WTF? 7 showbiz splits that rocked us to our very core

Sep 21, 2016

There was a time when couple goals and fairytale love could be summed up by one word: Brangelina. Sadly, however, that dream is dead.

Still in the mourning phase, the fall of Brangelina has us casting our minds back to the showbiz splits that rocked us. Have the tissues and ice cream handy as you accompany us down Memory Lane.

Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston

Years before Brangelina was a thing, Brad was one half of Hollywood’s hottest couple alongside Friends legend Jennifer Aniston. They were America’s sweethearts, raking in the cash and lighting up the red carpet with their general gorgeousness during their five-year marriage.

So, the world went into shock when the pair divorced in 2005, amid speculation that Brad had hit it off with his Mr & Mrs Smith co-star, Angelina Jolie. We swiftly divided up into our ‘Team Jen’ and ‘Team Ange’ factions when Brad made it official with Angelina, just months later.

While Jennifer went on to find her forever love with Justin Theroux, Brad and Angelina stayed together for 12 years.

Britney Spears and Justin Timberlake

Let’s face it: we ALL thought Justin and Britney were going to end up together! Young love blossomed on the set of The Mickey Mouse Club, with the pair crossing paths years later when Brit supported Justin’s band N’sync on tour.

With Britney pledging to save herself until marriage, she and Justin became THE squeaky-clean pin-up couple for teens everywhere – until, of course, their three-year romance came to a nasty end, in 2002.

Rumours that Britney cheated on Justin gained momentum when he released the video for break-up anthem Cry Me A River, which featured a Britney look-a-like.

Take That

Let’s not forget the break-up that caused such hysteria that actual crisis helplines had to be set up – Take That’s unceremonious split, all the way back in 1996!

Things weren’t looking good when Robbie Williams quit the band a year earlier, but fans were left devastated when Gary and co. announced their split, after putting album plans on hold.

A greatest hits compilation followed, and fans had just about accepted the fact that Take That was over – when, 10 years later, they unleashed the glorious comeback single Patience and enjoyed their best success yet. They even tempted Robbie back!

Reese Witherspoon and Ryan Phillippe

The best kind of Hollywood romance is the one that goes from the screen to real life, and Reese and Ryan were THE Hollywood couple of the ‘90s after their electric performances in Cruel Intentions. They got married in 1999 after two years of dating, and went on to welcome two children: daughter Ava, and son Deacon.

It seemed like Reese and Ryan were in it for the long-haul, and we were left shocked and devastated when they announced their split seven years later.

Reese went on to re-marry and welcome son Tennessee with husband Jim Toth, while Ryan welcomed daughter Kailani with ex-girlfriend Alexis Knapp.

Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner

In a year which saw some of our favourite couples calling time on their relationships, the divorce of Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner, in 2015, was the most shocking.

Having met on the set of their movie Daredevil, Ben and Jen had gone on to enjoy 10 wonderful years of marriage and three children.

After months of speculation, however, the couple shared a joint statement announcing their plan to divorce last June. Ben later found himself at the centre of cheating claims, including reports that he had been having an affair with his children’s nanny.

Geri Halliwell and the Spice Girls

Don’t lie; you all remember where you were when you heard that Ginger had quit the Spice Girls, four years after they found worldwide fame with their first single, Wannabe. Geri was said to have been suffering with depression at the time, with speculation of fights with her band members also rife.

Geri went on to enjoy some success with a solo career, but all our childhood prayers were answered back in 2007, when she joined up with Emma, Victoria, Mel B and Mel C for a Spice Girls reunion.

Now going by the name Geri Horner, she’s joining Baby and Scary for a special Spice Girls 20^th anniversary project.

Chris Martin and Gwyneth Paltrow

She was the darling of Hollywood, he was the frontman of the coolest band around; and, together, Gwyneth Paltrow and Chris Martin made up THE power-couple of the noughties.

While they raised eyebrows by naming their first-born after a fruit, they always seemed incredibly loved-up – he wrote Fix You for her, for God’s sake! And so, we were left confused and heartbroken when Gwyneth announced that, after 13 years of marriage, she and Chris had decided to ‘consciously uncouple’.

While Gwyneth has been in a relationship with Glee mastermind Brad Falchuk for the past two years, Chris went on to enjoy flings with Jennifer Lawrence and Annabelle Wallis.