Divorces are often messy, but some are downright ugly. From explosive public feuds to bitter custody battles, these celebrity divorces left a lasting mark on Hollywood.
Let’s dive into the top 10 most scandalous celebrity splits of all time.
Johnny Depp & Amber Heard: Epic Courtroom Showdown
Johnny Depp and Amber Heard met on the set of the 2011 film The Rum Diary. They soon began dating and four years later, were married in February 2015, in Los Angeles.
However, their marriage crumbled just 15 months later when Amber filed for divorce on May 23, 2016, citing irreconcilable differences. Their split turned ugly when a week after initiating the divorce proceedings, the Aquaman actress filed a restraining order against her husband.
She accused him of domestic abuse, claiming that he had physically assaulted her with a cell phone, resulting in a severe eye injury. The temporary restraining order was granted on the same day.
Amber Heard left court today with a bruised face after being granted a restraining order https://t.co/QEDtxjj5Rp pic.twitter.com/jKuBrKqf4t
— JustJared.com (@JustJared) May 27, 2016
The Depp-Heard divorce saga appeared to conclude in January 2017 when the couple legally separated. However, the aftermath of their divorce was far from over.
In an open letter for Porter magazine, Amber spoke out about her experience as a victim of domestic abuse. She wrote,
“When a woman comes forward to speak out about injustice or her suffering… she will be met with hostility, skepticism and shame. Her motives will be questioned and her truth ignored… I never felt like anyone would or could rescue me…”
In a surprising turn of events, Johnny countersued his ex-wife for defamation in March 2019, following her public allegations of domestic abuse. Depp also claimed that Heard was the abuser in their relationship and not a victim.
The defamation trial began in April 2022 and concluded after nearly two months. This highly publicized trial was broadcast live and later released as a three-part documentary series on Netflix in 2023.
The court ruled in favor of Johnny, awarding him $15 million in damages. Following her defeat, the London Fields actress released a statement expressing her deep disappointment in the justice system. She wrote in a now-deleted X post,
“The disappointment I feel today is beyond words. I’m heartbroken that the mountain of evidence still was not enough to stand up to the disproportionate power, influence and sway of my ex-husband”.
Heard and Depp have both moved on with their lives since the conclusion of the defamation trial.
Ariana Grande & Dalton Gomez: Thank You, Next!
Ariana Grande and Dalton Gomez began dating in January 2020. They became engaged by December of that same year and were married in a private ceremony on May 17, 2021.
Two years after their fairytale wedding, news broke in July 2023 that the couple had actually separated back in January and were heading for divorce. As soon as the news became public, multiple sources confirmed that Ariana was in a new relationship with her Wicked co-star, Ethan Slater.
This fueled allegations of cheating on both the Supernatural singer and Slater’s part as they didn’t wait until they were officially separated from their respective spouses. Ethan was still married to his partner of 10 years, Lilly Jay, with whom he shared a less than a year old child at the time.
This was made worse by Lilly’s accusations of feeling blindsided by her husband’s sudden romance with Ariana.
Following infidelity rumors, Grande and Dalton filed for divorce in September 2023. The couple’s separation date was listed as February 20, 2023.
Despite the circumstances surrounding their divorce, the process appeared amicable. Just one month after filing, the two finalized their divorce in October 2023.
Six months after her divorce from Dalton, Ari released her album Eternal Sunshine in March 2024. One of the songs on the album, also titled Eternal Sunshine, is believed by fans to be about her ex-husband.
Her lyrics in the song hint at infidelity on Gomez’s part and suggest that the songstress may have discovered his infidelity and is expressing her pain and betrayal through the song. The lyrics read,
“We both know I couldn’t change you / I’ve never seen someone lie like you do / Now she’s in my bed, layin’ on your chest / Now I’m in my head, wonderin’ how it ends / I showed you all my demons, all my lies / Yet you played me…”
Following their separation, Gomez faced backlash from fans who accused him of infidelity. These accusations were fueled by assumptions based on Grande’s latest song.
In response to the online criticism, his sister, Tori Kailene Gomez, stepped forward to defend her brother. She dismissed the cheating rumors in a now-deleted comment on a TMZ Facebook post, where she wrote,
“Dalton didn’t cheat on Ariana. It’s unfair to jump to conclusions based solely on assumptions and the content of someone’s album. Ariana’s album gives her perspective, not necessarily Dalton’s. If he could speak, his side of the story might shed light on things differently”.
