he'd gotten to know during the filming of "Wanderlust" in 2010.

Although Aniston's rep denied they were dating in 2011, the evidence seemed undeniable: The celebs were spotted nearly everywhere together, and, within just a few months, rumors spread that they were already living together. By the end of 2012, Theroux and Aniston were engaged to be married. The two tied the knot in August 2015, but the marriage would sadly crumble just two and a half years later. According to a joint statement shared by Aniston's publicist in February 2018 (via People), "This decision was mutual and lovingly made at the end of last year. We are two best friends who have decided to part ways as a couple, but look forward to continuing our cherished friendship."

While there was speculation that distance might've played a role in their relationship's demise, Theroux and Aniston did remain on good terms following an amicable split that thankfully seemed to lack any of the typical Hollywood drama. Of the divorce itself, Theroux later told The New York Times, "It was heartbreaking, only in the sense that the friendship would not be the same, as far as just the day-to-day."

"Love & Hip Hop" stars Erica Mena and Cyn Santana went through their ups and downs as a couple in 2013, but things came to a head in February 2014, when Mena kissed rapper Bow Wow during an appearance on "106 & Park." Although Mena maintained the lip lock was a stunt for the show, Santana felt betrayed by her girlfriend and called her out during a chat that was captured on "L&HH." The situation escalated from there and things got physical between the two, marking the end of their romance.

By the end of the year, Mena was not only in a relationship with Bow Wow but also engaged to him, telling Vibe that the controversial kiss they shared later led to them realizing their true feelings for one another. "When I realized I was in love with him," she added, "it was the craziest thing because once I told him that me and Cyn were really done and over with, the first thing he was really concerned about was how I felt."

Unfortunately, the wedding would never come to fruition as the two broke up in 2015, leading to a lot of back and forth on social media and allegations of abuse against the rapper — though they seemed to have buried the hatchet by 2021, when Bow Wow publicly expressed support for his ex-fiancée amid her divorce from Safaree Samuels. Meanwhile, Santana moved on with veteran rapper and "L&HH" alum Joe Budden, welcoming her first child in December 2017. However, they also eventually called off their engagement in 2019.

If you or someone you know is dealing with domestic abuse, you can call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1−800−799−7233. You can also find more information, resources, and support at their website.

Dwyane Wade was still married to his wife and high school sweetheart, Siohvaughn Funches, when he met actor Gabrielle Union at a Super Bowl party in February 2007. Seemingly out of nowhere, he filed for separation from Funches just four months later, and as their divorce proceedings began, so did the rumors of an affair between Wade and Union. In the middle of the divorce battle, Funches filed a lawsuit against the "Bring It On" star, seeking $50,000 in damages for alleged inappropriate behavior she claimed caused her and Wade's two children emotional distress. A judge, however, tossed out Funches' lawsuit in August 2010 — a month after Wade and Union made their first public appearance as a couple.

Union opened up about her romance with the NBA baller in a 2012 interview with JET, insisting that she hadn't broken up his marriage with Funches. But she also didn't appear to be sad about the demise of the relationship either, telling the outlet (via Us Weekly), "This kind of love is a gift." Following a brief breakup in 2013, during which Wade fathered a child with "Basketball Wives" star Aja Metoyerin, he and Union married in a 2014 lavish ceremony and welcomed a daughter via surrogate to their blended family in 2018.

"This is both of our second marriages, and we're super transparent about that," Union admitted to People in 2021. "We didn't do it right, the first time around. There's another way — to be more collaborative and equitable. We humble ourselves, listen and we meet in the middle."

Rapper Tyga had dated model Blac Chyna for around three years after meeting in 2011. The two welcomed their first and only child together, King Cairo, just over a year later, and they were engaged to be married shortly afterwards. However, it's been infamously speculated that the 24-year-old rapper ditched Chyna in 2014 for a then-17-year-old Kylie Jenner. 

