Celebrity relationships have always fascinated the public. From red carpet appearances to Instagram declarations of love, we can't seem to get enough of the drama, the romance, and the inevitable breakups. But not all celebrity couples are equally adored or accepted by the masses. In fact, some tend to be downright despised and rightfully thought of as subjects for ridicule. Let’s look at some of them here!
30. Kim Kardashian and Kanye West
Kim Kardashian and Kanye West's relationship was a match made in tabloid heaven, or perhaps hell—depending on who you ask. Kim, then pretty well-known for her reality TV antics and infamous 72-day marriage with Kris Humphries, found herself in the spotlight once again when she coupled up with the controversial rapper. While they remained together for quite some time, their marriage was plagued by rumors of infidelity and Kanye's erratic behavior. In a drama series documenting the Kardashians’ personal lives, many were led to believe that the ultimate break in the relationship came when the couple could no longer find common ground. Despite the intensely public break-up, both celebrities have moved on and continue to co-parent the four children that they share.
29. Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman
Much before Tom Cruise publicly embraced Scientology and jumped on Oprah's couch, he was considered half of one of Hollywood's most beloved couples alongside Nicole Kidman. But their fairy tale romance came crashing down amid rumors of Cruise's obsessive dedication to Scientology tenets and Kidman's own struggles to keep up with the changing nature of her marriage to the star. The messy divorce was widely publicized amidst Kidman’s Oscar nomination. While Kidman seemed relieved at parting ways, the two children that the couple had adopted during their marriage were estranged from her as Cruise won full custody. Even to this day, it is believed that Nicole Kidman hasn’t spoken to her children who are well in their 20s.
28. Chris Brown and Rihanna
Chris Brown and Rihanna's relationship was a rollercoaster of highs and lows, but it ultimately ended in a very public and very ugly way. The couple split definitively following Brown's arrest for assaulting Rihanna, which left her with visible injuries on the eyes and lips. While Brown was mandated by the court to seek counselling for five years following his aggression and resulting battery charge, Rihanna focused on her recovery from the horrific ordeal and continued her musical career.
27. Justin Bieber and Selena Gomez
Justin Bieber and Selena Gomez's on-again, off-again relationship was the stuff of teenage dreams, but behind the scenes, it was known to be anything but perfect. Bieber's struggles with addiction and Gomez's deteriorating mental health took a toll on their romance, leading to multiple breakups and makeups in the public eye. Following their final split in 2018, Bieber married model Hailey Baldwin—leaving many to wonder if his relationship with Gomez had ended in the light of his involvement with Baldwin. It is no surprise that fans have since had a tough time letting go of the relationship and led to both stars openly requesting for a stop to the harassment of their respective partners.
26. Kathie Lee Gifford and Richard Spitz
Kathie Lee Gifford's split from Richard Spitz may not have made as many headlines as some of the other couples on this list, but it was no less painful for those involved. Despite being private about her relationship and her split, the star was unfairly outed by a fellow celebrity and friend on morning television. The couple—who had been together for a year and had managed to maintain a rather lowkey profile—was blindsided by the sudden influx of media attention around their breakup. But regardless of the public scrutiny, Gifford remains private about her dating life, only admitting to the fact that she is now single.
25. Tiger Woods and Elin Nordegren
Tiger Woods' fall from grace was swift and spectacular, in part due to a string of cheating allegations that rocked the golf world and led to the end of his marriage to his then-wife Elin Nordegren. But it is not just his marriage that suffered, the once-revered athlete also lost sponsorships from the likes of Gatorade and AT&T alongside the custody of his children. Remaining largely out of the public eye, Woods reappeared in mainstream media following his son’s performance as an up-and-coming golfer.
24. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle
For many, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's relationship was a fairy tale that quickly turned into a nightmare amidst relentless media scrutiny and online harassment. Expected to shoulder the scrutiny as active members of the royalty, the couple's decision to step down from their public duties fueled the fire—leading to outrage from the British public and accusations of betrayal from the royal family. Despite the backlash, Harry and Meghan moved to the US and now live in a Los Angeles home with their children—Archie and Lilibet.
23. Sandra Bullock and Jesse James
Sandra Bullock's Oscar win for 'The Blind Side' should have been the highlight of her career, but instead, it was overshadowed by the revelation of her husband Jesse James' infidelity at the time. Several women alleged that James had been unfaithful to Bullock throughout their marriage. However, despite the public nature of the events unfolding, Bullock immediately filed for divorce and went on to adopt two children on her own. While Bullock suffered public humiliation during her split from James, she remained a box office powerhouse. Most recently, Bullock shared the loss of her late partner Bryan Randall, who lost his battle against ALS and passed away at the age of 57.
22. Taylor Swift and Harry Styles
Taylor Swift and Harry Styles' whirlwind romance was thought to be more about headlines than hearts at the time, with many fans accusing Swift of staging the whole thing for publicity. Despite prolonged speculation about the genuineness of their relationship, both Swift and Styles have addressed it in their music and maintain a respectful post-breakup relationship. But try telling that to the legions of One Direction fans who still hold a grudge against Swift!
