The 10 NASTIEST Celebrity Divorces
These celebrity breakups failed to fly under the radar. Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’ll be looking at the most high-profile celebrity marriages that unraveled in a very messy fashion, right in the public eye.
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00:00 "Apparently Schwarzenegger has been keeping this secret for years."
00:04 Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we'll be looking at the most high-profile
00:08 celebrity marriages that unraveled in a very messy fashion, right in the public eye.
00:13 "The public split, followed by a very public battle for affection."
00:18 Kevin Cosner and Christine Baumgartner
00:23 In May 2023, after nearly 19 years of marriage,
00:27 model and handbag designer Christine Baumgartner filed for divorce from Hollywood actor Kevin
00:33 Cosner. "It's a horrible place to be, but this is where we're at."
00:36 The proceedings quickly escalated as the former couple disagreed over everything
00:41 from child support payments to Baumgartner leaving their Malibu home. The designer was
00:47 eventually forced out of the property, a condition stipulated in their prenup agreement.
00:51 "This weekend, Christine says she will move into her new $40,000 a month rental home,
00:56 but it does not provide a comparable lifestyle for their kids."
01:00 Subsequently, Cosner insisted on a reimbursement of the legal costs he incurred during Baumgartner's
01:06 challenge to their prenup, amounting to nearly $100,000. The exes eventually settled their child
01:13 support dispute in September, when a judge ordered Cosner to pay about $100,000 less than what
01:20 Baumgartner requested. Later that month, they managed to reach an amicable agreement,
01:25 officially concluding their divorce proceedings.
01:28 "The exes confirmed to E! News on September 19th that they, quote, 'have come to an amicable and
01:35 mutually agreed upon resolution of all issues pertaining to their divorce proceedings.'"
01:40 Denise Richards and Charlie Sheen
01:43 The union between Denise Richards and Charlie Sheen began to unravel in March 2005,
01:49 when Richards filed for divorce while pregnant with their second daughter.
01:53 The actress opens up on the Just Be With Bethany Frankel podcast about her four-year
01:58 marriage to Charlie, and it's unraveling. Despite attempts to reconcile, the couple
02:03 ultimately proceeded with the divorce in 2006. Richards alleged that Sheen was in possession
02:09 of explicit material involving apparent minors, and that he had made several threats on her life.
02:15 "Denise alleges that Sheen even sent their daughter this shocking text,
02:19 'Have a merry Xmas with your loser blank blank mom. Your dad is a rock star genius.
02:25 Your mom is a blank wart.'"
02:28 This led her to seek a restraining order against him. Their divorce was finalized in November 2006,
02:34 with Sheen ordered to stay 300 feet away from Richards and their daughters.
02:39 Nearly a decade later, Richards sued Sheen for $1.2 million,
02:44 alleging that he kicked them out of their home and failed to provide financial support.
02:49 "Denise also claims Sheen evicted her and their two daughters, Lola and Sam,
02:54 from a mansion Sheen bought for them."
02:56 Sandra Bullock and Jesse James
02:59 In early 2010, while actress Sandra Bullock received acclaim and awards for her performance
03:04 in the sports drama The Blind Side, sordid revelations about her husband, Jesse James,
03:10 emerged. "As Jesse James got back to work over the weekend, new details that Bullock
03:14 knew her husband had groupies, but trusted him anyway."
03:17 Several women alleged that James had engaged in illicit affairs with them while married to Bullock.
03:23 James admitted to his infidelity and publicly apologized to Bullock and their children,
03:28 although he maintained that many of the allegations were false.
03:31 "I wouldn't believe everything you read in tabloids, you know?"
03:36 The scandal became a huge embarrassment for Bullock, leading her to cancel multiple
03:40 public appearances due to "unforeseen personal reasons." Bullock filed for divorce from James
03:46 in April 2010, citing his infidelity as the reason their marriage could not continue.
03:51 The divorce was finalized two months later.
03:54 "Not only did he betray her publicly, he betrayed the children and her bond with them."
03:58 Alec Baldwin and Kim Basinger
04:00 After seven years of marriage, Hollywood actors Alec Baldwin and Kim Basinger separated in December
04:07 2000. That marked the end of their union and the beginning of a nasty custody dispute over
04:13 their daughter Ireland that lasted about as long as the marriage itself.