Tyga denied as much on "The Breakfast Club" in 2015 (via Billboard): "I wanna be clear to everybody, I didn't leave my family to be with Kylie. That's ridiculous." But what followed was a bunch of indirect jabs between the new couple and Chyna on social media — though nothing was more shocking than when the latter started dating Jenner's brother, Rob Kardashian, in what many people suspect was revenge for the lip kit mogul allegedly stealing her man. However, both of those on-and-off relationships eventually crashed and burned by 2017. Jenner, who admitted on "Life of Kylie" that their age gap played a role in their amicable split, went on to date rapper Travis Scott, sharing an on-again, off-again relationship and welcoming two children. Meanwhile, Kardashian and Chyna welcomed daughter Dream, but called off their engagement after the rapper allegedly cheated on him.

Chyna, who's spoken openly about both seemingly tricky co-parenting situations, reflected on her messy breakup with Tyga on "The Jason Lee Show" in 2023. "You've got to forgive people and move on," she said. "'Cause otherwise you're just going to harbor all this hate and then you'll start changing."

In 2016, the late Carrie Fisher debuted her memoir "The Princess Diarist," revealing that she had a three-month affair with actor Harrison Ford. The pair met on the set of 1977's "Star Wars: A New Hope," where Fisher, of course, starred as Princess Leia, and Ford portrayed Han Solo. The revelation was shocking as Harrison was married to his first wife, Mary Marquardt, and the couple had two children. Fisher and Ford also had a considerable age gap. She was 19 when she landed the role, while Ford was 33.

Ford opted not to comment for the duration of Fisher's subsequent book tour. He also didn't divulge much when asked about her memoir by GQ in 2017. While Ford was forewarned that Fisher wanted to include their affair in her memoir, he simply stated of the experience of it being made public, "It was strange. For me." And, no, he didn't bother reading it either. However, before her untimely death in December 2016, the actors reunited and starred in 2015's "Star Wars: The Force Awakens." Ultimately, in light of her passing, Ford told GQ of the affair, "I don't really feel that it's a subject that I want to discuss."

Ford divorced his first wife in 1979, with no reports suggesting it had anything to do with Fisher. He remarried his second wife, Melissa Mathison, in 1983 until their separation in 2001. The actor has been married to Calista Flockhart since 2010. 

Remember when Zayn Malik got a massive tattoo of Little Mix starlet Perrie Edwards? The former couple had initially met on U.K.'s "The X Factor" in 2011 when Little Mix won that season. It was a match made in heaven, with Malik professing his love by getting a gigantic tattoo of Edwards' face on his bicep and proposing to the singer in 2013.

By 2015, Malik said goodbye to One Direction and allegedly ended his engagement with Edwards via text. Malik denied the claim, telling Fader, "I have more respect for Perrie than to end anything over text message. I love her a lot, and I always will, and I would never end our relationship over four years like that." However, she would seemingly confirm it in "Our World," Little Mix's 2016 autobiography, writing (via Grazia), "It was horrible, the worst time in my life." Shortly after their split, Malik began dating model Gigi Hadid. They made their romance known when Hadid starred in Malik's music video for "Pillowtalk." Meanwhile, Little Mix released the song "Shout Out to My Ex," which appeared to take a dig at Malik.

Malik and Hadid broke up and got back together several times. In September 2020, they welcomed a daughter named Khai, but the two were over for good the following year. In October 2021, Malik was charged with multiple counts of harassment, including allegedly shoving Hadid's mother, Yolanda Hadid, at their Pennsylvania home. Malik pleaded no contest and faced 360 days of probation, per TMZ. 

If you or someone you know is dealing with domestic abuse, you can call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1−800−799−7233. You can also find more information, resources, and support at their website.

Zoë Kravitz and Karl Glusman were married for 18 months when the daughter of Lenny Kravitz filed for divorce just two days before Christmas in 2020. By the following year, "The Batman" actor was being linked to Channing Tatum, though it appeared they were just working together for Kravitz's directorial debut for the film "Pussy Island." 

