By Jessica Wedemeyer
6:26am PDT, Aug 31, 2021
Wonderwall.com is taking a look back at the stars who found love, suffered heartbreak or experienced some other major event in their love lives in August 2021, starting with this new couple… On Aug. 4, Page Six broke the news that there's a new man in Sandra Lee's life. The New York Post's gossip column soon identified him as 42-year-old Algerian actor, filmmaker and interfaith leader Ben Youcef. A few days later — as the new couple packed on the PDA in St-Tropez — multiple Page Six sources insisted that the TV chef was still struggling to move on from her relationship of 14 years with embattled former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, which came to an end in the summer of 2019. (One source said that the allegations against the politician — he resigned on Aug. 10 after an investigation determined he'd sexually harassed at least 11 women — have been "tremendously horrible and painful for [Sandra] to read about.") But then on Aug. 14 — after Sandra was snapped sporting a massive sparkler on her ring finger during a night out in Paris with her new beau — the New York Post reported that she and Ben are engaged. A few days after that, DailyMail.com reported that the couple of just a few months will have to wait to wed until after Ben finalizes his divorce from his first wife, real estate broker Apryl Stephenson, with whom he shares 5-year-old twins. A source whom DailyMail.com described as a "friend" called Ben "an opportunist" who "has his own agenda" and is likely "loving the media attention he is getting" from his relationship with Sandra. The former couple are reportedly fighting over custody of their two kids, whom Sandra has met.
RELATED: Celebs who got engaged in 2021
Kim Kardashian and Kanye West sparked reconciliation rumors when she turned out to support him at his second "Donda" listening party in Atlanta on Aug. 5. But according to a People magazine source, the rapper and the reality star are not giving their marriage another shot: "Kim is trying to be supportive. … They are still moving forward with the divorce," said the source, noting that it's "very important" to the mother of four that her kids "spend as much time as possible" with their father. All four children attended the concert, during which Kanye sang, "I'm losing all my family / Darling, come back to me." Another lyric that fueled reconciliation rumors? "Time and space is a luxury / But you came here to show that you're still in love with me," he rapped at one point. The Kim reconciliation rumors kicked off again on Aug. 26 — just a few days after People magazine broke the news that Kanye and his first post-Kim fling, Irina Shayk, are no longer dating — when Ye hosted a "Donda" listening party in Chicago that featured his estranged missus donning a Balenciaga wedding gown in a nod to their 2014 nuptials. Multiple witnesses also caught the former couple leaving the venue hand in hand, prompting TMZ to report that, according to multiple sources, there's a chance Kimye could reconcile as they continue "working on rebuilding the foundation of their relationship." Kim could even withdraw her petition for divorce, the webloid reported. A Page Six source, however, insisted that Kim and Kanye "are not getting back together" and attributed the faux wedding to their mutual "love of the press" and desire to make money. A second Page Six source claimed that Kanye "has been telling other rappers that he and Kim are back together," though "everybody knows that isn't true." Said the second source, "They weren't talking for months after she filed for divorce, but they began talking again earlier this summer for the sake of their kids. Kim is a nice person — while she and Kanye are not back together — she's happy to support him in his work and his art." A third Page Six source echoed that Kim only participated in the faux wedding because she "will always support [Kanye] as an artist" and wanted to "help him achieve his creative vision." Meanwhile, a People magazine source said that Kim "is not calling [the divorce] off." Said the source, "They have come a long way since Kim filed for divorce. It's taken them months to get to this point. Kim is happy that they get along and that things are amicable. A second People source called the wedding reenactment a metaphor for a "holistic sense of love as a healing force" and insisted "it's not at all about them getting back together or something like that."
