Breakups aren’t easy – especially when they’re done under Hollywood’s spotlight. And boy have we seen just how messy it can get between A-listers who call it quits on their romance. But luckily for some, they’re able to split amicably. Here’s a list of some of your favorite celebrity exes who have managed to remain friends despite the break up.
We’re sure we can all agree that it’s no fun running into an ex out in public, so just imagine if you had to work with them every day afterwards! Somehow, The Big Bang Theory stars, Kaley Cuoco and Johnny Galecki managed to act as husband and wife on the hit series after they called an end to their secret, almost two year relationship in 2010.
Speaking to CBS Watch! magazine following their breakup, 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 chimed in adding, “We’re dear friends, still. Kaley’s not just an ex, she’s a part of my life.” He even attended both of Cuoco’s weddings in 2013 and 2018.
We can’t be the only ones who were stunned to hear of Jennifer Garner and Ben Affleck’s decision to call it quits on their relationship after a decade of marriage and three kids. Though the pair announced their split in 2015, they have since then managed to support each other through thick and thin.
Following their breakup, the celebrity exes have been frequently seen spending time with their children together, going on family vacations, and even on solo dinner dates with just the two of them. Co-parenting their children in the best way possible is of utmost importance to the two actors as Affleck told Ellen DeGeneres in 2017, “we’re working our best for them.”
After a marriage that lasted a decade, actress Gwyneth Paltrow and Coldplay frontman Chris Martin went their separate ways in 2016, famously referring to their divorce as a “conscious uncoupling.” But despite how tough it must be to walk away from a union that long, the celebrity exes have managed to form quite a – ‘unique,’ if you will – post-relationship relationship.
Following their divorce, Paltrow made headlines when she said of Martin, “We’re still very much a family, even though we don’t have a romantic relationship. He’s like my brother.” And just when we thought it couldn’t possibly get any friendlier than that, the actress revealed that the Coldplay singer tagged along with her new husband, Brad Falchuk on their honeymoon. Paltrow called it “a very modern honeymoon.” We suppose that’s one way to put it?
Though J.Lo may now be head over heels for fiancé and former professional baseball player, Alex Rodriguez, let’s not forget about her former husband, Marc Anthony. The two musicians are yet another celebrity A-list couple who called off their relationship only to end up as BFFs.
The celebrity exes, who were married between 2004 and 2011, have not only collaborated on family matters since their split – such as co-parenting their two twins, Max and Emme – but they’ve also worked together in their music. For example, Anthony served as executive producer of Lopez’s second all-Spanish album, “Por Primera Vez,” and the duo have shared a number of duets together, like the one at the 2016 Latin Grammys. Despite the end to their romance, there appears to be no bad blood between them, with Lopez commonly referring to Anthony as her “best friend.”
After nearly four years of dating, Cameron Diaz and good ‘ol JT called it quits on their relationship in 2006. The two appeared to have a pretty amicable breakup, as they went on to work side-by-side in a few Hollywood hits.
Not long after their split, the actors shared the red carpet to promote Shrek the Third, for which they both voiced characters. In addition to this reunion, the pair starred opposite one another as love interests (yes, they even had to film some steamy scenes) in the 2011 romantic comedy, Bad Teacher. On the topic of working with her ex, 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.” Bravo, guys.
After meeting in 1995 while touring for The Seagull, actors Kate Beckinsale and Michael Sheen spent eight years together and had a daughter named Lily. Following their split in 2003, the former flames remained close, even celebrating the holidays together.
But their friendliness doesn’t stop there. At a 2016 Directors Guild of America event, the two gave each other a congenial kiss and Beckinsale gave Sheen’s then girlfriend, Sarah Silverman a huge hug. Beckinsale said of Silverman at the time, “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!” Two things: firstly, we don’t know many other people who could do that. And secondly, this isn’t the only time Sarah Silverman appears on this list. Any guesses as to who else she may be linked to?
Vampire Diaries stars, Nina Dobrev and Ian Somerhalder are but one example of a Hollywood couple that managed to fall for each other both on screen and off screen. And we’re sure we weren’t the only ones whose hearts broke after they split back in 2013.
Luckily, the pair have stayed friends and frequently take to Twitter to show their support for one another. After Somerhalder tied the knot with Nikki Reed in 2015, Dobrev said, “When I heard about the wedding, I thought it was beautiful. They look happy and I am happy.” Speaking of their friendship, she was also reported saying, “I don’t think it’s weird at all. I think that’s great. Why can’t everyone be friends?” Great point, Nina!
Music icon, Lady Gaga and Chicago Fire star, Taylor Kinney met back in 2011 on the set of the singer’s music video for “You and I.” In great foreshadowing action, the actor played the singer’s love interest in the music sequence.