04:17 "The Oscar winner also says that her public and nasty divorce affected how she raised her
04:22 and Baldwin's now 20-year-old daughter, Ireland. I brought up Ireland in a very unconventional way.
04:28 I just wanted her to be free."
04:29 The two dragged each other to court in a legal battle that cost
04:33 millions of dollars and significantly affected both of their careers.
04:37 Things came to a head in 2007 when a voicemail from Baldwin leaked to the public,
04:43 in which he called Ireland a, quote, "rude, thoughtless little pig" for not answering his call.
04:49 "You have humiliated me for the last time with this phone."
04:52 The incident drew widespread attention, intensifying the already severe public
04:57 scrutiny around the former couple's bitter dispute.
05:00 Debbie Reynolds and Eddie Fisher
05:03 The scandalous love triangle that ended the celebrity marriage was,
05:07 ironically, the stuff of Hollywood movies.
05:10 "In 1959, the marriage of America's sweethearts was over, and Debbie was cast as the victim."
05:15 Debbie Reynolds and Eddie Fisher tied the knot in 1955 and maintained a close friendship with
05:21 fellow celebrity couple Elizabeth Taylor and Mike Todd. After Todd passed away in a plane
05:26 crash in 1958, Fisher soon began an affair with Taylor.
05:30 "I don't blame her for the break. I blame Eddie for the break."
05:34 He ultimately left Reynolds and their two children and married Taylor the following year.
05:39 The scandal attracted widespread attention, resulting in intense public backlash against
05:44 Fisher and Taylor. So negative was the publicity that Fisher's variety TV show was canceled.
05:50 Despite the fallout, Taylor and Reynolds reconciled years later,
05:54 humorously addressing the scandal in their 2001 TV film, These Old Broads.
05:59 "I wanted to remind you it all happened so long ago, when we were so young."
06:06 "Well, let's just drop it, okay?"
06:08 Arnold Schwarzenegger and Maria Shriver
06:11 For 25 years, action star and former California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger was married to
06:18 TV journalist Maria Shriver. However, in May 2011, their union ended abruptly when Shriver
06:24 moved out of their shared home. "Official announcement brings to an end one of the
06:28 most unusual partnerships in American media and politics."
06:33 The reason for this sudden separation was revealed a week later. Shriver had discovered
06:37 that Schwarzenegger fathered a son with their housekeeper 14 years earlier. In fact, this son
06:43 had been born just days after Shriver gave birth to her youngest child with Schwarzenegger.
06:49 "Overnight, Schwarzenegger came clean about his real life true lies, saying, quote, 'After
06:54 leaving the governor's office, I told my wife about this event, which occurred over a decade
06:59 ago. There are no excuses, and I take full responsibility for the hurt I have caused.'"
07:04 Although this revelation triggered a media frenzy, the divorce proceedings between the
07:09 two remained largely quiet and free of tensions. In 2021, 10 years after Shriver initially filed
07:16 the papers, the divorce between the former couple was finalized. "Just because of my
07:21 doing this stupid thing, I got into the situation that I'm in."
07:28 Tiger Woods and Elin Nordegren
07:30 In November 2009, legendary golfer Tiger Woods was involved in a car crash just outside his
07:36 Florida home. Although Woods only sustained minor injuries from the incident, it triggered
07:41 a series of revelations that inflicted lasting damage on his marriage. "Since then, at least
07:46 three foursomes of women have stepped forward claiming relationships with the world's best and
07:51 married golfer." Over the next few weeks, several women came forward with claims that Woods had
07:57 cheated on his wife, Elin Nordegren, with them. The professional golfer eventually owned up to
08:02 these allegations, publicly apologized to his family, and went on an indefinite hiatus from
08:07 the sport to focus on his marriage. "I've had a lot of time to think about what I've done.
08:11 My failures have made me look at myself in a way I never wanted to before."
08:23 Despite these efforts, their union officially came to an end in August 2010. The scandal cost
08:29 Woods several sponsorship deals and resulted in a divorce settlement of about $100 million.
08:35 "Now what if anything he says once he shows up here at the golf course is still anyone's guess."