Now keep reading for more of the month's biggest celeb love life updates…
RELATED: Celebs who broke up and got back together
On Aug. 23, Ben Affleck was snapped looking at jewelry at a Tiffany & Co. boutique in Los Angeles with his mom and son. (See photos here.) Page Six practically broke the Internet when they later reported that the Oscar-winning filmmaker was actually checking out engagement rings, sparking rumors that he's gearing up to propose to his back-on love, Jennifer Lopez, for the second time. (They got engaged for the first time back in 2002 but split in 2004.) The following day, however, E! News reported that things weren't quite what they seemed: According to a source, Ben, his mother and son were participating in a scavenger hunt that required them to pop into the jewelry store — not shopping for an engagement ring for the singer-actress. On Aug. 22 — amid a highly publicized hangout with their kids — People magazine reported that, according to a source, Ben and J.Lo "are in it for the long run" and "want all the kids to get to know each other" but "are not trying to rush anything." Ben has three kids with ex-wife Jennifer Garner, while J.Lo has twins with ex-husband Marc Anthony. Speaking of the "Alias" alum…
On Aug. 25 — after years of questions about the nature of their relationship — Lorde and Universal Music exec Justin Warren finally confirmed they're more than friends and colleagues: The duo were snapped packing on the PDA during a dinner date in West Hollywood. (They even kissed!) The 24-year-old Grammy winner — who sings about a mysterious boyfriend on her "Solar Power" album, which just debuted on Aug. 20 — and her beau, who's said to be in his early 40s, were first linked back in 2016 following her split from photographer James Lowe following three years of coupledom.
On Aug. 17 — Robert De Niro's 78th birthday — the Oscar winner was snapped holding hands with New York City-based martial arts champ Tiffany Chen as they made their way to a yacht in the French Riviera. (See photos here.) The pair were also seen together in June, though it was unclear at the time that they were an item. It's also unclear how long they've been seeing each other, but it's possible they met on the set of 2015's "The Intern," in which he starred and she had a small role as a Tai Chi instructor (pictured). It's the iconic actor's first public romance since he split from his wife of more than 20 years, Grace Hightower, in late 2018.
On Aug. 15, In Touch reported that, according to multiple sources, Khloe Kardashian and Tristan Thompson have rekindled their off-and-on romance of five years. "Khloe is going around saying that [they're] just friendly co-parents because she's too scared to admit to her family that she has taken him back," said one source. Other media outlets, however, poured cold water on the In Touch report: Page Six, for example, reported that Khloe and Tristan are simply maintaining a friendship for their daughter's sake. An E! News source, meanwhile, said that the reality star isn't back with the professional basketball player, though she's "forgiven" him for allegedly cheating on her for the umpteenth time earlier this year. Meanwhile, on Aug. 22 — after controversial gossip vlogger Tasha K claimed in an Aug. 16 YouTube video that Tristan has been secretly hooking up with Iggy Azalea — the Australian rapper took to Twitter to insist she's never even met the athlete. (It's unclear where Tasha K got the idea that Iggy and Tristan are an item.)
On Aug. 9, Closer magazine nearly broke the Internet when it reported that, according to a source, Jennifer Aniston and David Schwimmer are now dating after reconnecting on the set of the "Friends" reunion earlier this year. "After the reunion, it became clear that reminiscing over the past had stirred up feelings for both of them and that chemistry they'd always had to bury was still there," said the alleged insider, adding that "David's smitten with Jen and the feelings are definitely mutual." The source went on to say that David, who lives in New York City, has been spending time with Jen in California, which she calls home. Two days later, however, a rep for the erstwhile Ross Geller threw cold water on the report, telling The Sun that there's "no truth" to the rumors about his relationship with the Emmy-winning actress.
