Couples Who Called It Quits In 2020

All things must pass. That's the timeless wisdom imparted by the late, great philosopher-Beatle George Harrison in one of his more memorable solo songs, and that truism is something that's sadly typical when it comes to celebrity breakups. Whether these unions are short-lived or long-term, there's almost always more to the story than what meets the eye — or even what we read in tabloids or TMZ.

In fact, the reasons for celebrity splits can certainly run the gamut, from overwhelming age differences to cheating scandals to incompatibility issues and more. And when stars do call it quits, it's usually accompanied by a terse statement from their publicists, insisting they'll remain friends, the breakup was amicable — and will generally conclude with the boilerplate request asking everyone to respect their privacy during this difficult time. 

For a variety of reasons, 2020 has been something of a banner year for celebrity breakups, with some big names declaring themselves suddenly single. Find out more about the circumstances underlying these celebrity couples who called it quits in 2020.

Rumors were rife that all was not well in the decade-long marriage of Brian Austin Green and Megan Fox, when the Transformers star was spotted out on the town with Machine Gun Kelly in May 2020.

In a subsequent edition of his podcast, ...with Brian Austin Green, the Beverly Hills, 90210 alum confirmed that he and Fox had split. According to Green (via People), he and his former wife had a heart-to-heart when she returned from shooting a film in which the rapper was her co-star. "She said, 'I realized when I was out of the country working alone that I feel more like myself and I liked myself better during that experience and I think that might be something worth trying for me,'" Green recalled. "I was shocked and I was upset about it but I can't be upset at her because she didn't ask to feel that way ... We talked about it a little more and said let's separate for a bit ... and so we did." 

Fox and Kelly subsequently confirmed they were a couple, making their red carpet debut at the American Music Awards in November 2020.

In April 2020, Armie Hammer and wife Elizabeth Chambers were caught up in minor backlash when she revealed on Instagram that they were quarantining in the Caymans during the pandemic. Just three months later, they announced their 10-year marriage was through. The exes put out a joint statement via Hammer's Instagram, writing in part, "Thirteen years as best friends, soulmates, partners and then parents. It has been an incredible journey, but together, we've decided to turn the page and move on from our marriage."

While that may sound amicable, there appeared to be more to the story. A spokesperson for the Los Angeles Superior Public Court told ET that Chambers filed for divorce on July 10, listing July 6 as the date of separation. The food entrepreneur sought "joint legal custody and primary physical custody" of their young kids, daughter Harper and son Ford, as well as spousal support.

However, ET noted an unusual wrinkle in Hammer's response. His court documents indicated their separation date as Jan. 22, 2020. This would place the separation before their 10-year wedding anniversary, while Chambers' docs indicated the separation occurred after 10 years of marriage. This, noted ET, could impact the degree of spousal support under California law.

Kelly Clarkson married Brandon Blackstock in 2013, but the marriage had unraveled by June 2020. That was when, according to court documents obtained by The Blast, Clarkson filed for divorce, requesting the enforcement of the couple's prenup.

Clarkson addressed her marital split in the season debut of her daytime talk show, reported CNN, admitting that 2020 had thus far been "a dumpster fire" that "brought a lot of change also to [her] personal life." She added, "Definitely didn't see anything coming that came."

In a November episode of The Kelly Clarkson Show, the American Idol alum hinted at the possible issues underlying the split, explaining that she's constantly evolving and noting, "I always want to make sure I'm being the best version of myself." Clarkson added: "You want to make sure you're surrounded by people that also want to be the best versions of themselves and also want a good common goal for everyone, not just themselves, right? ... People could be bad for you in a certain time. And I think that everybody just goes, 'Oh, well that means they're bad.' Well it doesn't necessarily mean that, it just means that you're on different paths."

People confirmed in March 2020 that Demi Lovato and actor Max Ehrich were dating, with Ehrich sharing an Instagram post indicating he and the singer were quarantining together in her Los Angeles home. Quarantine must have agreed with the two: in July, Lovato revealed in a since-deleted Instagram post (but captured by ET) that Ehrich popped the question — and she said yes. 

In a subsequent interview with SiriusXM that September, Lovato confirmed that quarantining together allowed them the chance to "share this time together that [they] wouldn't have normally gotten to spend." That extended period of togetherness, she explained, "Accelerated our relationship on a level that, you know, you can't really explain to people, but quarantine either makes or breaks the deal."

About a week after that interview, however, the couple's whirlwind romance had abruptly run out of steam. "It was a tough decision, but Demi and Max have decided to go their separate ways to focus on their respective careers," a source cited by People claimed. "They have respect and love for one another and will always cherish the time they spent together." 