After getting engaged on Valentine’s Day in 2015, Gaga and Kinney announced their breakup in 2016. While much of America was heartbroken and prayed for a reunion, Gaga told People, “It’s just about life changes and we all go through different stages and we’re focused on different things,” adding, “He’s been my lover and my friend for a really long time.” Seems to be a mature ending.
Referring to the time she met R&B musician, Seal, model Heidi Klum told Piers Morgan at CNN, “it was kind of like two magnets.” And while the two were married for nearly seven years – even having three children together – they divorced in 2014.
It’s to be expected that there’d be a few bumps in the road following a breakup, and the relationship between these two was no exception. But while they did go through some initial strife, it appears they are now friendly with one another for the sake of their kids. In fact, Klum even invited Seal to be a guest judge of her show, America’s Got Talent in 2017.
After eight years of marriage, actors Anna Faris and Chris Pratt filed for divorce in 2017. And although it came as sad news to many of us, the two have shown the world what a healthy relationship between exes actually looks like.
Speaking of their divorce, Pratt said to Entertainment Weekly in 2018, “We’re finding a way to navigate this while still remaining friends and still being kind to one another.” It seems they’ve got this friendly ex thing down pat, as evidenced by Faris’ support of her former husbands’ new marriage to Katherine Schwarzenegger. In response to the news of their engagement, Faris texted Pratt saying, “Just want to remind you, I’m an ordained minister.” Now that’s what we call supportive exes!
After tying the knot in 1985, singer Madonna and actor Sean Penn became known by many as the “Poison Penns.” This was all thanks to their famous dramatic spats and violent outbursts. However, while their marriage was considered to be anything but amicable, their 1989 divorce seemed to have helped them keep a friendly front.
While Penn told Associated Press in 2013 that he and Madonna have “maintained a great friendship over the years,” the singer spoke to her ex 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.” Way to tug at our heartstrings, Madonna! As a matter of fact, these two aren’t the only celebrity exes on this list who overcame a toxic relationship to find a stronger friendship after they split.
After starting to date in 2007, model Miranda Kerr and actor Orlando Bloom tied the knot in 2010 and welcomed a son, Flynn, the following year. And because life happens and sometimes things just don’t work out, the Hollywood “it” couple called it quits in 2013 after three years of marriage.
Following their split, Kerr and Bloom vowed to remain friends for the sake of their son, even agreeing to live near one another so they could remain “close as a family.” In fact, they still do consider each other family. When questioned by a reporter if he was friends with his ex, Bloom responded, “We’re not friends. We’re family.” We’re not crying, you’re crying!
Actors Courtney Cox and David Arquette are the epitome of amicable exes. After meeting in the ’90s on the set of Scream, the two married and shared eleven years as a couple together. In that time, they had a daughter, Coco, and created a production company together, Coquette Productions.
Since parting ways, they have remained loving and supportive friends of one another – so much so that they’ve not only co-parented Coco and kept up their business, but Arquette also appeared in Cox’s directorial debut, Just Before I Go. Speaking to Ellen Degeneres about the divorce in 2013, Cox said, “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.”
Disney Channel star, Hilary Duff and NFL player, Mike Comrie said “I do” back in 2010 before calling it quits only four years later. Though there were a few things that contributed to their relationship going awry, Duff told The Talk she believed she was too young for marriage to begin with, saying, “I was 22 when I got married… I don’t think we were mature enough to stick it out.”
Despite their divorce, they are another example of celebrity exes that have managed to remain friends. The two share one son, Luca, together and Duff claims she “wouldn’t choose anyone else to co-parent with.” Since their split, they’ve been spotted on vacation together and frequenting coffee dates. Is this what dreams are made of?
Singer Mariah Carey and actor Nick Cannon appear to be so close, you can hardly believe they are actually exes. Though the couple split in 2014 after six years of marriage, Cannon said, according to Daily Mail, that the two have made a conscientious effort to show their kids they still love one another unconditionally.
It seems Carey and Cannon have a bond thicker than steel, as they are frequently spotted out together and even enjoyed Christmas of 2018 together. The former love birds took their children to Colorado for the holidays and shared Instagram posts of their time spent together as a family. According to Cannon, his friendship with Carey makes him a better person. Aww!
After getting together in 2002, comedian Sarah Silverman and late night host Jimmy Kimmel dated on and off for about six years. While they were considered by many to be Hollywood’s comedy couple, their relationship came to an end in 2009.
Their breakup came just a few months after celebrating their five year anniversary and it was no laughing matter. Well, at least not at that time. But since then, the two have kept up a solid friendship and Silverman even appeared on Jimmy Kimmel Live in September of 2018. The comedian joked with Kimmel about marrying his second wife, saying, “It’s not fair! She gets, like, new, woke Jimmy. I had ‘Man Show’ Jimmy.” Haha!
