Divorce lawyer reveals truth behind the huge spike in shock celebrity splits: 'No longer taboo'

There's no doubt: 2023 is the unofficial year of the surprise celebrity divorce.

Some of Hollywood's latest victims include Hugh Jackman and Deborra-lee Furness, Sofia Vergara and Joe Manganiello and Sophie Turner and Joe Jonas. It seems nobody is safe.

And the lingering question is – what on earth is going on? Is there something in the water?

Award-winning amicable divorce lawyer Cassandra Kalpaxis has the answer and, as it seems, A-listers aren't the only ones having a split renaissance.

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Speaking to 9Honey, Kalpaxis says there has been a dramatic shift in how we view marriage and relationships since the COVID-19 pandemic.

"COVID really was the first time we had the platform to slow down and actually take stock of what was important and how we wanted to live our lives," she explains.

"So many people are coming out of that situation, having reassessed their relationships or their marriages, then understanding they might have outgrown that relationship."

The culture around divorce being a 'last resort' has changed too, Kalpaxis reveals.

She says people are more invested in "the self" – i.e. self care and feeling fulfilled and feel far more comfortable with jumping ship.

"It's no longer taboo for women to check out of relationships and say, 'I'm not prepared to go any further because I'm not getting what I need out of this'," she says.

"It's certainly interesting to see the volume of people who are getting divorced after 12 months. People are checking out of a relationship much earlier, whereas historically, you stay in a relationship at all costs."

Though it might seem like the Divorce Armageddon is a terrible and sad thing, Kalpaxis reassures 9Honey it's actually a positive movement.

She says so many couples wait far too long to divorce, whether it be because they want to finish raising their children or the time simply doesn't feel right.

"It's a very good thing," she says. "I see women who come in to see me in their 70s and I say to them, 'What took you so long?'"

"And they say, 'Oh I was waiting for my son to do his HSC' or 'I was waiting for my grandkids to grow up' and they get to a point where they have waited years for their own happiness."

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For celebrities, it can be a very difficult and lonely experience getting divorced on the public stage.

Ugly divorces often play out in the tabloids – we're seeing it right now with the custody battle between Turner and Jonas.

"I certainly think they're in a very different pressure cooker. When something gets reported that they may not have said or it gets twisted, this causes issues, particularly with Joe Jonas and Sophie, they had a very amicable start," Kalpaxis says.

"Then we then see a number of statements and posts that are in a really stark contrast to the joint statement. When you allow other people to creep into your separation, it has the ability to very quickly become really acrimonious.

"And celebrities are unfortunately subject to that at a higher level. People are so fascinated by what happens in their world."

The constant reports of celebrity divorces and splits can also have a very real impact on everyday people.

As we see divorce become normalised, particularly around Hollywood's elite, it will trigger a knock-on effect for millions around the world.

"I think the fact it's becoming far more commonplace and accepted is certainly something that people are going to start evaluating," Kalpaxis explains.

"No we are seeing the mainstream media talk about it, we're seeing people come out and talk about their own separation and it becomes more normal for people to take stock of their own relationships."

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Celebrities can also set a positive example when it comes to friendly and amicable divorces too – Jackman and Furness are doing this right now.

Though, Kalpaxis warns, it could cause some couples to pull the trigger far too early.

"The problem with social media is that so many people are coming out and talking about it, which is fine, but it sets an unrealistic standard for people who are in relationships," she reveals.

"For example, those don't have those same values, but then think, 'oh, you know, so and so got separated because of this. So maybe I should be doing the same thing'." You shouldn't be judging your relationship by the standards of someone else."