When TMZ reported in September 2020 that Cardi B had filed for divorce from husband Offset, was anyone really surprised? After all, drama has dogged the couple's relationship since they secretly wed in September 2017. That news was followed by scandal, when evidence emerged that Offset had been cheating. However, they eventually worked it out, with the newlyweds announcing in early 2018 that they were expecting a baby. That July, the "Bodak Yellow" rapper confirmed on Instagram that they'd welcomed daughter Kulture.

In an interview with Vogue, Cardi B explained why she chose not to leave. "When me and my husband got into our issues — you know, he cheated and everything — and I decided to stay with him and work together with him, a lot of people were so mad at me; a lot of women felt disappointed in me," she said. "But it's real-life s**t. If you love somebody and you stop being with them..."

While she described the marriage as "irretrievably broken" after filing for divorce, she decided to call the split off just two months later. "I can confirm that the divorce filed by Cardi B has been dismissed," Offset's lawyer said in a statement to Billboard, adding that the pair had reconciled.

Dancing with the Stars alum Julianne Hough and NHL star Brooks Laich tied the knot in 2017. Two years later, Hough shared a big revelation about her sexuality that she'd dropped on her husband. "I [told him], 'You know I'm not straight, right?' And he was like, 'I'm sorry what?' I was like, 'I'm not. But I choose to be with you,'" she told Women's Health.

In January 2020, "multiple sources" blabbed to People that the marriage was apparently troubled. "They've been having problems for months," one source claimed, citing Laich's difficulties in coping with his wife being "very independent and a free spirit." According to the insider, the couple were "not giving up, but also not talking about it" publicly. 

That May, the pair issued a statement to People, announcing, "We have lovingly and carefully taken the time we have needed to arrive at our decision to separate." In November of that year, Hough decided to make that separation permanent by filing for divorce. "They were trying to work on things but Julianne realized she's happier having her freedom," a source cited by People claimed. "Brooks tried to give it to her but he also hit his limit."

Riverdale co-stars Cole Sprouse and Lili Reinhart were rumored to be a couple almost as soon as the series premiered — Sprouse's onscreen dad, Skeet Ulrich, kind of spilled the beans way back in August 2017, when he told ET about the pair's "great chemistry." Despite reports of "canoodling" at that year's Comic-Con, it wasn't until May 2018 that they made their red carpet debut at the Met Gala (albeit without officially confirming their relationship). 

Later that year, Reinhart told Harper's Bazaar that she was "not OK talking about [her] relationship" at the moment. However, they eventually became less coy: in May 2019, Sprouse told the Los Angeles Times that he and Reinhart "legitimately could not stay away from one another."

Yet there was trouble on the horizon. In January 2020, Sprouse was seen with actress Lily-Rose Depp, and in April 2020 denied rumors that he'd cheated on Reinhart with model Kaia Gerber. At that time, E! reported that Sprouse and Reinhart were still together, while People reported the following month that they'd split. Sprouse himself confirmed as much in an Instagram post that August, writing in part, "Lili and I initially separated in January of this year, deciding to more permanently split in March."

Rachel Bilson and Bill Hader's relationship was apparently as sweet as it was short. The former star of The O.C. and the Saturday Night Live alum first met back in 2013, when they worked together on the movie The To Do List. However, they didn't get together until years later, with TMZ reporting in December 2019 that the pair had been spotted together in a Starbucks in Tulsa (Hader's hometown). The following month, they made their relationship official when they hit the red carpet of the Golden Globes together in January 2020. 

"They spend a lot of time together and it seems like a serious relationship," a source told People that February. "It seems like a fun relationship ... she won't stop laughing when she's with Bill. He is very sweet and considerate to her. Quick to open doors and acts very attentive."

However, the relationship did not stand the test of time. In July 2020, People reported it was over, with "multiple sources" confirming that Bilson and Hader had split.

Ryan Seacrest and Shayna Taylor had an on-again, off-again romance for years. According to People, the model/personal chef and the American Idol host started dating in 2013, only to split in 2014. They reunited in 2016, and moved in together in May 2017. This was followed in 2019 by another breakup, only for the on-and-off pairing to get back together again later that year.

In June 2020, they called it quits yet again. "Ryan and Shayna decided to end their romantic relationship amicably some time ago," Seacrest's rep told People. "They remain good friends, each other's biggest supporters and will always cherish their time together as a couple." By all appearances, Seacrest didn't spend much time moping around all heartbroken: at the time of that statement, the Daily Mail published photos of Seacrest chilling poolside with a bikini-clad "mystery blonde" while vacationing in Mexico.