It was a huge month for celebrity engagements… On Aug. 26, Deux Moi reported that, according to an anonymous source, Diane Kruger and Norman Reedus recently "got engaged in Atlanta." Later that day, People magazine confirmed the happy news. … On Aug. 10, Sophia Bush took to Instagram to announce that she and her boyfriend of a little more than a year, Grant Hughes, got engaged during a boat ride on Lake Como in Italy. … On Aug. 22, "Modern Family" alum Eric Stonestreet took to Instagram to announce that he and his girlfriend of five years, pediatric nurse Lindsay Schweitzer, are engaged. … On Aug. 9, Us Weekly broke the news that Joey Lawrence is engaged to his girlfriend of about a year, actress Samantha Cope. The duo connected on the set of their upcoming Lifetime made-for-TV movie "A Deadly Deed" … around the time the former teen heartthrob filed to divorce his wife of 15 years, Chandie Yawn-Nelson. It's unclear when exactly he popped the question. … On Aug. 20, Page Six broke the news that Roger Waters is engaged. The Pink Floyd rocker has managed to keep the bride-to-be's identity under wraps so far. It'll be his fifth marriage. … On Aug. 6, "Awkward" alum Beau Mirchoff took to Instagram to announce that he and his girlfriend of a little more than a year, psychologist Jenny Meinen, got engaged in front of the Eiffel Tower during a recent trip to Paris. … On the first part of the "Shahs of Sunset" season 9 reunion special, which aired on Aug. 22, Mike Shouhed revealed that he and Paulina Ben-Cohen got engaged after he popped the question on the beach in Hawaii. … On Aug. 18, "L Word: Generation Q" actress Jacqueline Toboni and "Unreal" actress Kassandra Clementi took to Instagram to announce that they're engaged. They've been an item since at least 2019. … On Aug. 12, Kortnie O'Connor took to Instagram to announce that her boyfriend of about a year and a half — former professional baseball player and "The Real Housewives of Orange County" alum Jim Edmonds, who was married to Meghan King — proposed sometime last month. … On Aug. 9, model Meadow Walker took to Instagram to announce that she's engaged to aspiring actor Louis Thornton-Allan. The 22-year-old daughter of late "Fast & Furious" franchise star Paul Walker shared a video of herself showing off her new engagement ring while taking a dip in a swimming pool. … On Aug. 23, country music star HARDY took to Instagram to announce that he and his girlfriend of a little more than three years, Caleigh Ryan, are engaged. … And on Aug. 22, "Big Brother" season 21 star Christie Murphy took to her Instagram Story to announce that she and her girlfriend, a woman named Jamie, got engaged during a picnic at the Eiffel Tower in Paris.
It was a huge month for Bachelor Nation love news… Season 17 of "The Bachelorette" concluded on Aug. 9 with Katie Thurston accepting a marriage proposal from Blake Moynes … who previously dated Clare Crawley and Tayshia Adams on the 16th season of the ABC reality show. After the finale aired, the couple confirmed on social media that they're still going strong. … On Aug. 20, Deux Moi reported that, according to multiple anonymous sources, Bachelor Nation's Clare Crawley and Dale Moss are secretly married. … In early August — less than two weeks after Tyler Cameron (who competed for Hannah Brown's heart on season 15 of "The Bachelorette") said he was "very in love" with his girlfriend of about eight months, Camila Kendra — they called it quits. In mid-August, Camila raised questions about the nature of her relationship with Lewis Hamilton when she took to social media to share photos of herself in his home and apparently wearing his clothes. On Aug. 16, however, The U.S. Sun reported that the model and the Formula One champ are just pals. The following day Us Weekly published a statement from Camila's rep calling the rumors about her relationship with Lewis "100%" false. … Vanessa Grimaldi — who got engaged to Nick Viall on season 21 of "The Bachelor" in 2017 — married Josh Wolfe at the Le Mount Stephen Hotel in Montreal on Aug. 20, almost exactly a year after they got engaged following a courtship of less than two years. … On the Aug. 20 episode of the "Reality Life with Kate Casey" podcast, Blake Horstmann said that he and Becca Kufrin might have finally gotten together earlier this year if she hadn't signed on to appear on the current season of "Bachelor in Paradise." The duo dated on season 14 of "The Bachelorette" in 2018, but Becca ultimately chose Garrett Yrigoyen — from whom she split in the summer of 2020 — over him. On the Aug. 26 episode of the "Click Bait" podcast, however, the brunette beauty confirmed that she and Blake have "been in touch very sporadically" in recent months but insisted "nothing romantic" has happened between them … and that if they really wanted to be together, they would be. … On Aug. 7, the Bachelor Nation Scoop Instagram account