Breaking up is never easy, even for us normal folk. But can you imagine breaking up in Hollywood, where everything gets revealed, and there’s basically no privacy? Ouch. But I guess it’s part of the price of choosing a life of fame.
Celebrity breakups happen all the time. We see the tabloids; we hear the rumors, and we inevitably end up taking sides (were you team Aniston or Jolie?). But anyway, not all Hollywood breakups end in emotional bruises. Some of the more mature celeb couples have managed to stay friends. And ironically, some famous toxic relationships actually made their post-breakup friendship even stronger!
Kaley Cuoco and Johnny Galecki
Running into an ex sucks, right? Now, imagine having to work with your ex every day afterward! But somehow, The Big Bang Theory stars Kaley Cuoco, and Johnny Galecki managed to be mature about it and act as husband and wife on the show after calling it quits to their secret, near-two year relationship in 2010.
Speaking to CBS Watch!, Cuoco said, “We knew we weren’t destined to be together. We accepted it and said, ‘Look, if we ever break up, we will be professional.” Galecki also chimed in, adding, “We’re dear friends, still. Kaley’s not just an ex; she’s a part of my life.” Galecki even attended both of Cuoco’s weddings; one in 2013 and the latest in 2018.
Jennifer Garner and Ben Affleck
People were unpleasantly surprised to hear of Jennifer Garner and Ben Affleck’s divorce announcement after a decade of marriage and three kids. Even though they split in 2015, the two still support each other.
Following their divorce, the exes have been seen spending time with their children together; even going on family vacations and solo dinner dates, just the two of them. Affleck told Ellen DeGeneres in 2017 that “we’re working our best for them” when he was referring to the importance of co-parenting their children in the best way possible.
Gwyneth Paltrow and Chris Martin
After a decade-long marriage, Gwyneth Paltrow and Coldplay frontman Chris Martin split up in 2016, famously referring to the divorce as a “conscious uncoupling.” Pretentious? Perhaps.
But either way, the major celebs have kept it cool and formed a unique post-split relationship.
Paltrow made headlines when she said of Chris, “We’re still very much a family, even though we don’t have a romantic relationship. He’s like my brother.” Strange? Yes.
And if you thought that was weird, then what do you think of the fact that Chris tagged along with Paltrow’s new husband, Brad Falchuk on their honeymoon? Paltrow called it “a very modern honeymoon.” Awkward? Probably.
Melanie Griffith and Antonio Banderas
Despite getting divorced after about two decades of marriage, Melanie Griffith and Antonio Banderas claim that they have no bad blood between them. They frequently share posts on social media of their time together with their daughter, Stella.
Banderas told People magazine about his unique bond with Griffith: “Even if we are divorced, she is my family, and I will love her until the day I die.” Griffith said, “I love him and always will.” And with that, these two stars can provide a glimmer of inspiration for those who think divorce inevitably ends in trauma.
Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony
Though J.Lo is now head over heels for her fiancé and former baseball player, Alex Rodriguez, we can’t forget about her ex-husband, Marc Anthony. The two musicians are another A-list couple who called it off only to end up as BFFs.
They were married between 2004 and 2011, and not only do they collaborate on family matters post-divorce, but they also worked together making music. Anthony was the executive producer of Lopez’s second all-Spanish album, “Por Primera Vez.” Lopez commonly refers to Anthony as her “best friend.”
Will Smith and Sheree Fletcher
Yes, I know – it’s hard to even imagine Will Smith with any woman other than Jada. But lo and behold, Smith was married once before her. He was married to actress Sheree Fletcher for three years. And together, the two had one son, named Trey.
Following their divorce in 1995, Smith and Fletcher remained supportive friends. And you know what? Even Sheree and Jada are friends! Sheree was Jada’s first guest on her Facebook show, Red Table Talk. Jada explained how “She gifted me… She’s not an enemy. She did me a favor.”
Emma Stone and Andrew Garfield
Andrew Garfield met Emma Stone for the first time during a screen-test of The Amazing Spider-Man. He later told Teen Vogue, “It was like I woke up when she came in…It was like diving into whitewater rapids and having no desire to hang onto the side.”
But sadly, despite their magical connection, the pair parted ways in 2015 after five years of coupledom. Andrew was quoted in 2017, saying, “I’m nothing but supportive and her biggest fan.” When she won her first Golden Globe in 2017, Garfield showed his support by springing to his feet to give her a standing ovation. What a sweetie.
Cameron Diaz and Justin Timberlake
After four years of dating, Cameron Diaz and our beloved JT called it quits in 2006. The two seemed to have an amicable breakup, as they went on to work together in a few Hollywood hits. Not long after their breakup, they shared the red carpet to promote Shrek the Third; a movie they did voice work for.