The Royals actress, Elizabeth Hurley and acclaimed rom-com star, Hugh Grant are another celeb couple that saw no shortage of drama during their 13 year relationship. Considered by many to be one of the ’90s most beloved Hollywood romances, the two went their separate ways in 2000.
Since then, they have kept up a rather unusual relationship for exes. Not only are they close friends, taking cooking, guitar and Italian lessons together, but they also live next door to one another and named each other the godparents of their children. Grant called Hurley his family, saying, “We’re like brother and sister.”
Hollywood superstars, Demi Moore and Bruce Willis are arguably two of the most congenial celebrity exes in Hollywood history. Having married in 1987 and divorced in 2000, the actors decided to co-parent their three daughters, Rumer, Scout, and Tallulah following their split.
They did such a good job at co-parenting 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.” In fact, before Willis famously attended Moore’s 2005 wedding to Ashton Kutcher, there were rumors circulating that the former lovebirds would remarry. Yes, you heard correctly – their bond following their divorce was that close!
Bohemian duo, Lisa Bonet and Lenny Kravitz appear to be as close today as they were back in the ’80s. Marrying in 1987, the couple had one daughter together, Big Little Lies actress, Zoe Kravitz, before filing for divorce in 1993.
Bonet has since married Game of Thrones actor, Jason Momoa and the pair share two children together. In a 2013 interview 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.” To commemorate their blended family love, Momoa gifted Kravitz a matching skull ring in 2018.
Perhaps you forgot that at the same time of their fictional romance on The Office, actors Mindy Kaling and BJ Novak also shared an on-again-off-again relationship in real life. In fact, they continued working together on the show even after the spark between them fizzled.
Speaking of their relationship in 2015, Kaling told InStyle, “My relationship with BJ Novak is weird as hell. He is not my boyfriend, but he is not my best friend. I guess you could describe our relationship as a ‘romantically charged camaraderie with loud arguments’ but I don’t think Facebook would accept this as a new status.” It doesn’t seem Facebook needs to accept their status anymore, as the two now share a close friendship. Kaling even made Novak the godfather of her daughter in 2019, saying to Good Housekeeping that he’s a “member of the family.”
Though Cruel Intentions fans around the world were heartbroken following the split between Reese Witherspoon and Ryan Phillippe, their separation didn’t bring along a complete end to any relationship between the two. After seven years of marriage, the actors have managed to keep up a friendship based on their concerted effort to remain amicable for their little ones.
Since their divorce, the celebrity exes have found a way to happily co-parent their two kids, Ava and Deacon. This means family outings that include the children, Witherspoon and her new husband Jim Toth, and Phillippe. Way to be an example for the rest of the exes in the world!
Long before singer Blake Shelton entered the picture, bassist Tony Kanal was the most important musician in icon, Gwen Sefani‘s life. The former No Doubt bandmates started dating in 1987 and split in 1994 during their work on “Tragic Kingdom.”
While it was an extremely difficult time for them both, Stefani claimed the breakup helped her improve as a musician, saying, “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…” In one such song, “Cool,” Stefani acknowledges her friendship with Kanal, using the lyrics, “It’s good to see you now with someone else/And it’s such a miracle that you and me are still good friends/After all that we’ve been through/I know we’re cool.”
If you’re anything like us, it’s hard for you to imagine Will Smith with anyone other than Jada Pinkett Smith. But preceding this marriage, the Grammy Award-winning actor was married to actress, Sheree Fletcher for three years. Together, the two had one son, Trey.
Following their split in 1995, Smith and Fletcher have remained supportive friends. In fact, even Fletcher and Pinkett Smith are friends, as Fletcher was Pinkett Smith’s first guest on her Facebook show, Red Table Talk. Speaking of her relationship with Fletcher, Pinkett Smith explained, “She gifted me… She’s not an enemy. She did me a favor.” What a healthy way to view your husband’s ex-wife!
Having met actress, Emma Stone for the first time during a screen-test of The Amazing Spider Man, Andrew Garfield 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.” Quick, someone pass the tissues.
Despite their magnetic connection, the pair unfortunately parted ways in 2015 after five years of dating. Still, however, they’ve remained close, supportive friends. Andrew was quoted in 2017 saying, “I’m nothing but supportive and her biggest fan” of ex, Stone. He showed this support after springing to his feet to give her a standing ovation as she was awarded her first Golden Globe at the 2017 ceremony.
Despite getting divorced after nearly two decades of marriage, actors Melanie Griffith and Antonio Banderas claim there is no bad blood between them. In fact, they frequently share posts on social media about their time spent together with daughter, Stella.
Speaking of his unique bond with Griffith, Banderas told People magazine, “Even if we are divorced, she is my family and I will love her until the day I die.” Griffith mirrored his statement, saying, “I love him and always will.” And with that, these two Hollywood superstars certainly show us that love does not necessarily have to end after divorce.
Sources: Best Life Online, InStyle, Insider, Wonderwall