08:41 Johnny Depp and Amber Heard
08:43 The marriage between Hollywood actors Johnny Depp and Amber Heard had lasted just over a year when
08:49 Heard filed for divorce, citing Depp's alleged violent behavior. "I just stared at him,
08:54 kind of laughing still, thinking that he was going to start laughing too to tell me it was a joke,
09:02 but he didn't." She was granted a temporary restraining order against him,
09:06 but eventually settled the divorce, seemingly on amicable terms. However, in 2018, Heard wrote an
09:14 op-ed in the Washington Post implying that she had experienced domestic violence from Depp.
09:19 "And slams me up by my neck and holds me there for a second and tells me that he
09:26 could f---ing kill me." Consequently, Depp sued Heard for defamation, asserting that he was the
09:33 actual victim of domestic violence in the marriage. Heard countersued Depp, setting off a highly
09:39 publicized defamation trial in 2022. In the end, a jury ruled that Heard had defamed Depp,
09:46 while dismissing all but one of the claims in her countersuit.
09:50 "To my dying day, will stand by every word of my testimony."
09:53 Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie
09:55 Hollywood power couple Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie officially began their relationship following
10:01 the dissolution of Pitt's marriage to actress Jennifer Aniston. After 12 years together,
10:06 including two years of marriage, Jolie filed for divorce in September 2016.
10:11 "In this 11-page court document obtained by ABC News,
10:15 Jolie citing "irreconcilable differences" as the reason for the split."
10:19 The former couple were declared legally single in April 2019, but have remained in a bitter
10:25 legal dispute over custody of their underage children. In 2022, Jolie revealed allegations
10:31 of domestic violence from Pitt, including violent behavior towards their child, which led to an FBI
10:37 investigation in 2016. Their divorce proceedings have been further complicated by Jolie's sale of
10:44 her shares in a French winery, co-owned with Pitt, to a Russian billionaire. This move was
10:50 reportedly perceived by Pitt as retaliatory. "In these new court docs, he says her actions are
10:56 severely and intentionally damaging." Before we unveil our top pick, here are a
11:01 few honorable mentions. Kim Kardashian and Kanye West
11:05 Even after separating, West verbally attacked Kardashian and then-boyfriend Pete Davidson.
11:11 "Back in March, Kim's request to restore her marital status to single was granted by a judge
11:17 after the Kardashian star claimed Kanye was causing 'emotional distress' by putting
11:23 misinformation about private family matters on social media."
11:26 Kelly Clarkson and Brandon Blackstock The American Idol winner paid $1.3 million
11:32 to Blackstock, plus monthly child support of about $45,000.
11:36 "The amount of spousal support is lower than the previous amount Clarkson had been ordered
11:41 to pay in July of 2021, which was $150,000 per month."
11:45 Paul McCartney and Heather Mills Their bitter divorce resulted in a massive,
11:50 nearly $50 million settlement for Mills. "She, on the other hand, is saying, 'Well,
11:55 he accumulated a lot of wealth since our marriage.'"
11:58 John and Kate Gosselin At the height of their TV fame,
12:02 the Gosselins shockingly decided to part ways. "After months of speculation about America's
12:08 most talked-about couple, it's official." Before we continue, be sure to subscribe to
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12:23 into your settings and switch on notifications. Princess Diana and Prince Charles
12:29 This royal couple first met in 1977 and exchanged vows in a lavish fairy tale ceremony four years
12:36 later. "And there are the chairs and the periscopes."
12:42 However, their marriage faced challenges stemming from their age difference
12:46 and Charles' rekindled romance with ex-girlfriend Camilla Parker Bowles.
12:51 Diana also engaged in extramarital affairs, further straining the marriage. Despite Queen
12:57 Elizabeth II's efforts to mend their relationship, Diana and Charles decided to separate in 1992.
13:04 "The divorce was finalized in 1996. Diana lost her royal highness title and became simply Diana,
13:11 Princess of Wales." Three years later, Diana gave a bombshell TV interview,
13:16 in which she addressed Charles' infidelity and her own mental health struggles.
13:20 This was the final nail in the coffin. "A fairy tale had come to an end,
13:25 and most importantly, our marriage had taken a turn, a different turn."
13:29 The couple officially divorced in 1996, with Diana retaining widespread public sympathy.
13:35 Tragically, she met her untimely demise in a car crash one year later.
13:40 "Here on the streets of Paris, people are mourning the loss of the most photographed
13:45 woman in the world." What other messy celebrity divorce did not make our list?
13:50 Let us know in the comments.
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14:04 [Music]