The exes also starred opposite each other as love interests in the 2011 romantic comedy Bad Teacher. Cameron said, “Justin and I have always had a good laugh together, and there really was no one else who was more perfect for this part. It really wasn’t a big deal.”
Kate Beckinsale and Michael Sheen
After meeting in 1995 on tour for The Seagull, Kate Beckinsale and Michael Sheen spent 8 years together and have a daughter named Lily. After their split in 2003, the exes stayed close, even celebrating the holidays together.
But it doesn’t stop there. In 2016, at a Directors Guild of America event, they gave each other a friendly kiss, and Beckinsale gave his then-girlfriend, Sarah Silverman a huge hug. Beckinsale is a huge fan of Silverman, having said, “I love her. I love her. I love her. I am so glad Michael found her, so I don’t have to spend the rest of my life looking for her!”
Lady Gaga and Taylor Kinney
Lady Gaga and Chicago Fire star Taylor Kinney met in 2011 on the set of the music video for her single “You and I.” Kinney played her love interest. But after getting engaged on Valentine’s Day in 2015, the duo announced their breakup in 2016.
While fans of Gaga’s were heartbroken and prayed for a reunion, she told People, “It’s just about life changes and we all go through different stages, and we’re focused on different things.” I gotta say, I’m surprised to see how mature this outrageous pop star really is.
Heidi Klum and Seal
Supermodel Heidi Klum told Piers Morgan on CNN, “it was kind of like two magnets,” when referring to the time she met singer Seal. And while they ended up being married for seven years and having three children together, they got divorced in 2014.
While they did go through some ups and downs, they are now friends for the sake of their kids. Klum even invited Seal to be a guest judge on her show America’s Got Talent, back in 2017.
Anna Faris and Chris Pratt
After 8 years of marriage, Anna Faris and Chris Pratt filed for divorce in 2017. Sure, it was sad for many to hear since the two are so lovable, but the two are also really mature about it. They showed the world what a healthy relationship among exes actually looks like.
Pratt told Entertainment Weekly in 2018, “We’re finding a way to navigate this while still remaining friends and still being kind to one another.” Faris also supported his new marriage to Katherine Schwarzenegger. She texted Pratt saying, “Just want to remind you, I’m an ordained minister.” Leave it to Faris to add comic relief to every situation.
Madonna and Sean Penn
After tying the knot in 1985, Madonna and Sean Penn became known as the “Poison Penns.” Why? Because of their famous dramatic arguments and violent outbursts. Funnily enough, their less than amicable marriage ended up in a friendly divorce that happened in 1989.
Penn told Associated Press in 2013 that they “maintained a great friendship over the years.” Madonna even spoke to Penn at a 2016 fundraiser in Malawi, saying, “I’m still in love with you. Yes. In fact, I think I love you more now that we’re divorced.”
Miranda Kerr and Orlando Bloom
Model Miranda Kerr and Orlando Bloom started to date in 2007 and tied the knot in 2010. Then in 2010, welcomed their son Flynn. Yet Hollywood’s “it” couple called it quits in 2013. Kerr and Bloom vowed to be friends for the sake of their son.
They even agreed to live near one another so they could be “close as a family.” Bloom was questioned by a reporter who asked if he was friends with his ex, to which he responded, “We’re not friends. We’re family.”
Reese Witherspoon and Ryan Phillippe
Cruel Intentions fans were crushed when they heard of the split between Reese Witherspoon and Ryan Phillippe. But their separation didn’t mean the end of the two together. After 7 years of marriage, the actors are friends for the sake of their little ones.
The cute as can be exes found a way to happily co-parent. This means they have family outings with the children, and even Reese’s new husband, Jim Toth. A perfect group of role models to the world of exes!
Courtney Cox and David Arquette
Courtney Cox and David Arquette are the epitome of friendly exes. They met in the ’90s on the set of Scream, going on to share 11 years together as a couple. They had a daughter, Coco, and created a production company called Coquette Productions.
Despite their split, they stayed loving and supportive friends. Other than co-parenting and being partners in business, Arquette also appeared in Cox’s directorial debut film Just Before I Go. She told Ellen Degeneres, “I appreciate David more now than I ever did. I mean, it’s hard. I don’t recommend divorce in general, but, you know, he is my best friend, and we’ve both grown and changed.”
Mariah Carey and Nick Cannon
Mariah Carey and Nick Cannon are so close that it’s almost hard to believe that they’re actually exes. Though they parted ways in 2014 after 6 years of marriage, Cannon said that they made a conscientious effort to show their kids that they still love one another.
Carey and Cannon are frequently spotted together and even enjoyed Christmas 2018 side by side. The former couple took their children to Colorado and shared Instagram posts of them as a family. According to Cannon, his friendship with her makes him a better person. How sweet!
Sarah Silverman and Jimmy Kimmel
Starting in 2002, Sarah Silverman and Jimmy Kimmel had on and off relationship for about 6 years. While they were considered to be Hollywood’s comedy couple, it all came to an end in 2009.