21. Bella Hadid and The Weeknd
Bella Hadid and The Weeknd's, real name Abel Tesfaye, on-again, off-again relationship was a rollercoaster of emotions—all unfolding in real time, quite publicly. It was this public nature of their relationship and ultimate breakup that left Hadid feeling truly traumatized in the aftermath. Since then, however, despite the incredibly public heartbreak, Hadid harbors no ill will toward her ex and is determined not to burn any bridges. A month after their split, The Weeknd was seen with Selena Gomez who is also believed to be the subject of his latest, most disturbing foray into television series, ‘Idol’.
20. Gigi Hadid and Zayn Malik
Gigi Hadid and Zayn Malik were involved in an on-again, off-again relationship for the longest time, but most specifically until the birth of their daughter—Khai. Shortly after their daughter turned a year old, the couple split following an allegedly nasty fight with Hadid's mother. While details of the altercation were kept largely private, it left both the fans and the media speculating about what exactly went wrong. Rumors have since endured but Malik insists that both him and Hadid remain committed co-parents to their daughter and will continue to be fiercely protective of her privacy.
19. Shawn Mendes and Camila Cabello
Shawn Mendes and Camila Cabello's on-again, off-again relationship finally came to an end in 2023, much to the dismay of fans who had been rooting for them since they first met in 2014. While they took some time to go public with their relationship, they had been involved in each other’s lives as friends and as a couple. Even after their most recent Coachella split, Mendes and Cabello remain friends and continue to support each other's in their creative musical pursuits.
18. Timothée Chalamet and Kylie Jenner
Timothée Chalamet and Kylie Jenner's relationship may have started off as a casual fling, but it has since turned into a much more serious relationship—with involvement from both sides of families. Despite attempts to keep their romance under wraps in the beginning, the couple couldn't escape intense media attention and scrutiny—something they came to embrace as their relationship blossomed over the last year. However, not everyone was a fan of the couple, including Jenner’s ex Travis Scott who released a diss track on the relationship and using profanity against Jenner herself.
17. Florence Pugh and Zach Braff
Florence Pugh and Zach Braff's relationship raised more than a few eyebrows due to their 21-year age gap, but the couple seemed unfazed by the media criticism. So much so that during the pandemic, the couple adopted a dog together. Even after their quiet breakup in 2022, Pugh and Braff remained on good terms. With Pugh's rise to fame in her latest role in the 'Dune' franchise, the two continue to cheer each other on!
16. Johnny Depp and Amber Heard
Johnny Depp and Amber Heard's may have started as a whirlwind on set romance but it ended rather horribly and publicly with Heard coming out with allegations of domestic violence against Depp. What followed were years of very public legal battles that ended with Depp winning a case of defamation against his ex-wife. He has since been seen largely as a victim of domestic abuse at the hands of his partner and maintained a relatively low-profile in terms of his public engagements.
15. Taylor Swift and Joe Alwyn
Taylor Swift and Joe Alwyn's relationship was the epitome of privacy, with the couple managing to keep their relationship under the wraps for six years. In their rather fresh breakup, rumors of cheating and heartbreak have managed to seep into the public eye with many scrutinizing every detail of Swift’s latest album ‘The Tortured Poets Department’. While both Swift and Alwyn remain tight-lipped about the reason for their split, it hasn’t stopped fans or the media from continuing to speculate about what went wrong after all this time.
14. Kendall Jenner and Harry Styles
Kendall Jenner and Harry Styles' relationship was probably the definition of celebrity casual when it came to relationships—with the couple enjoying vacations together not incredibly bothered by the intense media attention that followed them wherever they went. Despite their breakup, Jenner and Styles remain close friends and have even made joint appearances on shows like ‘The Late Late Show’ since.
13. Miley Cyrus and Liam Hemsworth
Miley Cyrus and Liam Hemsworth's relationship was a rollercoaster of highs and lows over a decade, with the couple finally calling it quits in 2019. Despite the messy divorce and rumors of infidelity at the time, both Cyrus and Hemsworth continued to focus their careers. But for fans, a new wave of speculation and investigation ensued when Cyrus released her hit single, “Flowers” where she describes how she can do everything that Hemsworth promised her all by herself. The single went on to win Cyrus her first ever Grammy Award, which she excitedly expressed happiness for in her live performance at the ceremony.
12. Eva Mendes and Ryan Gosling
Eva Mendes and Ryan Gosling have been together for 12 years, but you wouldn't know it from the way they keep their relationship so private. With Gosling’s latest success with Barbie, however, the couple's private life has managed to make headlines. In her Instagram posts, Mendes also showed vocal support for Gosling’s casting as ‘Ken’ in Barbie (2023) and called out the trending #NotMyKen against the actor even before the film made it to the screens. Having won several accolades for his performance in the film, Gosling openly acknowledged and thanked Mendes for supporting him through it all. Despite continuing media attention, Mendes and Gosling have remained committed to each other and maintaining the privacy of their family.