shared a photo of controversial "The Bachelorette" contestant Greg Grippo during a night out in New York City with "The Bachelor" alum Bri Springs. (Greg sparked a national conversation about "gaslighting" and emotional abuse following his extremely dramatic split from Katie Thurston on the penultimate episode of season 17 of "The Bachelorette," while Bri became a fan favorite while competing for Matt James's heart on the 25th season of "The Bachelor" earlier this year.) After the hangout sparked rumors they're dating, Bri took to her Instagram Story to clear the air: On Aug. 8, she posted a photo (see it here) of what appeared to be her hand holding a mystery man's hand. (The man has dark skin and clearly isn't Greg.) "Current relationship status," she captioned the PDA pic, indicating there's someone else in her life. Then on the Aug. 11 episode of Nick Viall's "The Viall Files" podcast, Greg insisted that "Bri is just a friend" and that "she has a boyfriend." … On Aug. 23, Victoria Paul — who competed for Peter Weber's heart on season 24 of "The Bachelor" — took to her Instagram Story to clear up questions about her relationship status after she left the seventh season of "Bachelor in Paradise" amid rumors she has a secret boyfriend back in Nashville: aspiring musician Teddy Robb. They dated for "like two and a half months" but he broke up with her in May when "he wouldn't fully commit," she said. … And on Aug. 16, Seinne Fleming — who competed for Arie Luyendyk Jr.'s heart on season 22 of "The Bachelor" — took to Instagram to announce that she's engaged to realtor Doug Fillmore. They started dating in 2018 while her season of "The Bachelor" was airing.
On Aug. 15, Christina Haack posted and then quickly deleted a photo of herself wearing what appeared to be a massive engagement ring while posing with her new boyfriend, Joshua Hall, and his mother. (See it here.) She quickly replaced the photo — which seemed to hint they're engaged — with a similar shot in which her hand is covered. (She's yet to address the engagement speculation.)
On Aug. 14, Closer magazine broke the news that John Mellencamp and realtor-to-the-stars Natasha Barrett — whom he met through his daughter, former "The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" star Teddi Mellencamp Arroyave — recently called it quits after several months of coupledom. The breakup, which People magazine later confirmed, is said to be amicable.
Here's a rundown of all the celeb weddings that made headlines this month… On the Aug. 3 episode of "The Talk," John Corbett revealed that he and his partner of nearly 20 years, Bo Derek, quietly tied the knot "around Christmastime" last year. … On Aug. 9, filmmaker Jennifer Lee — who wrote and directed both "Frozen" movies — announced on Instagram that she Alfred Molina — who voiced Anna and Elsa's father in "Frozen II" — recently tied the knot. They've been a couple since at least 2019. … On Aug. 12, E! News reported that "Pretty Little Liars" alum Ian Harding secretly married his love of a decade, photographer and set designer Sophie Hart, back in October 2019. The actor's rep later confirmed the news to People magazine. … "Little People, Big World" stars Amy Roloff and Chris Marek tied the knot at Roloff Farms in Hillsboro, Oregon, on Aug. 28, according to People magazine, which published exclusive wedding photos. … And according to Daily Mail Australia, male models Jordan Barrett and Fernando Casablancas — the younger brother of The Strokes frontman Julian Casablancas — tied the knot in Ibiza, Spain, on Aug. 11.
On Aug. 24, The Sun reported that Gavin Rossdale has been quietly dating 26-year-old model, influencer and podcast host Gwen Singer — who's six years younger than his eldest child, model Daisy Lowe — since April. On Aug. 25, however, Gwen took to her Instagram Story to seemingly deny the report about her love life. "Got ya," she captioned a video of herself laughing while rolling her eyes, adding a "fake news" graphic for good measure.
On Aug. 5, Kate Bosworth took to Instagram to announce that she and Michael Polish are going their separate ways after nearly eight years of marriage. The duo tied the knot in 2013 after he directed her in the 2011 drama "Big Sur."
When Christina Ricci took to Instagram on Aug. 10 to announce that she's pregnant with her second child, she raised questions about the nature of her relationship with hairstylist, makeup artist and photographer Mark Hampton, whom she tagged in her pregnancy announcement. Mark also shared several ultrasound photos, indicating that he's the father of Christina's child. It's unclear how long he and the "Casper" actress have been an item, though OK! reported that the pair have been living together in Canada, where she's shooting the upcoming Showtime series "Yellowjackets." She split from her husband of seven years, film producer James Heerdegen, in the summer of 2020.
