Fears infidelity rumours put public image at risk as Hugh Jackman and Deborra-Lee Furness head for divorce

West Australian

2 days ago

For decades they were Australia's golden couple, their story the ultimate fairy tale. But what appeared to be a textbook amicable separation has shattered — and concerns a stellar public image could be at risk.
When Hugh Jackman laid eyes on Deborra-Lee Furness while filming ABC TV prison drama Correlli in 1995, it was love at first sight.
In fact, Jackman was so confident he knew Furness, who was the 'bigger star' at the time and 13 years his senior, was 'the one' that he asked for her hand in marriage just four months later.
Their wedding on April 11, 1996, in Melbourne was splashed across media outlets around the nation, and again when they adopted a son named Oscar in 2000 and five years later, a daughter named Ava.
The pair were rarely seen without each other on red carpets, and regularly praised each other in public.
In 2016, he called his wife 'the greatest thing that ever happened to [him]'.
In 2018, the Wolverine star said: 'I knew two weeks into meeting Deb that we were going to be together for the rest of our lives.'
He even serenaded her with a reprise of their wedding song at a Madison Square Garden performance in 2019.
But their seemingly enviable relationship imploded when the celebrity couple sent shockwaves through the showbiz world by announcing their split in September 2023 — just four months after attending the Met Gala together.
Their separation was revealed in a statement: 'We have been blessed to share almost three decades together as husband and wife in a wonderful, loving marriage. Our journey now is shifting, and we have decided to separate to pursue our individual growth.
'Our family has been and always will be our highest priority,' it continued. 'We undertake this next chapter with gratitude, love, and kindness. We greatly appreciate your understanding in respecting our privacy as our family navigates this transition in all of our lives.'
The pair signed off as 'Deb and Hugh Jackman' and concluded: 'This is the sole statement either of us will make.'
What appeared to be an amicable split — with relative silence about their heartbreak — shattered last week, when Furness finally filed for divorce.
Furness reportedly submitted the paperwork in New York on May 23 after the pair reached an agreement behind the scenes.
A settlement was reached that she is pleased with, which includes a handsome spousal support payment,' a source revealed to the Daily Mail.
'There was some back and forth regarding this financial agreement, but in the end, she got what she believed she deserved. Both are coming out of this financially secure.'
The insider added that Furness got the 'closure she needed'. The next step is for the judge to sign off.
Another source confirmed there was little drama between the couple while they were agreeing to the terms of the divorce.
However, Furness on Tuesday spoke cryptically of 'betrayal' and said she had found 'liberation' after her marriage ended.
'My heart and compassion goes out to everyone who has traversed the traumatic journey of betrayal,' she told the Daily Mail.
'It's a profound wound that cuts deep, however, I believe in a higher power and that God/the universe, whatever you relate to as your guidance, is always working FOR us.
'This belief has helped me navigate the breakdown of an almost three-decade marriage.
'I have gained much knowledge and wisdom through this experience. Even when we are presented with apparent adversity, it is leading us to our greatest good, our true purpose.
'It can hurt, but in the long run, returning to yourself and living within your own integrity, values and boundaries is liberation and freedom.'
While Furness never used the word 'infidelity', the 'betrayal' Furness mentions may allude to cheating allegations.
The couple's relationship is believed to have become turbulent during COVID-19, which was around the same time Jackman struck up a friendship with Sutton Foster, his co-star on the hit Broadway revival of The Music Man.
With the messy fallout playing out in public and consuming entertainment media, the question of whether their reputations have been damaged has raised its head.
Nicole Reaney, chief executive of Sydney-based PR agency InsideOut, said Jackman has built 'a very favourable brand image' through his career, which is now at risk of damage following Furness' remarks.
'He has just held this demeanour of a fun, genuine guy who has never been divisive,' she said.
'Obviously, no one really knows what has occurred inside their relationship, but Deborra filing for divorce and using words like betrayal in her statement has inferences into what may have occurred with his new partner.
'Hugh's image is likely to be tainted, but overall, his popularity and fame lean to him.
'If any further information unfolds, this may chip away further, but right now he still folds a favourable image.'
Relationships Australia national executive officer Nick Tebbey said dealing with infidelity can be harder to work through in a long-term relationship.
'Infidelity is a really significant breach of trust in that relationship, and that brings with it a whole lot of feelings of hurt and grief and anger over what's happened,' he said.
'When a relationship has been together for for a long period of time, that can be even more acutely felt, because they feel like this bond has been built over a number of years, and people have made a huge investment in that relationship, only to have that happen and to then have to reassess what they thought the relationship was based on.'
He said that this situation for a high-profile couple in the public eye added a whole new element to a marriage breakdown.
'Suddenly, all of your private matters are there on the front page of newspapers and all over social media for people to talk about and pore over and analyse,' he said.
While their separation was announced more than a year ago, Mr Tebbey said it was common, regardless of the status of the relationship, for feelings to resurface as seen in Furness' recent statement.
'We do research into the sort of impacts of relationships on people, and we see that over a representative sample of the Australian population, the effects of the relationship breakdown can be really lingering, and they can go through ebbs and flows,' he said.
'So it's very normal to sort of have those issues resurface and then have to again, sort of process them.'
With some fans thinking Jackman debuting a new relationship soon after his break-up was inconsiderate towards his ex, Furness was reportedly relieved when he went public with his new romance.
A source close to Furness revealed she had been suspicious that Jackman was dating Foster but was repeatedly told the pair were just friends.
When pictures emerged of Jackman and Foster holding hands, Furness felt a sense of relief that her suspicions had finally been confirmed.
The actress admitted in January last year that change was 'frightening', but was looking forward to embracing new opportunities.
Speaking amid her return to acting in Force of Nature: The Dry 2 - her first role since 2016 - Furness told the Daily Telegraph: 'It is kind of exciting.
'You know what, change, transition, evolution is a little frightening and we are all a bit scared of it, but I think it is probably our greatest gift.'
Jackman was also reportedly dealing with major changes by turning to his children for support.
A close friend of Jackman in May last year told Woman's Day: 'Ava and Oscar really rallied around him, and it's made a huge impact.
'He always looks so happy when he's with those two.'
The insider said his children had been working to support him in his time of need.
'They know him better than he does and are constantly surprising him,' the source said.
'They've become closer than he could have imagined, and he can confide in them, whereas before he'd turn to Deb.'