Ariana Grande also later appealed to her fans to refrain from attacking her ex-partner. Both Grande and Gomez have since moved on from their tumultuous divorce.
Charlie Sheen & Denise Richards: Addiction-Driven Scandal
Charlie Sheen and Denise Richards fell in love on the set of Spin City, in 2001. They were married a year later on June 15, 2002, at an estate in Brentwood, California.
Less than three years after their marriage, the actress filed for divorce on March 2, 2005, while she was six months pregnant with their second child.
Addressing the shocking split, Sheen released a statement through his representative who told PEOPLE magazine,
“We are deeply saddened by the recent events and out of our love and concern for our daughter Sam, our unborn child and each other, we ask that you respect our privacy during this difficult time”.
Denise accused her ex-husband of being unstable, violent, addicted to gambling and watching explicit online content. Due to these accusations, she obtained a restraining order against Charlie, which required him to stay at least 275 meters away from her and their daughters.
However, in mid-2006, she dropped the restraining order, and their divorce was finalized in November of the same year. But the couple’s bitter separation was far from over as for the next couple of years, Denise and Charlie were involved in a custody battle.
In 2010, the Two And A Half Men actor relapsed into addiction and was deemed unfit to care for his children. This led to Richards receiving sole custody of both their daughters, Sami and Lola.
More than a decade later, after settling their divorce and custody battle, Richards opened up about her toxic marriage to Sheen. In an appearance on the JustB with Bethenny Podcast, she revealed the real reason for divorcing the actor. She shared,
“I was ignorant when we got together about addiction because I was uneducated about it. I never thought he would ever relapse… I’ve been through hell and back with him. He was very different from what the public saw when he spiraled… There was a lot of stuff people did not know that wasn’t public”.
Since then, they have come a long way particularly following Charlie’s recovery journey from addiction and are now on amicable terms.
Brad Pitt & Angelina Jolie: Never-Ending Saga
Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie first met each other in 2004 on the set of their film Mr. And Mrs. Smith. Following Pitt’s divorce from his then wife Jennifer Aniston in early 2005, the two started dating.
After almost a decade of dating and three biological and three adopted children later, the couple tied the knot on August 23, 2014, in a destination wedding in France.
Shortly after their second wedding anniversary, Jolie filed for divorce from Pitt on September 20, 2016. She cited irreconcilable differences and requested physical custody of their six children.
A legal representative of Angelina told PEOPLE magazine about her heartbreaking decision that the real reason would not be revealed at the time. They said,
“Angelina Jolie Pitt has filed for dissolution of the marriage. This decision was made for the health of the family. She will not be commenting at this time, and asks that the family be given their privacy during this difficult time”.
It was later revealed that the couple’s divorce was a result of a heated family dispute on a private jet. The FBI and the Los Angeles Department of Children and Family Services also confirmed that Brad was under investigation for alleged child abuse.
It was reported that Maddox had stepped in to verbally stand up for his mother during a fight between Brad and Angelina. The actor allegedly lost his temper and the parent-child argument escalated into a physical assault.
The couple was legally pronounced to be separated in April 2019, however, their divorce was far from being settled and finalized. They went on to fight each other for custody of their children and shared financial assets.
In 2022, the Bullet Train actor sued his ex-wife for selling her stake in the couple’s joint winery.
It was because according to their agreement, neither party was allowed to do so without the other person’s approval. In this case, Brad accused Angelina of neglecting their agreement by not seeking his prior permission.
In turn, the Salt star’s legal team counter sued Brad in July 2023 for wasting the company’s assets, referring to the winery, and spending millions on his personal projects, including a swimming pool renovation and the restoration of a recording studio.
However, in December 2024, the two feuding exes finally reached a private settlement on mutually agreed terms. With this confidential agreement, Angelina and Brad’s divorce was officially finalized after an almost decade-long legal battle.
Moreover, Jolie shares custody of all her children with Brad but maintains primary custody, while the actor is limited to visitation rights only.
Arnold Schwarzenegger & Maria Shriver: Hush-Hush Secret Revealed
Arnold Schwarzenegger and Maria Shriver first met each other back in 1977 through a mutual friend. They got engaged in 1985 and a year later, the two tied the knot on April 26, 1986.