In June 2021, Zoë Kravitz told Deadline that Tatum was her first choice when thinking of actors to play the lead in her movie. "[He was the one] I thought of when I wrote this character. I just knew from 'Magic Mike' and his live shows, I got the sense he's a true feminist, and I wanted to collaborate with someone who was clearly interested in exploring this subject matter," she said. That summer, photos captured Kravitz riding on the back of Tatum's BMX bike with her arms around him in New York City.

In August 2022, Kravitz opened up about working with Tatum on a more personal level. "When you make things with people, it's a very sacred space, and when you're compatible with somebody creatively, it often opens up other channels because you're kind of sharing all of yourself," Kravitz told The Wall Street Journal, adding, "I'm really grateful that this movie has brought him into my life that way." That same month, the two were spotted vacationing in Italy, and Tatum later admitted to following several Kravitz fan accounts on Instagram. "I have no chill," he quipped to Vanity Fair in January 2023.

Eddie Cibrian and LeAnn Rimes have been married for over a decade, but the road to marriage was challenging. In March 2009, it was first reported that Cibrian and Rimes had an affair after meeting on the set of their film "Northern Lights." At the time, the country singer was married to Dean Sheremet, and Cibrian was married to Brandi Glanville, with whom he shares two children. 

The stars initially denied having an affair. However, by that summer, both stars separated from their respective spouses. Cibrian filed for divorce from Glanville in August, while Sheremet and Rimes settled their divorce that December. The following year, the "How Do I Live" songstress revealed to People that she was sorry for breaking up a marriage, adding, "I hate that people got hurt, but I don't regret the outcome." However, Glanville didn't find Rimes' apology sincere. In 2013, she told Glamour, "Marriages break up all the time. People have affairs. Happens every day. It matters how you handle yourself after and if you're really remorseful. I've never found LeAnn to be remorseful. I found her to be like, 'Nah-nah-nah-nah-nah, I got your family.'"

Cibrian's divorce from "The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" star was finalized in October 2010, and he married Rimes in April 2011. It may have taken some time, but Rimes and Glanville even put their differences aside by 2018, when the reality star shared a selfie with the singer on Instagram.

Frank Sinatra's marriage to his first wife, Nancy Barbato, was over thanks to the singer's apparent wandering eye. He reportedly had affairs with Hollywood's prolific actors like Lana Turner and Marilyn Maxwell, but Barbato — who was the mother of his three children — still stuck by his side, as noted by The New York Times. However, their 12-year marriage was over in 1951, when the singer's affair with actor Ava Gardner was too much for Barbato to handle. He married Gardner just weeks after his divorce from Barbato was finalized.

Years later, Barbato reportedly told Tony Oppedisano, who was Sinatra's manager and who wrote the memoir "Sinatra and Me: In the Wee Small Hours," that she didn't want to divorce Sinatra at first. "The only reason I did eventually decide to grant him a divorce was because back in those days," she's quoted as saying (via Fox News), "if you were a public figure, like he was, and fooling around with someone, and it was known that you were married and had children, it would really damage your career."

Unfortunately, his affair with Gardner would hurt his music and movie career, as he became less of a fan favorite. The couple also often fought, with Gardner once stating (via People), "He has a temper that bursts into flames, while my temper burns inside for hours." She and Sinatra faced many adversities, with Gardner reportedly having had two abortions, and both having affairs with other people. By 1957, the couple divorced.

Daniel Craig and Rachel Weisz had an instant connection while filming "Dream House" in 2010. However, Craig was engaged to Satsuki Mitchell, while Weisz's fiancé was director Darren Aronofsky, whom she was with for nine years. But both stars separated from their partners the same year they filmed their movie, with the Daily Mail later reporting that Craig allegedly left his fiancée for Weisz.

In December 2010, Craig and Weisz added fuel to the speculation surrounding those romance rumors when they held hands in the countryside of England. In June 2011, they secretly wed, and in January 2012, they made their official debut as a couple when they walked the red carpet for the premiere of "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo." In 2018, they welcomed a daughter, whose name has not been revealed. 

