January heartbreak: Two shocking celebrity breakups
We're only two weeks into January, and already, two celebrity couples have already called it quits.
Jessica Simpson and Jessica Alba are starting their new year as single women. Both stars are reportedly divorcing their husbands after more than a decade of marriage.
Simpson confirmed her divorce from Eric Johnson in a statement to People magazine on Monday.
"Eric and I have been living separately navigating a painful situation in our marriage. Our children come first, and we are focusing on what is best for them. We are grateful for all of the love and support that has been coming our way, and appreciate privacy right now as we work through this as a family," she explained.
The singer and the former NFL player have three children together: Maxwell Drew, Birdie Mae and Ace Knute.
Rumours about the status of their marriage have been swirling for months with eagle-eyed fans noticing that they stopped wearing their wedding rings in October last year.
The couple tied the knot in July 2014 after more than four years of dating. Simpson rarely posted pictures of her husband on social media, with the 'I Wanna Love You Forever' hitmaker revealing in a 2023 birthday post that he's not an "Instagram Guy".
She, however, was not shy about expressing her love for her husband.
"My heart is so taken with this Man, I could hardly call it my own... We love youuuu," the 44-year-old wrote.
After a long hiatus, Simpson, who has previously been linked to musicians John Mayer and Nick Lachey, will return to music in 2025.
"This comeback is personal, it’s an apology to myself for putting up with everything I did not deserve," she said in November 2024.
The singer last released an album in 2008 and has spent the last 16 years focusing on her fashion line, The Jessica Simpson Collection.
"You've been missed!" one fan told her.
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Alba, meanwhile, has remained mum about the end of her 16-year marriage to film producer Cash Warren. The couple met on the set of 'Fantastic Four' in 2004.
Warren worked as a director's assistant on the film, and Alba played the lead role of Sue Storm/Invisible Woman. They sealed their union in a May 2008 wedding at a Beverly Hills courthouse.
They have since welcomed three children: Honor, Haven and Hayes. TMZ was the first to report their separation on January 8. The pair are reportedly on the verge of filing their divorce paperwork after recently separating.
They both have been spotted out in public without their wedding rings. In April 2024, Alba made some interesting comments about her marriage during an episode of Katherine Schwarzenegger Pratt's 'BDA Baby' podcast.
“I would say it’s all rosy for two-and-a-half years, but then after that, you become roommates. You're just going through the motions, the responsibilities. It's a lot of like checking the boxes," she said.
Alba also spoke about how she balances being a mom, actress and co-founder of one of the biggest clean brands in the world, The Honest Company.
"I think that he [Warren] probably gets the short end of the stick,” she told Schwarzenegger before admitting that making time for each other has been difficult at times.
"We used to do, like, every Wednesday we're going to do date night, or every week we're gonna set aside a time; we're gonna at least do date night, right? We won't have our phones and we'll just like talk. But then that stopped because of whatever, and so we're just not consistent.”
Warren also described their marriage as "hard work" in an interview with Us Weekly in July 2024.
"It’s hard work, but we roll up our sleeves and we do it. It’s wild. It’s the longest relationship I could have ever imagined.”
Despite their pending divorce, Alba and Warren have maintained a united front for their children. Their son Hayes turned seven on December 31, and the entire family celebrated with a birthday party at Universal Studios.
They also celebrated Christmas and Thanksgiving together.
However, the chances of a reconciliation seem slim. Alba shared a poignant post on New Year's Day reflecting on the last 12 months.
"Here’s to a colorful past year that was filled with connection, growth, adventures, laughter, peace, sisterhood, transformation, rebirth, joy and so much love. Sending hugs to everyone going through it – cheers to 2025 and even more love to come! Let’s goooo!"
The post included a series of photos featuring her children, friends and family but none of Warren.
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Main image credit: Instagram/@jessicaalba