Seacrest offered insight into his and Taylor's relationship during an episode of Live with Kelly and Ryan earlier in the year, People recalled. "You know, when we drive by an amusement park, I always look at the roller coaster and go, 'Look, there we are,'" he quipped. "It's all definitely upside down loops."

It was in October 2018 that Us Weekly confirmed that Channing Tatum — who split with wife Jenna Dewan earlier that year — was dating British singer Jessie J. The following month, the Magic Mike star was spotted attending her London concert. That same month, Tatum went public with the relationship in an Instagram post praising Jessie J's performance at London's Royal Albert Hall. 

As their relationship progressed, the couple weren't shy about showing some serious PDA. That was evident when they were photographed snuggling up during a trip to Disneyland in May 2019. Later, Tatum shared a nude photo of himself on Instagram, revealing it was his part of the deal to settle a bet with Jessica Cornish (the singer's real name) after losing a game of Jenga. 

That December, however, Us Weekly reported they'd split up. But wait — just one month later, in January 2020, E! reported that Tatum and Jessie J were back together. The reconciliation didn't last long: in April, they had called it quits for a second time, with Us Weekly reporting that a source divulged it was "hard to reestablish their relationship but realized that they were better off as friends."

Anyone who's seen The Godfather (parts one and two... three not so much) and films such as Serpico and Dog Day Afternoon can all agree that Al Pacino is one of the finest actors of his generation. 

As a boyfriend, however? The jury appears to be out on that after Pacino's February 2020 split from Meital Dohan. As the Israeli actress told LaIsha magazine, according to The Times of Israel, the hefty age gap between them was decidedly a factor. "It's hard to be with a man so old, even Al Pacino," said Dohan of her ex, who was 79 (while she was 43) at the time of their breakup. "The age gap is difficult, yes. I tried to deny it, but now he is already an elderly man, to be honest."

However, Dohan admitted she was still glad she could be "a part of his legacy," and hoped they could "remain good friends." That may be a little unlikely, given that she also described Pacino as a cheapskate. "How can I say politely that he didn't like to spend money?" she added.

Olivia Wilde and Jason Sudeikis began dating in 2011, and eventually became engaged. While remaining unmarried, they became the parents of two children before announcing in November 2020 that they were breaking up.

According to People, a source claimed that they'd actually been apart for awhile before that. "The split happened at the beginning of the year," the insider revealed to the magazine. "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."

Meanwhile, a source cited by Us Weekly alleged that their respective career ebbs and flows also played a role: "She was also busier than him at times, which was difficult at times. They butted heads on many occasions and decided it was best to go their separate ways ... Bottom line: they had issues and they were never going to get married." However, that same insider added that there had been "no drama" between Sudeikis and Wilde, noting, "They're handling this like adults ... No one expects any big money grab or custody battle."

Lena Waithe, known for her role on Netflix's Master of None and for exec producing Showtime's The Chi, wed producer Alana Mayo in 2019, tying the knot in a top-secret ceremony in San Francisco. "We snuck and did it, you know. We didn't really make any announcements or a big, you know," Waithe revealed to guest-host John Legend during an appearance on The Ellen DeGeneres Show in November 2019.

Clearly, the decision to marry was apparently a rash one: in January 2020, just two months after revealing they were hitched, Waithe and Mayo announced they were separating. "After careful thought and consideration, we have decided to part ways," they said in a joint statement to People. "We have nothing but support for one another and ask that you respect our privacy during this time."

Ten months after announcing the separation — and a year after confirming the wedding — Mayo filed for divorce, according to court documents obtained by The Blast. 

If there's one thing that Pamela Anderson has proven over the years, it's that she's a firm believer in the institution of marriage. She's just not very good at it.

Consider the evidence: the Canadian Baywatch star wed Mötley Crüe drummer Tommy Lee, marrying in 1995 just four days after they met. They divorced four years later. She then married Kid Rock in 2006 (three years after calling off their first engagement), before splitting up in 2007. Later that same year, Anderson wed producer/pro poker player Rick Salomon, with that marriage ending after 10 weeks. The reportedly married again in 2014, splitting up the following year.

Anderson remained unmarried until January 2020, when she wed 22-years-her-senior producer Jon Peters, who famously dated Barbra Streisand for nearly a decade. After 12 days, it was all over. A source told Page Six that Anderson immediately realized she'd "made a terrible mistake," because Peters was reportedly "too controlling." Peters, however, offered a different story, claiming to Page Six that he paid off $200,000 of Anderson's debts, adding, "And this is the thanks I get." After the end of the marriage — which may or may not have been legit — Peters lamented, "There's no fool like an old fool."