'Love is dead': Why the demise of another celebrity relationship cuts deep as Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban call it quits

OPINION -- Another celebrity relationship has bitten the dust.

The reported end of the 20-year relationship of Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban hits hard and comes hot on the heels of some other high-profile splits in recent years.

So far this year alone Katy Perry and Orlando Bloom, Jessica Alba and Cash Warren, and Lily Allen and David Harbour announced their splits, while Hugh Jackman and Deborah-Lee Furness, and J Lo and Ben Affleck each finalised their divorces.

They are among a group of celebrity splits that have shaken us to the core and include Nicole Kidman and first husband Tom Cruise, Ben Affleck and his first wife Jennifer Garner, and Brad Pitt and wives, Jennifer Aniston and Angelina Jolie.

But why does a celebrity break-up leave us feeling so upset? And why are we so invested in the private relationships of celebrities that we care at all?

When Channing Tatum and Jenna Dewan announced their separation in April 2018 after almost nine years of marriage and 12 years together I remember feeling disappointed.

They were a couple who seemingly had it all. They had met at a young age as up-and-coming actors, fell in love on the set of their 2006 film, Step Up, and married three years later.

They welcomed daughter Everly in May 2013, and for the next almost five years, their life together appeared perfect.

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So perfect in fact, that when they announced their separation in identical Instagram posts in April 2018, the world, myself included, was shook.

I remember looking back through their respective Instagram feeds, looking for signs of a rift that I had missed and there were none.

Just glowing posts about the other that painted a picture of wedded bliss.

Was I deceived? Were we all? Or were they deceiving themselves?

In the years that followed – it took six long years to finalise their divorce – the gloves came off with a series of personal attacks.

Dewan especially painted a less than flattering picture of the Magic Mike actor.

It was much the same when Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie separated under dramatic circumstances in August 2016, with a slew of sensational claims thought to be behind the cause of their split.

But how was it possible?

Wasn't she just gazing at him lovingly on the red carpet? Didn't they have about 100 kids together? Didn't they just get married? Didn't he leave first wife Jennifer Aniston for her after meeting on the set of their 2004 film Mr and Mrs Smith?

Make it make sense.

But if you thought that one was going to be tough to take, wait until you saw what 2023 had in store.

Our very own Aussie true blue celebrity love story between Hugh Jackman and Debora-Lee Furness was over. Kaput.

After almost 30 years together and a 27-year marriage, they announced their separation in September 2023 in a statement provided to People.

It came just four months after their last red carpet appearance together at the Met Gala and just six months after Jackman made a gushing post about Furness on Instagram.

"I love you Deb. Today is our 27th wedding anniversary. 27 YEARS!! I love you so much," Jackman wrote.

"Together we have created a beautiful family. And life. Your laughter, your spirit, generosity, humour, cheekiness, courage and loyalty is an incredible gift to me. I love you with all my heart."

The announcement of their separation after "almost three decades together as husband and wife in a wonderful, loving marriage" talked about a 'shifting' journey to "pursue our individual growth".

But within months we learned that Jackman had begun a relationship with someone else – a much younger co-star – with Furness giving a statement to nine.com.au in 2025 when she filed for divorce that read her "heart and compassion goes out to everyone who has traversed the traumatic journey of betrayal".

As news broke today that Kidman and Urban were the latest celebrity couple to head to Splitsville, amongst the race to file articles for a hungry news cycle, as I looked through images of the two together over the past two decades I felt sad.

Sad for them, sad for their kids, sad for their fans. Just sad.

"How are you?" my son texted me this morning.

"OK," I wrote back. "Except love is dead."

"You're kidding?" he replied when I sent a screenshot of my earlier story about their split.

I was impressed he knew who they were and wondered if he felt anything at all.

Does it unnerve him? The idea that two people who have been together for decades, like his parents, can suddenly split.

Or like me, does he think it's a little bit selfish. That two people with all the money and household help and 'things' they could ever need couldn't stick it out.

If work schedules were the problem, couldn't they just, I don't know, stop?

I mean, I assume they can both afford to not work. I get it, careers, especially for artists like them are important, but if distance drove them apart, couldn't he tour a bit less and she take on fewer films?

I try to imagine a marriage, my marriage, without the stress of paying the mortgage, worrying about bills and caring for children.

When you can jet off on a private plane to anywhere in the world for some R&R. Combine a trip to Paris Fashion Week with a few nights in the City of Love.

I was recently there with my husband but we had our two kids in tow. Imagine being able to go whenever you want, without worrying about the cost and how the four of you will survive 24 hours in economy.

Maybe that's why a celebrity break-up makes us feel sad.

If they can't keep it together with all their money, household help and the like, how are we mere mortals meant to?

Or maybe all their money, the ability to simply buy a second mansion nearby and fly off to their next gig or celebrity appearance makes it easier for them to simply cut their losses and walk away whenever the going gets tough.

In a world full of celebrity break-ups, maybe we mere mortals actually have a better chance of making it work, away from all the excess that success and stardom brings with it.

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