On Aug. 10, Page Six reported that Seal is dating Laura Strayer — a former personal assistant who worked for him during his marriage to Heidi Klum. The duo were snapped packing on the PDA in St-Tropez on Aug. 4. According to DailyMail.com, the singer and the blonde beauty first sparked romance rumors when they stepped out for dinner at Nobu in Malibu in February, though they managed to fly mostly under the radar at the time.
On Aug. 14, Margaret Qualley and Jack Antonoff were snapped packing on the PDA in New York City, confirming rumors from late June that they're an item. (See photos here.) The 26-year-old "Once Upon a Time… In Hollywood" actress previously romanced Shia LaBeouf and Pete Davidson, while the 37-year-old Bleachers frontman and Taylor Swift producer apparently split from model-photographer Carlotta Kohl earlier this year. He previously dated Lena Dunham for five years.
On Aug. 24 — after Gleb Savchenko and Elena Belle took to Instagram to share photos and videos of themselves vacationing together in Miami — multiple media outlets reported that the "Dancing With the Stars" pro and the Swedish model have been quietly dating since they met through a mutual friend on the Fourth of July. According to an "Entertainment Tonight" source, they're not officially an item yet but are "having fun and getting to know each other."
On Aug. 7, Lily-Rose Depp and Austin Butler were snapped packing on the PDA during a night out in London. (See photos here.) It was the first indication that the model-actress's off-and-on relationship with Timothée Chalamet had come an end for the second time and that Austin's romance with Olivia DeJonge — who's set to play the Priscilla Presley to his Elvis in an upcoming Baz Luhrmann biopic — had also come to an end. Back when Austin and former long-term love Vanessa Hudgens called it quits in late 2019, there were rumors he cheated on the "High School Musical" alum with Olivia. Now, it seems, history may have repeated itself: On Aug. 9, Deux Moi reported that, according to an anonymous source, Olivia "found out" about Austin's relationship with Lily-Rose when the photos of them kissing hit the Internet. "He's a cheater," said the alleged insider. Austin and Lily-Rose, by the way, go way back: They co-starred in Kevin Smith's 2016 indie comedy "Yoga Hosers."
On Aug. 17, Liam Payne and his former fiancée, Maya Henry, were snapped looking very much like a couple during a night out in St-Tropez. (See photos here.) The hangout seemed to confirm reports from late July that they'd rekindled their romance following a brief split earlier this year. According to a MailOnline source, the duo realized "they couldn't live without one another" and are now living together and planning to tie the knot next year. An E! News source, however, said they're not thinking about marriage right now.
On Aug. 23, Hollywood Life reported that, according to a source, Quavo and Saweetie — who split in March amid rumors he was unfaithful — have been "quietly spending time together on the DL." Said the source, "Quavo has missed Saweetie since they broke up and he's been asking to see her. Apparently she gave in… Nothing is official as of the moment, but don't be surprised if you hear they've reconciled." Added the insider, "Their connection certainly hasn't gone away and the chemistry they've always had is undeniable." On Aug. 26, however, Saweetie called the Hollywood Life article about her alleged reconciliation with Quavo a "pinocchio a** article," indicating that it's not true.
Model Paige Lorenze — who made headlines earlier this year when she alleged that Armie Hammer abused her during their relationship — sparked rumors that she's dating Morgan Wallen when she took to her Instagram Story on Aug. 3 to share a video of herself hanging out with the controversial country music star's sister, Ashlyne Wallen, at a Nashville farmers market. Earlier in the month, Paige could be seen watching Morgan sing and play guitar for a small group of friends seated around an outdoor fire pit. It's entirely possible, of course, that she's simply friendly with the whole Wallen clan…
On Aug. 6, "Game of Thrones" and "The Queen's Gambit" actor Thomas Brodie-Sangster was snapped holding hands with actress Talulah Riley, who was previously married to Elon Musk … twice. It was the first indication that the duo — who are set to co-star in an upcoming series about the Sex Pistols — are an item. It's unclear when exactly the former child star and the "Westworld" actress started dating.
