20-05-2025
14 Ex-Celeb Couples Who Called Off Engagements
Celebrity breakups can be sad, messy, and straight-up chaotic. But celebrity engagement breakups? That's next-level tragic.
These 14 couples were thissss close to tying the knot, but never made it to the altar. Here are some of the most iconic, surprising, and totally unexpected celeb pairs who almost said 'I do'...then didn't:
Lady Gaga and Taylor Kinney
These two first crossed paths on the set of Gaga's "Yoü And I" music video — the one with mermaids, electrocution, and Gaga kissing herself? Yes, that one. In 2015, Kinney popped the question on Valentine's Day with a heart-shaped ring. The pair split the following year due to the all-too-familiar 'long-distance and complicated schedules.'
Julia Roberts and Kiefer Sutherland
Talk about a wedding disaster. Julia Roberts and Kiefer Sutherland got engaged in 1990, but broke up just three days before the wedding. The twist? Julia hopped on a plane to Ireland with Kiefer's best friend, Jason Patric. Yes, really. Peak tabloid era insanity.
Ryan Reynolds and Alanis Morissette
This Canadian power couple was engaged from 2004 to 2007, and are one of the more unexpected pairings in pop culture history. They announced their separation in 2007 with zero drama, but Morissette later gave us a few emotional tracks fans suspect are about him on her album Flavors of Entanglement.
Ariana Grande and Pete Davidson
Remember 2018? The year of 'God is a woman,' and a pop culture fever dream of an engagement. The two started dating, got tattoos for each other, moved in together, and got engaged all within one month. Then, just as quickly as it started, it was over. It was chaotic, and gave us Sweetener, so honestly…no notes.
Katie Holmes and Chris Klein
Before there was Tom and Katie, there was Katie and Chris. The pair got engaged in 2003 after five years of dating, but quietly called it off in early 2005. A few months later, Katie was dating you-know-who (Tom Cruise, in case you hadn't figured that one out yet).
Demi Lovato and Max Ehrich
Quarantine relationships move fast — and wow, did this one fly. Demi Lovato and Max Ehrich were briefly engaged in July 2020 after a few months of dating, complete with a romantic Malibu beach proposal. By September it was publicly. Max went on social media rants, and Demi announced she wanted "nothing to do with him." What beautiful tragedies lockdown brought us.
Gwyneth Paltrow and Brad Pitt
These '90s icons began dating after playing lovers in the crime thriller Seven — and yeah, we all know how that one ended. They eventually got engaged in 1996, but called it off just a year later. Still, no bad blood! Gwyneth later said she was 'not ready' for marriage at the time.
Channing Tatum and Zoë Kravitz
One of the more recent (and tragic) heartbreaks on this list. This impossibly attractive duo got together after working on Blink Twice in 2021, and by 2023, Zoë was spotted with a ring on her finger. While they never confirmed the proposal publicly, sources said wedding plans were underway. But by early 2024, it was the end for Tatum and Kravitz — and yes, Channing has already moved on.
Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez
Ah, the original Bennifer. They postponed their 2003 wedding due to 'excessive media attention,' only to call it off entirely. Then came the plot twist: nearly 20 years later, they reunited, and actually married in 2022. Buttttttt then…they split again, with an official divorce! Is this really the end of Bennifer? Only time can tell.
Sienna Miller and Jude Law
Sienna Miller and Jude Law were everyone's fav 'it' couple of the early 2000s. They got engaged on Christmas Day in 2004, but things fell apart in 2006 after a huge scandal involving Jude and his kids' nanny. They tried again in 2009, but eventually ended things for good. A holiday engagement, a nanny affair, a reunion, and a dramatic downfall — this one had it all.
Rachel Bilson and Hayden Christensen
This millennial dream couple first met on the set of Jumper in 2007 and got engaged the next year. After a brief breakup in 2010, they reunited and even had a daughter together. But by 2017, it was officially over. RIP to Anakin Skywalker and Summer Roberts.
Mark Ronson and Rashida Jones
Music legend + TV legend = a very cool couple that didn't quite make it down the aisle. Mark proposed in 2003, but the engagement fizzled out about a year later.
Sandra Bullock and Tate Donovan
Before she was America's sweetheart, Sandra Bullock was engaged to her Love Potion No.9 co-star Tate Donovan. They dated for about three years in the '90s and even got engaged — but called it off before saying their 'I do's.' A true rom-com that didn't get its happy ending.
Zayn Malik and Perrie Edwards
These two met on The X Factor, got engaged in 2013, and broke up two years later. Initially, there was a rumour the breakup happened over text, but Zayn denied it. The breakup was very public, and kinda iconic…mostly because fans suspect it inspired some of Little Mix's absolute best songs.
Did we miss any big heartbreaks? Got thoughts on these iconic couples? Let us know in the comments below!
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