By Jessica Wedemeyer
6:06am PDT, Oct 17, 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 mid-October 2021, starting with this duo… On the Oct. 13 episode of the "Bachelor Happy Hour" podcast, Bachelor Nation's Pieper James shot down reports that she and Brendan Morais recently called it quits. "We're still together," she said. "[We are] working on ourselves and each other, and we're focusing on being a couple before taking that public. … That's where we stand right now." She went on to say that she believes the obstacles she and Brendan faced while appearing on season 7 of "Bachelor in Paradise" earlier this year made them "stronger in a way" as a couple. "Right away, we knew how we communicated in arguments. Right away, we knew how we dealt with, like, exterior bad things. … It was good to have that feedback and know down the line if something comes up how we both deal with those things," she said. "At the end of the day, I'm happy with my decision. I'm happy with Brendan — as controversial as that might be to say." She also insisted for the umpteenth time that she and Brendan "were not in a type of relationship … other than just talking to one another and hanging out a few times" before they co-starred on "Bachelor in Paradise." Us Weekly later reported that, according to a source, the couple did, in fact, spend some "time apart" after the show aired when "Pieper hit a breaking point," during which she "kept saying, 'I'm done with Brendan,' which is why friends believed they had split." Added the source, "If they were communicating with each other, it was between them. … Pieper didn't divulge too many details and has kept her true feelings to herself. Friends think she's better off without Brendan and have warned her, but instead, she's making her own decisions and following what her heart tells her." An E! News source echoed that things have been "up and down" for the couple, who "did split and were focusing on themselves" after they left "Paradise" but are now "together" and "taking it day by day." Explained the E! source, "[They split] right after Paradise and they felt they needed that moment to focus and realign what they both needed from the relationship." The insider adds, "It was a rough start once they left the show, but have been able to communicate better with each other and are slowly dating again."
Now keep reading for more of the week's biggest celeb love life updates…
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In early October, a few Selena Gomez stans nearly broke the Internet when they took to Twitter to share alleged sightings of the singer-actress and Chris Evans out together, fueling rumors that the "Only Murders in the Building" star and the erstwhile Captain America were secretly dating. One fan tweeted that Selena and Chris were spotted leaving the same studio in Los Angeles on Oct. 1. The Selenator shared two photos as evidence … but the picture of the 29-year-old beauty was taken in 2019, while the picture of the 40-year-old actor-director was snapped in London in July 2020 — the same day Chris enjoyed a headline-making ice cream date with Lily James. Another alleged sighting of the pair claimed that Selena and Chris were "spotted leaving the same restaurant," but again, the photos provided as evidence were several years old. Other inaccurate evidence shared as proof included clearly doctored screenshots of a flirtatious Twitter exchange between the duo. As for the claim that they recently followed each other on Instagram… Selena is among the 168 accounts that Chris follows, but she has not followed him back. The elaborate hoax may have been fueled by Selena fans who remembered her 2015 admission that she had a crush on Chris at the time.
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Dakota Johnson and Chris Martin are still going strong! Amid speculation that the long-term couple — who hadn't been seen together in months — might have called it quits, the rocker professed his love for the actress during an Oct. 12 Coldplay concert in London. As the band launched into a rendition of "My Universe," their collaboration with BTS, Chris told the audience, "This is about my universe, and she's here." He then gestured to the balcony, where the "Fifty Shades" franchise star could be seen happily dancing along to her beau's biggest hits.
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Over already? During an Oct. 10 Q&A with fans on her Instagram Story, Kristin Cavallari — who was linked to country music star Chase Rice just last month — insisted that she's single. "In a general sense, yes, I have been [dating]. No one serious though — I've just been having fun. I haven't wanted a boyfriend. But I'm currently not dating anyone," she wrote, indicating that she and Chase have gone their separate ways. She told another fan that she knows she'll get married again someday, though she's in "no rush whatsoever" to get back out there. "I'm really enjoying being alone right now. I've done the work I've needed to do for the past year and a half and I'm finally getting to a place of potentially being ready for a relationship but not quite yet," she wrote.
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On Oct. 11 — just two weeks after Meghan King revealed that she and President Joe Biden's nephew, Cuffe Biden Owens, were an item — the "Real Housewives of Orange County" alum and the Los Angeles-based attorney tied the knot in the front yard of his childhood home in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania. (The happy couple is pictured with Meghan's brother, model RJ King, and her sister, professional soccer player Julie King.) Their 50 wedding guests included the president and first lady Jill Biden, as well as the reality star's three kids from her second marriage to Jim Edmonds. Meghan told Brides magazine, which published exclusive wedding photos, of her relationship with Cuffe, "We connected on a dating app, texted for a day or two, then spent five straight hours on the phone the first time we spoke. By the time that call ended, Cuffe was booked and packed for a flight to St. Louis that took off in about eight hours. Within a week, we were back on the East Coast, meeting his family, and starting to plan our future together. We didn't leave each other's side for weeks." Continued the bride, "Our wedding was about two things for us: Our love for and commitment to each other, and our family — each of our families, and the new very large and very tight family that we were bonding together by getting married. That's it. … It's a beautiful thing to see eye-to-eye with each other as we do." Us Weekly later reported that the newlyweds knew each other for just three weeks before they became husband and wife. Meghan flicked at their whirlwind courtship when she captioned a wedding photo on Instagram, "We just knew. Introducing Mr. and Mrs. Owens."