After 25 years together, Arnold and Maria publicly announced their decision to divorce in May 2011. They released a joint statement to announce the devastating news that read,
“After a great deal of thought, reflection, discussion, and prayer, we came to this decision together. At this time, we are living apart, while we work on the future of our relationship… We are continuing to parent our four children together”.
A week after the announcement, the couple’s real reason for ending their marriage came to light in May 2011.
In an interview with the Los Angeles Times, the Terminator star made a shocking revelation. He admitted to having an extramarital affair with one of his long-time housemaids, Mildred Baena.
The shocking news didn’t stop there. Schwarzenegger further disclosed that he had fathered a child with this maid over a decade ago and kept the news a secret from the whole world, including his wife. He told the publication,
“I told my wife about this event, which occurred over a decade ago… There are no excuses and I take full responsibility for the hurt I have caused. I have apologized to Maria, my children and my family. I am truly sorry. While I deserve your attention and criticism, my family does not”.
On July 11, 2011, as soon as he revealed this news, Maria rightfully filed for divorce. After 10 years of filing, Schwarzenegger and Shriver’s divorce was finalized in December 2021. It was labeled the most drawn-out divorce in Hollywood history.
Ever since their initial separation, the former couple has remained friendly and often participates in family gatherings with all their kids.
Joe Jonas & Sophie Turner: Fairytale Is A Lie!
Joe Jonas and Sophie Turner met at one of the singer’s concerts in the U.K in October 2016. They began dating soon after and were married in a secret Las Vegas ceremony on May 1, 2019, almost three years later.
After four years of marriage, the Sucker singer filed for divorce from Turner in a Miami court on September 5, 2023. He cited that their marriage was irretrievably broken and requested joint custody of their two daughters.
Following the filing, the couple released a joint statement on Instagram addressing their marital woes. They wrote,
At the time, an anonymous source close to the couple revealed new details about the downfall of their marriage. Speaking exclusively to TMZ, they claimed Joe was compelled to file for divorce due to Turner’s love for partying and her lack of involvement in caring for their children. They stated,
“Joe has been caring for their 2 young children pretty much all of the time, even as his band was touring. She likes to party, he likes to stay at home. They have very different lifestyles”.
Two weeks after the divorce filing, the Game of Thrones actress sued her ex-husband, accusing him of wrongfully detaining their children and requesting that he immediately return the girls to her in England.
On September 21, 2024, Joe’s representative addressed the allegations against him. They responded,
“This is an unfortunate legal disagreement about a marriage that is sadly ending… It is misleading at best, and a serious abuse of the legal system at worst. The children were not abducted”.
In January 2024, Sophie dropped the abduction charges against the singer regarding their children. Shortly after, in March, the couple asked a judge in Miami-Dade County to reactivate their divorce proceedings, which had previously been put on hold.
In May 2024, the actress, for the first time, spoke publicly about the emotional toll of her divorce from the Jonas Brother and the negative comments she received during that time. In a cover story for British Vogue, she candidly shared,
“I mean, those were the worst few days of my life… My kids were in the States and I couldn’t get to them… It hurt because I really do completely torture myself over every move I make as a mother—mum guilt is so real!”
Sophie Turner and Joe Jonas’ divorce was finalized on September 10, 2024, and they have since moved on with their lives.
Kim Kardashian & Kris Humphries: Fraud Exposé
Kim Kardashian and Kris Humphries began dating in October 2010 after meeting in New York City while the reality TV star was filming her show Kourtney & Kim Take New York. They were married less than a year later on August 20, 2011.
Unfortunately, Kim and Kris’ marriage was remarkably short-lived. Just 72 days after their union, The Kardashians star filed for divorce on October 31, 2011, citing irreconcilable differences.
Following the filing of the legal paperwork, Kim released a statement expressing her heartbreak and providing some insight into the reasons for their split. She shared,
“After careful consideration, I have decided to end my marriage… this was not an easy decision. I had hoped this marriage was forever but sometimes things don’t work out as planned. We remain friends and wish each other the best”.
this week ten years ago, kim kardashian married kris humphries in a private ceremony in montecito, california, attended by over 400 guests and more than a dozen cameras: pic.twitter.com/v7ZcHX1f4Q
— popculturediedin2009 (@pcd2009) August 28, 2021
In December 2011, just a month later, the NBA star made a bold move by filing legal papers to annul his marriage to Kim instead of pursuing a divorce. He claimed that their marriage was a fraud, staged to boost the ratings of Kim’s reality TV show.