Their breakup came a few months after their 5th anniversary. But since then, the ex-couple kept a solid friendship and Silverman had even been on Jimmy Kimmel Live in September 2018. She joked with Kimmel about his 2nd marriage, saying, “It’s not fair! She gets, like, new, woke Jimmy. I had ‘Man Show’ Jimmy.”
Elizabeth Hurley and Hugh Grant
Actress Elizabeth Hurley and rom-com star Hugh Grant had their share of drama during their 13-year relationship. They were seen as one of the ’90s’ most beloved Hollywood romances but went their separate ways in 2000.
They’ve kept up a somewhat unusual relationship. Not only are they close, but they take cooking, guitar and Italian lessons together. More? They also live next door to one another and are the godparents of each others’ children. Grant called Hurley his family, saying, “We’re like brother and sister.” I’m reminded of Gwyneth and Chris…
Demi Moore and Bruce Willis
Demi Moore and Bruce Willis are really one of the best examples of post-divorce friendships. Having been married in 1987 and divorced in 2000, the A-list actors decided to happily co-parent their three daughters, Rumer, Scout, and Tallulah.
They did such a good job that their daughter Rumer said, “I never had to split up vacations or split up birthdays. They always made an effort to do all of the family events still together and made such an effort to still have our families be as one unit.”
Lisa Bonet and Lenny Kravitz
Bohemian couple Lisa Bonet and Lenny Kravitz seem to be as close today as they were in the ’80s when they were together. They married in 1987, and the couple had one daughter together, Zoe Kravitz, before filing for a divorce in 1993.
Bonet married Jason Momoa and had two children together. In a 2013 talk with Oprah, Kravitz said, “When we’re all together now, her man, her kids, Zoe, me, we’re all together, and we’re one big happy family. It’s beautiful, and it just shows you what can be done.”
Mindy Kaling and BJ Novak
At the same time of their fictional romance on the hugely popular show The Office, actors Mindy Kaling and BJ Novak also had a real-life on-again-off-again relationship. They continued working together after the spark fizzled.
Speaking of their relationship, Kaling told InStyle, “My relationship with BJ Novak is weird as hell.” The two are now close friends. She even made Novak the godfather of her daughter, telling Good Housekeeping that he’s a “member of the family.”
Gwen Stefani and Tony Kanal
Before singer Blake Shelton showed up, bassist Tony Kanal was the most important person in Gwen Stefani’s life. The former No Doubt bandmates began dating in 1987 and broke up in 1994 during their work on the album “Tragic Kingdom.”
Stefani claimed that the breakup helped her improve as a musician. She said, “Before, I was really passive; all I cared about was being in love with my boyfriend. I didn’t have any creative power, nothing… But after the breakup, I just started writing all these songs…”
Charlie Sheen and Denise Richards
Denise Richards and Charlie Sheen got divorced in 2006, after 4 years of marriage and 2 children. The breakup was actually dramatic, with Richards filing a restraining order on him. And 10 years later, Richards sued Sheen for not providing the promised financial support.
While they had a traumatic divorce, they’re now more along the lines of frenemies. Despite the lawsuit, Richards recently posted a photo on social media, writing, “We’ve had a colorful year …at the end of the day we’re still a family.”
Johnny Depp and Vanessa Paradis
The end of Johnny Depp and French actress Vanessa Paradis’ relationship hard for fans to accept, given that they were one of the longer-standing couples, going on 14 years. But the two are close now after their divorce.
Depp told Rolling Stone: “it doesn’t stop the fact that you care for that person, and they’re the mother of your kids, and you’ll always know each other, and you’re always gonna be in each other’s lives because of those kids. You might as well make the best of it.”
Following all the allegations from Amber Heard, Paradis even came to his defense.
Nina Dobrev and Ian Somerhalder
Vampire Diaries co-stars Nina Dobrev and Ian Somerhalder are a Hollywood ex-couple that fell for each other both on and off-screen. But their romance ended in 2013.
The pair stayed friends and often take to Twitter to show their support for each other. After Somerhalder married Nikki Reed in 2015, Dobrev said, “When I heard about the wedding, I thought it was beautiful. They look happy, and I am happy.”
Hilary Duff and Mike Comrie
Disney Channel star Hilary Duff and NFL player Mike Comrie wed in 2010 before calling breaking up four years later. Duff told The Talk that she believed she was just too young for marriage. “I was 22 when I got married… I don’t think we were mature enough to stick it out.”
The two have a son, Luca, together and Duff claims she “wouldn’t choose anyone else to co-parent with.” Since the split, they’ve been seen on vacation together and go on coffee dates.
Demi Lovato and Wilmer Valderrama
Fans were upset when Demi Lovato and Wilmer Valderrama split up in 2016. But they’ve managed to work out their differences and make it to even become good friends.