Wendy Williams took to Instagram on Aug. 21 to tease the new man in her life: "My son's 21st birthday party on the yacht in #Miami was everything he wanted! Even my boyfriend," she captioned a photo of herself and a mystery man sitting in a car together.
Deux Moi reported on Aug. 4 that, according to an anonymous source, Amy Poehler is "seeing a man right now" who "happens to be a famous architect" in Los Angeles. The "Saturday Night Live" alum, who shares two sons with ex-husband Will Arnett, has managed to keep her love life almost entirely under wraps since her two-year romance with Nick Kroll came to an end in 2015.
During an interview with Variety that debuted online on Aug. 11, Lil Nas X said that he has a secret boyfriend … and things are serious. "I've found someone special now. I think this is the one. I can't explain it — it's just a feeling," he said.
Alicia Silverstone was snapped kissing a mystery man at a restaurant in West Hollywood on Aug. 17. (See photos here.) It's the first time the "Clueless" actress has dated someone publicly since her early 2018 split from Christopher Jarecki following 13 years of marriage.
August 2021 was a major blood bath for reality TV couples… Parvati Shallow — who won the 16th season of "Survivor" — filed to divorce her husband of four years — fellow "Survivor" alum John Fincher, who competed on season 19 — in Los Angeles on Aug. 24. … On Aug. 12, In Touch broke the news that Jon Gosselin and his girlfriend of seven years, Colleen Conrad, quietly called it quits earlier this year. The "Jon & Kate Plus 8" alum later confirmed the breakup news to The Sun, explaining that things between himself and his former love became "fraught" in the summer of 2020 and then took a turn for the worse in late 2020. Following multiple brief splits, they broke up for good in February 2021. … On Aug. 16, TMZ published video of former "Here Comes Honey Boo Boo" star "Mama June" Shannon chatting with a friend about her recent split from her controversial boyfriend of more than five years, Geno Doak. It's unclear when exactly they called it quits. … On Aug. 16, Sam Logan took to the comments section of a July 18 Instagram post to confirm recent suspicions that he and "Siesta Key" co-star Juliette Porter are no longer a couple. Last summer, the pair sparked engagement rumors. … During an Aug. 2 interview with "Entertainment Tonight," Giannina Gibelli revealed that she and "Love Is Blind" co-star Damian Powers split "a couple of months" ago. She also admitted that Damian's flirtatious friendship with "Too Hot to Handle" alum Francesca Farago played a role in the breakup. … On Aug. 16, TMZ broke the news that "Pawn Stars" star Rick Harrison quietly filed to divorce his wife of seven years, Deanna Burditt, in Clark County, Nevada, in July 2020. When contacted for comment, Rick told the webloid that the marriage "didn't work out" and that the divorce was "a mutual decision." It was his third marriage. … During an Aug. 19 Q&A with fans on her Instagram Story, "Teen Mom" star Briana DeJesus revealed that she's back on the market after calling off her engagement to Javi Gonzalez. She announced in late May that she and the tattoo artist had gotten engaged.
During an Aug. 12 Q&A with fans on her Instagram Story, Olivia Jade revealed that she and her off-and-on boyfriend of two years, Jackson Guthy, are no longer an item. When a fan asked if she's currently single, she smiled and replied, "I am indeed." It's unclear when exactly they threw in the towel. The controversial YouTube star and the singer-songwriter first split in mid-2019 amid the college admissions scandal that embroiled her parents, "Full House" star Lori Loughlin and fashion designer Mossimo Giannulli.
When Brooks Laich started sharing photos of Katrin Tanja Davidsdottir on Instagram in late July, it wasn't immediately clear that the former professional hockey player, who was married to Julianne Hough, and the Icelandic CrossFit athlete were an item. It wasn't until early August — when the Katrin-centric posts suddenly became more frequent — that it became clear they're more than workout buddies. Then on Aug. 8 — in case there were any lingering questions about the nature of their relationship — Brooks shared a photo of himself and his new girlfriend vacationing together in Hawaii. Katrin, meanwhile, captioned a selfie with her beau, who split from Julianne Hough in mid-2020, "Life is better with a couple coconuts and this favorite human of mine."