While the divorce proceedings were still ongoing, Kim began dating Kanye West in February 2012. This sparked rumors that she had cheated on Humphries, although no solid evidence supported these claims.
What was expected to be a quick and straightforward divorce turned into a nearly two-year ordeal, largely due to Humphries’ insistence on pursuing an annulment on grounds of fraudulent marriage charges.
Kim Kardashian: Kris Humphries only paid for a fifth of my engagement ring https://t.co/O55QiEJmGW via @celebitchy pic.twitter.com/oqV8yVe57G
— SOCIALITE LIFE (@socialitelife) March 16, 2025
Speaking on behalf of the Keeping Up With The Kardashians star, her divorce lawyer at the time, Laura Wasser, voiced her frustration to the presiding judge over Humphries’ charges and his attempts to delay the divorce. She said,
“To say I am frustrated is an understatement. I’m at a loss to figure out what the holdup is. They had a prenup and were married 72 days. To what end does he want this annulment?”
In January 2013, Kim announced her pregnancy with Kanye’s first child and requested an urgent divorce trial to resolve everything with her ex-husband. In response, Kris’ lawyer released a statement, saying,
“What is really going on here is that an urgency in the form of an unplanned pregnancy, something the Respondent had nothing to do with, is… an opportunity to gain a litigation advantage by trying to force this court to prematurely set this matter for trial”.
Y’all Fickle Ass Warriors Fans Turned On Klay Thompson Quicker Than Kim Kardashian turned on Kris Humphries pic.twitter.com/DvYdsr6tjr
— Coach John (@Sauce_MacKenzie) May 13, 2023
However, Kim Kardashian and Kris Humphries eventually reached a settlement, finalizing their divorce in June 2013. Their union remains one of the shortest marriages in Hollywood history.
Sandra Bullock & Jesse James: Cheating Chaos Unfolds
Sandra Bullock and Jesse James first met in December 2003 when she visited his garage, West Coast Choppers. They soon began dating and were married on July 16, 2005, in a private ceremony in California.
Sandra Bullock "accecata" dall'arresto del figlio dell'ex marito Jesse James, "incredibilmente sconvolto" dalla situazione: Fonti
— Parliamo di… (@ParliamoDiNews) January 2, 2023
https://t.co/i2Kqq2ItV6 #02Gennaio #sources #bullock pic.twitter.com/1Ft7ClZTwL
The couple’s marital paradise was rocked in March 2010 when a series of infidelity allegations surfaced against James.
The scandal was first ignited by an article published in In Touch Weekly magazine. A tattoo artist named Michelle “Bombshell” McGee claimed to have had an 11-month affair with James while Bullock was filming her 2009 movie, The Blind Side.
Sandra Bullock : les humiliations qui l'avaient poussée à quitter Jesse James, le seul homme qu'elle a épousé https://t.co/wp5fWZaIUn pic.twitter.com/Gq0w0lNeeg
— Voici (@voici) August 8, 2023
When James’ affair with Michelle became public, he issued an apology to his wife, Sandra. He admitted his infidelity and took full responsibility for his actions, stating,
“There is only one person to blame for this whole situation, and that is me. It’s because of my poor judgment… This has caused my wife and kids pain and embarrassment beyond comprehension… I am truly very sorry for the grief I have caused them. I hope one day they can find it in their hearts to forgive me”.
Bullock filed for divorce in April 2010. Addressing her decision to end her marriage, she expressed her sadness and uncertainty about the future in an exclusive interview with the PEOPLE magazine. She shared,
“I’m sad and I am scared… I really don’t know how our paths will intersect in the future…”
In response to the divorce filing, Jesse did an interview with ABC News where he candidly admitted to being unfaithful to Bullock and reflected on the impact of his actions. He shared,
“I was unfaithful to my wife and I’m not going to put any kind of count to it. Just the fact that I took a perfect marriage and a perfect wife and… threw it away because of my actions… Bad is bad no matter what it is”.
Sandra and James’ marriage was officially dissolved when their divorce was finalized in June 2010. Since then, the couple has had no contact, given the strained circumstances surrounding their separation.
Nicole Kidman & Tom Cruise: Church-Driven Split
Nicole Kidman and Tom Cruise first met on the set of the 1990 film Days of Thunder. Their romance blossomed, and they were married in a private ceremony in Colorado a year later, in December 1990.
