The Most Devastating Celebrity Breakups Of The Decade
All the high-profile splits which taught us that love isn't real.
It’s probably not the wisest move to get invested in a celebrity relationship. I mean, they’re real people, with real flaws, in completely unreal situations. Of course they fall apart.
And yet there are some couples it’s hard not to root for. Whether it’s their cute Instagram posts, relatable interview moments or red hot public appearances, there’s something about certain celeb couples that gets us all excited.
Which means it hurts all the more when it all falls apart.
Let’s pour one out for the loves we lost in the last decade…
Zac Efron and Vanessa Hudgens
The real life Troy and Gabriella!
Anyone who grew up obsessed with High School Musical (or got into it as an adult *cough*me*cough*) was inevitably invested in this match made in Disney Channel heaven. The pair dated for five years — serious time for any young couple, but especially in Hollywood — but it came to an end in 2010.
At least their split gifted us with another iconic couple: Vanessa Hudgens and Austin Butler (please, can they never break up).
Amy Poehler and Will Arnett
The funny couple’s divorce was one of those “love really is dead” moments.
Their professional relationship had given us so much joy, it was hard not to also fall for their off-screen connection. They seemed so great together, but alas, the couple officially divorced in 2014 after two years of separation.
Emma Stone and Andrew Garfield
Emma and Andrew met on set of The Amazing Spider-Man, and ngl their relationship was the best thing to come out of that particular iteration of the franchise.
They had great chemistry on screen, but on the press tour it was next level. The pair had an on-off relationship for years but are now well and truly over — Emma recently got engaged to Saturday Night Live segment director Dave McCary.
Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart
The early 2010s were dominated by RPattz and KStew.
It was the height of Twi-mania, and the fact that Bella and Edward were in love in real life was enough to excite even the most casual Twi-hard (want me to say Twi again? Twi). Unfortunately there was no happily ever after for Robsten (the early ‘10s were truly a cursed time), and they split after pap photos emerged of Kristen pashing Snow White and the Huntsman director Rupert Sanders in 2012.
But hey, at least the decade is ending as it began — being dominated by Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart, only this time separately, and for their professional achievements. Plus Kristen is totally loved up with screenwriter Dylan Meyer.
Liam Hemsworth and Miley Cyrus
This one is still fresh.
When the couple reunited in 2015 after their messy breakup in 2013, it seemed like they were in it for the long haul. They adopted a bunch of animals, talked about how content they were together, and even got married at the end of 2018.
But just 10 months later they announced they were separating. The silver lining is that Miley’s best music comes out of her break-ups with Liam, and we were blessed this year with ‘Slide Away’.
Joshua Jackson and Diane Kruger
They were a relatively quiet celeb couple, but it was hard not to smile whenever they appeared together on red carpets.
I mean, Joshua Jackson looked at Diane Kruger the way Pacey Witter looked at Joey Potter, you know? And who could forget that time he held an umbrella for her to protect her from the rain while he got soaked at the Golden Globes? (Not me, obviously.)
So yes, their 2016 breakup after 10 years together was devastating.
Channing Tatum and Jenna Dewan
Another on-screen couple whose chemistry bled into the real world.
These two just seemed to complement each other so well, and also, like, they were also so fucking hot together. Jenna doing Channing’s ‘Pony’ routine and grinding on her husband’s lap was the second best thing to ever happen on Lip Sync Battle (you KNOW the first).
When they shared that they were splitting in 2018 it was pretty shocking. At least they both seem to be happy now — Jenna is pregnant to actor and singer Steve Kazee, while Channing is dating Jessie J.
Anna Faris and Chris Pratt
Before he started giving off super Republican vibes, Chris was one half of what seemed like the best celeb relationship of our time.
Anna and Chris were as ~real~ and fun as a millionaire couple could be. It all came crashing down in 2017, although the pair seem to have a pretty healthy post-relationship relationship. Chris is married to Katherine Schwarzenegger and rumour has it Anna is engaged to cinematographer Michael Barrett.
Jenny Slate and Chris Evans
Honestly, I’m really happy for Jenny that she’s now engaged to writer and artist Ben Shattuck.
But for personal reasons I’m devastated she’s NOT engaged to Chris Evans. They flirted on Twitter! They said the NICEST things about each other in interviews! EVEN AFTER THEY BROKE UP!
Like, I think about Jenny describing Chris’ heart as “golden-colored” at least once a week. Anyway, they ended things (apparently) for good in 2018 and in case all those caps didn’t make it obvious, no, I’m still not over it.
Jenna Guillaume is a Sydney-based writer who loves all things TV and pop culture. She tweets @JennaGuillaume, and her new book, ‘What I Like About Me’ is available now.