11. Khloe Kardashian and Tristan Thompson
Khloe Kardashian and Tristan Thompson's relationship has been marred with cheating scandals and media scrutiny from start to end. But, through it all, they've managed to remain committed co-parents to their two children. Multiple attempts to rekindle their romance by Thompson over the years were met with intense media criticism of the couple, with Kardashian finally calling it quits with the NBA player in 2022 in the aftermath of yet another cheating scandal. Much to everyone’s relief, they are only focused on co-parenting now!
10. Harry Styles and Olivia Wilde
Harry Styles and Olivia Wilde's relationship seemed like a match made in heaven, with the couple confirming their romance in 2021 and making headlines with their public displays of affection. Styles even went to star in Wilde’s ‘Don’t Worry Darling’ after scandal with LeBeouf led to changes in the final cast. Despite their best efforts to keep the relationship going, the couple ultimately decided to take a break in 2022—citing the pressures of their busy schedules. Despite the breakup, Styles and Wilde remain good friends, with Styles even dedicating a tattoo, “Olivia”, to his former flame.
9. Vanessa Hudgens and Zac Efron
Vanessa Hudgens and Zac Efron's relationship was the stuff of Disney dreams, with the couple meeting on the set of 'High School Musical' and quickly becoming one of Hollywood's most talked about young couples. Despite their breakup in 2010, Hudgens and Efron remained friendly and virtually reconnected most recently at a High School reunion with the rest of the cast.
8. Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta-Jones
Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta-Jones have been together for over two decades, but their relationship has always been subject to intense media scrutiny due to their significant age gap. Despite a brief separation in 2013, the couple remains as strong as ever. Douglas most recently sharing his struggle with being mistaken for his kids' grandfather at their college Parents’ Day. However, he emphasized how his children handled the situation and left him feeling truly blessed for this family.
7. Taylor Swift and Jake Gyllenhaal
Taylor Swift and Jake Gyllenhaal's brief romance may have ended over a decade ago, but, if you were to believe the fan theories, the scars still linger in the form of Swift's recent compositions in her album, ‘Midnights’. Despite neither party ever publicly addressing the split, fans continue to speculate about the reality of the relationship between the two—further fueled by the release of Swift’s re-recording of the ‘Red’ album that featured a ten-minute version of the single, “All Too Well” that led fans to believe that it was in fact about Gyllenhaal.
6. Jay-Z and Beyoncé
Jay-Z and Beyoncé may be considered one of the music industry's power couples, but their relationship has not been without its own set of difficulties. Amid cheating allegations and a physical altercation involving Beyoncé's sister, Solange, the couple's marriage was put to the test by the media and fans alike—as seen in the singer’s album, ‘Renaissance’ that called out Jay-Z for his infidelity and lack of accountability in their relationship. However, despite the turmoil, Jay-Z and Beyoncé have found managed to stay together and have a combined net worth of nearly $3 billion.
5. Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce
Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce's relationship may have started as a fairy tale romance, but it has since blossomed into a relationship for ages. Despite the media attention and fan scrutiny, the couple continue to remain committed to each other, showing up for important events and spending time with family members and friends. While most of the time,Tayvisseems to be making headlines for their very public romance, most recently Travis Kelce made headlines for unfollowing Taylor Swift on Instagram. Do we smell trouble in paradise?
4. Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie
Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie's relationship may have started off as a scandalous affair, but it has since turned into Hollywood's most infamous splits. Amid rumors of infidelity, violence and a bitter custody battle over real estate, the couple's once-idyllic romance crumbled right before the world's eyes. Despite the messy divorce, Pitt and Jolie remain committed to co-parenting their six children—even as they continue to battle it out in court.
3. Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart
Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart's on-screen chemistry in the 'Twilight' franchise may have set hearts aflutter, but the reality may have been less than perfect. Stewart's cheating scandal with the director of her “Snow White” project led to the couple’s breakup in 2013, leaving fans of the famous franchise inconsolably heartbroken at the time. But for Pattinson and Stewart, the breakup is something they'd rather leave in the past.
2. Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck
Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck's relationship may have started off as a whirlwind romance, but it quickly turned into one of Hollywood's most enduring love stories. Despite their breakup in 2004 and subsequent marriages to other people, the couple never truly fell out of love. And now, nearly two decades later, they've found their way back to each other, with Affleck supporting Lopez's music career and understanding her need to use him as a muse for her art.
1. Princess Diana and Prince Charles
Princess Diana and Prince Charles' ill-fated relationship captivated the world, but it ultimately ended in tragedy. From allegations of infidelity to a very public divorce, the couple's marriage was plagued by scandal and speculation. But despite the heartbreak, Princess Diana remains beloved by the public, her legacy as the People's Princess living on long after her untimely death in August of 1997.