Nicole Kidman and Tom Cruise at the Premiere of Eyes Wide Shut, 1999 pic.twitter.com/nLXsFqk47J
— Cinema Scene (@CinemaScene404) May 25, 2025
In February 2001, after 11 years of marriage, the Mission Impossible actor filed for divorce from Nicole, citing irreconcilable differences.
Their differing religious beliefs are widely believed to have played a significant role in their separation. Cruise is a devout member of the Church of Scientology, while Kidman had briefly joined the church at his request but left in 1997.
According to The Daily Beast, Tom also temporarily abandoned the Church of Scientology under his ex-wife’s influence, but he eventually rejoined the institution.
It’s fascinating that Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman are currently the two most beloved actors in Hollywood. pic.twitter.com/bwf3ZcCnn9
— Art Tavana (@arttavana) May 19, 2025
Following the divorce filing, the Big Little Lies star felt blindsided by Cruise’s decision, as it was not something she had anticipated. In an interview with the DuJour magazine, Nicole shared her emotional turmoil. She said,
“I thought our life together was perfect… It took me a very long time to heal. It was a shock to my system”.
Nicole Kidman and Tom Cruise where Gucci by Tom Ford at the 1996 Premiere of the film ‘To Die For’ pic.twitter.com/qlTPvXU5X8
— odsyrbld (@odysseyrebuild) August 24, 2024
As she navigated the divorce, it was later revealed that the emotional toll proved overwhelming, leading to a miscarriage. In a 2007 exclusive interview with Marie Claire, she candidly shared,
“I had a miscarriage at the end of my marriage… It was incredibly traumatic for me”.
Their divorce was finalized in August 2001. Despite being granted joint custody of their two adopted children, Isabella and Connor, the children ultimately chose to live with their father.
Over time, Nicole lost contact with her adopted children, a heartbreaking consequence of the divorce.
Tiger Woods & Elin Nordegren: Infidelity Fallout
Golf legend Tiger Woods and Elin Nordegren were introduced to each other by golfer Jesper Parnevik, for whom Elin worked as a nanny. They soon began dating and were married in October 2004, after nearly three years of relationship.
Tiger Woods and ex-wife Elin Nordegren put on united front for son Charlie at golf tournament https://t.co/8fBMeLsGPx pic.twitter.com/GhuLqBo4Ix
— Daily Mail (@DailyMail) November 7, 2024
After five years, the couple’s marriage began unraveling in November 2009, when Woods’ extramarital affair was exposed following a car accident. TMZ was the first to break the news of his infidelity.
After his car accident, Florida Highway Patrol officials questioned him about the cause of his injuries. In response, Woods admitted that he was trying to escape his wife who had confronted him about seeing another woman.
The confrontation escalated into a heated argument, during which Elin scratched Tiger’s face. To protect himself, the golfer fled the scene in his car.
Tiger Woods, ex-wife Elin Nordegren share hug following #Golf tournament
— FOGOLF (@FoGOLF) December 24, 2024
https://t.co/PDP1T6o29b
#GolfNews pic.twitter.com/QlWYZoz5Sp
Following the revelation of Woods’ affair, over a dozen other women came forward, alleging that they had also had affairs with him.
In response to the cheating scandal, Tiger sought treatment for his sex addiction. After completing a 45-day treatment program, in February 2010, he held a public press conference at the PGA headquarters in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida.
During the press conference, he publicly apologized for his infidelity for the first time. Expressing deep regret for his actions, Tiger stated,
“I know I have bitterly disappointed all of you. For all that I have done, I am so sorry… I had affairs, I cheated. What I did was not acceptable, and I am the only person to blame. I owe it to my family to become a better person… I have a lot of work to do, and I intend to dedicate myself to doing it”.
However, the damage was done, and Elin filed for divorce in mid-2010. Their divorce was finalized on August 23, 2010, with Woods having to pay a whopping $100 million to his ex-wife.
Despite the highly publicized split, the couple has maintained a cordial relationship over the years, as they continue to co-parent their two children, daughter Sam and son Charlie.
Tiger Woods and Elin Nordegren Mulling Leaving the Country https://t.co/eOhatkemKG pic.twitter.com/1CGMfGgFf0
— Turbo Leaks (@TurboLeaks) October 14, 2024
From cheating scandals to religious rifts, these celebrity divorces show that even in Hollywood, ‘happily ever after’ isn’t always a sure thing.
Who will be the next Hollywood couple to face an ugly divorce? Only time will tell.