After over a decade of marriage, the couple keeps their personal lives as private as possible. Weisz told More (via People) in 2016 that she and her husband aren't like most celeb couples who are willing to share their lives with the world, stating, "He's just too famous. It would be a betrayal. You have to protect your marriage." She added, "When you're young, you tell your girlfriends everything. One of the great pleasures of not being an adolescent is that you don't have to share everything. When you're married, that door closes. The audience goes, and you're in your own life."

Director Taika Waititi and Rita Ora went public with their romance in April 2021 when the songstress posted a photo on Instagram that showed Waititi's arms around her. She captioned the series of photos, "Good times, memories, random things on my phone and the ones that I love." However, fans later learned that the two had known one another since 2018, when Ora posted photos of her and Waititi celebrating Valentine's Day in 2022 on Instagram. "Us. 4 years ago. To now. thanks for being cool. And entertaining me forevs..Happy Valentine's Day bestie," she wrote.

In 2020, it was revealed that Waititi separated from his wife, New Zealand film director Chelsea Winstanley, in 2018. The exes were together for about seven years after tying the knot in 2012. They also share two daughters. Winstanley hinted that she was no longer with Waititi when she attended the 2020 Oscars with her mother, having shared a now-deleted picture of the two on the red carpet on Instagram. Neither Waititi nor Winstanley has commented on the reason behind their split. 

As for Waititi and Ora, the couple made their red carpet debut in August 2021 when they attended the LA premiere of "The Suicide Squad." In August 2022, the couple quietly tied the knot, with Ora confirming the news during an interview with "Heart Breakfast" in January 2023 (via People). "Yes. Here we are. They say everything happens for a reason. I am officially off the market, people!" Ora shared.

Country star Blake Shelton revealed that he was in love with Miranda Lambert while still married to his first wife, Kaynette Williams. It all went down when the "God's Country" singer and Lambert shared the stage at the CMT 100 Greatest Duets Concert in 2005, singing a rendition of the country classic "You're the Reason God Made Oklahoma." Shelton would later confess on VH1's "Behind the Music" (via Life & Style), "I've never had that kind of experience with anybody. I was a married guy, you know? Standing up there and singing with somebody and going, 'Man, this shouldn't be happening.'"

In fact, Lambert revealed that she also felt sparks with Shelton. She told People in 2011, "I knew he was married. I knew better, like, this is off-limits." The "Tin Man" hitmaker added, "I didn't know what to do with it, it was, like, my first duet with some other country star, and I didn't know if it was just initial butterflies because of that. I don't know what it was. It was just this draw to each other." 

Shelton had wed Williams in 2003, and she worked as the singer's road manager. However, the pair divorced in 2006. Shelton and Lambert began to date soon after, with both stars denying that it started as an affair. They married in 2011 but divorced in 2015, with reports alleging they'd both cheated. Shelton married No Doubt singer Gwen Stefani in July 2021, while Lambert wed former NYPD officer Brendan McLoughlin in February 2019. 

Andrew Garfield's work schedule for 2012's "The Amazing Spider-Man" reportedly took a toll on his three-year relationship with his girlfriend, fellow actor Shannon Woodward, despite Garfield stating that Woodward was extremely supportive of his budding career. "I think I'm just busier," he previously told Parade, adding, "I haven't got as much time to mope about and complain that I'm bored. She travels with me when she's not working. Whenever we have time, we're together." But the pair went their separate ways in 2011, as Garfield was filming his web-slinging role.

However, Garfield's bachelor status was short-lived. A romance blossomed between him and his "Spider-Man" co-star, Emma Stone. The Daily Mail confirmed their relationship when they were spotted kissing in New York City in March 2012. That same year, he gushed about their on-set chemistry, telling MTV News, "We got on really well as people, in between [takes]. That was the fun stuff: In between, we'd just mess around and I felt, 'Ah, this is different.'"

The couple worked together again in 2014's "The Amazing Spider-Man 2," but split in 2015. There didn't appear to be any bad blood between them, however, as Garfield gave Stone a standing ovation when the "La La Land" star won the Golden Globe for best actress in January 2017. The following month, a tearful Garfield proudly watched on as his ex nabbed her first Oscar win.