Valderrama was in Lovato’s 2017 documentary, Simply Complicated. Lovato stated that they hadn’t fallen out of love; they just decided they were “probably better as friends.” Valderrama was seen visiting Lovato in the hospital one day after her tragic overdose in 2018.
Demi Lovato and Joe Jonas
So, Demi actually has another ex that is still a friend to her. Word has it that Demi Lovato and ex-lover Joe Jonas don’t even think of each other as exes. Rather, they see each other as family.
The musically-talented pair have been friends since they were kids. So, it’s no surprise Jonas told E! Online that Demi is more like family to him. They’ve been through so much together!
Katy Perry and Orlando Bloom
Here’s another relationship with Orlando Bloom that ended well. In August 2017, 6 months after his breakup with Perry, Orlando, and KatyKat were seen together at an Ed Sheeran concert.
According to sources there, the ex-couple was engaging in some more-than-friendly behavior. But for now, we can call it a display of mutual love of Ed Sheeran.
Bella Hadid and The Weeknd
Bella was serenaded by her former man while walking Victoria’s Secret’s runway in Paris. She was gliding across the stage in the most luxurious lingerie on the market. Audiences didn’t know what to make of it – an awkward run-in or a sign of reconciliation?
Hadid cleared up the confusion, posting on Instagram to praise her ex’s performance: “Thank you @theweeknd for being the best and most incredible performer on the planet. You KILLED it, as always.”
Diane Kruger and Joshua Jackson
Former Dawson’s Creek actor Joshua Jackson and his ex-wife Diane Kruger ended their 10-year relationship in July 2016. And then rumors started when they were seen out together a month later.
In the following days, Kruger and Jackson photographed again and even sharing a sweet embrace at LAX. It looks like these exes are going to be friends forever.
Naomi Watts and Live Schreiber
The longtime married couple’s split was caused some deep sadness throughout the world (or at least fans of the two actors). But thankfully, these exes are as friendly as can be.
Schreiber calmed our nerves when he spoke of Watts on CBS This Morning. He said, “We’re parents together, so we’ll be together for the rest of our lives no matter what… We’re very close. Hopefully, that never changes, and I don’t think it will.”
Michael C. Hall and Jennifer Carpenter
Dexter co-stars Michael C. Hall, and Jennifer Carpenter fell in love on set and got married in 2008. But then divorced in 2011. Shortly after, the pair was photographed watching an LA sunset together, sparking rumors of a rekindled romance.
Both stars denied it, and Jennifer told Entertainment Weekly: “He is and always will be one of my best friends in the world. And just because the marriage ended doesn’t mean the love isn’t still there.”
Kate Hudson and Matthew Bellamy
Kate Hudson and Matthew Bellamy got engaged in 2011 and had a son together that year. After three years, the couple called off the engagement and split in 2014. But they remain very close friends and committed co-parents.
They were also spotted together in LA days later and even went to Aspen together for Kate’s annual family holiday trip. Most recently, Kate documented their time together on Instagram with the caption, “ExMas.”
Caitlyn and Kris Jenner
After 22 years of marriage, Caitlyn (who we all know was once Bruce) and Kris Jenner announced their divorce in October 2013. They made a joint public statement, which explained that they are “living separately” and “much happier this way.”
The two have stayed close. But things got rocky after Caitlyn revealed her transition in Vanity Fair. And as it goes, time heals all wounds, as both women have come together for the good of their family.
Kourtney Kardashian and Scott Disick
The eldest daughter Kourtney called off her relationship with Scott Disick in 2015. The couple dated for 10 years and have three children together; sons Mason and Reign and daughter Penelope.
The two purposely stay close for the sake of their children, despite Scott’s struggles with alcoholism and depression. Kourtney and Scott like to spend holidays together with the rest of the blended family and are often home with their kids.
Mick and Bianca Jagger
A whole lot of history binds Mick Jagger and his first wife, Bianca, together. They had a Saint-Tropez wedding in 1971, where Bianca was four months pregnant with their only child, Jade.
In 1978, Bianca filed for divorce because of Mick’s affair with model Jerry Hall (who became his second wife). But after many years, the former couple is now close friends. In 1986, Bianca told Vanity Fair that Mick has “a wonderful sense of humor that I can understand no matter what. I mean, he could be stabbing me in the back, but he can make me laugh while he does it.”
Justin Bieber and Selena Gomez
The Canadian pop superstar and songstress began dating back in 2010. The relationship lasted about two years before splitting up in 2012. And it turned to an on-again, off-again, on-again, off-again- type of thing.
The pair recently got back in touch after Gomez’s kidney transplant surgery in 2017. Some think that since Gomez and The Weekend ended their relationship that the two might be more than just ex-lovers and friends again.