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Kim Kardashian West and estranged husband Kanye West sparked a fresh round of reconciliation rumors when he showed up to support her as she hosted the Oct. 9 episode of "Saturday Night Live" … even though she joked during the long-running sketch comedy show that she's divorcing him because of "his personality." But according to a Page Six source, the pair haven't reconciled romantically: "Nothing's changed. … They are not back together. He is still her family, and they are friends. They've been working on their friendship for [their four] kids and continue to support each other. He'll always be her family, and they'll always support each other," said the source. The New York Post's gossip column added that the rapper and the reality star even stayed at different hotels during their time in New York City. On Oct. 12, TMZ reported that new legal documents indicate Kim and Kanye are moving forward with their divorce: Newly filed paperwork pertaining to their division of assets shows that the mother of four is holding onto their former marital home: a $60 million estate in the Los Angeles area that they built together.
"Pitch Perfect" star Adam Devine and "Pretty Little Liars" alum Chloe Bridges tied the knot in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, over the weekend of Oct. 9, his rep confirmed to Page Six. Guests included the groom's "Workaholics" co-stars Erik Griffin, Anders Holm and Blake Anderson, while comedian Adam Ray officiated the nuptials. The duo got engaged in 2019 after a courtship of nearly five years.
On Oct. 12 — their second wedding anniversary — "90 Day Fiancé" co-stars Michael Jessen and Juliana Custodio took to Instagram to announce that they recently called it quits. "Today is only our second wedding anniversary and, sadly, our last. Our marriage is a COVID-19 casualty that will not be showing up in any statistics," Michael captioned a since-deleted Instagram post, according to Page Six. "I did not maintain the strength of mind and the fortitude to be the husband that you wanted me to be. All along, I failed to recognize that you were there for me," he added. Juliana soon clapped back on her own Instagram, writing that the pandemic was hardly the only reason why they were unable to make their relationship work. In a lengthy post, she alleged that she provided financially for Michael and his family — his two kids, his ex-wife Sarah Naso and Sarah's current husband — because she was "the only one working" during the pandemic. Wrote the reality star, "I wasn't part of the family anymore, I was feeling like a maid. It was toxic to a point I was not living the life I wanted to live. I needed to leave because I wasn't recognizing who I am anymore. I left my life in Europe and career to live with you, because I loved you. But I love myself more, to the point to recognize I am important, and I want to be happy. You say I have found 'someone new' but the truth is, I found happiness within myself. I am happy with the new phase, and I ask you to let me go." She then accused Michael of trying to make her feel guilty and of failing to hear her when explained why she was unhappy in their marriage. Michael soon returned to Instagram to share another post — this time one with an apologetic tone: "I am truly sorry to have hurt Juliana, and anyone else, in anyway. It was not my intention and it was a mistake to post such a delicate and private matter publicly," he wrote in part. "I am deeply grateful for all of our time together, the wonderful memories shared, and the lessons I have learned. Juliana is busy working on her career and I am supportive of her in every way and without exception. I will continue to cheer her on as her #1 fan as she pursues her goals and dreams."
On Oct. 7, "Dance Moms" alum Chloé Lukasiak shared a slideshow of photos of herself looking cozy with Brooklinn Khoury. Her rep later confirmed to E! News that the reality star and the skateboarder are dating. Another source said that the two women are "a great match for each other" and noted that it's "not a new relationship." Said the source, "They are in love and very sweet together." The insider went on to say that "Chloé has the full support of her loved ones and friends around her" and "is in a place where she feels comfortable sharing her relationship and where she is in her life" with the public. "She feels great and is happy," continued the source. "She is still growing and learning who she is, and she knows there are many others out there who are too. She knows that there is power in sharing her story and that it could help others who look up to her or could benefit from seeing someone like her living her truth and not hiding who or what makes her happy." Chloé is the second "Dance Moms" alum to debut a romance with a same-sex partner this year: JoJo Siwa introduced the world to her girlfriend, Kylie Prew, in the spring.
On Oct. 11, "He's All That," "American Housewife" and "Girl Meets World" star Peyton Meyer took to Instagram to announce that he and singer-songwriter Taela LaCour recently tied the knot and are also expecting their first child together. "Alright I have to get sappy with you for a minute. I had 100 million reasons to never get married. I always hated the concept of marriage. But all I needed was one reason to conquer all those reasons… And that one was you. I'm so grateful for our little family, it has changed my life forever. You changed me forever. I love you. (To all the dads out there please send ya boy some tips)," he captioned a slideshow of wedding photos that ended with a picture of a sonogram. Taela, who has a son from a previous relationship, captioned the same shots, "Thank you for showing me the kind of love that I thought only existed in fairytales. Thank you for constantly reminding me of my worth and for making me feel like the most important, beautiful woman in the world. Thank you for being by my side through everything imaginable. I'm so grateful and excited to share this adventure with you forever. Even the really, really hard stuff is easy with you. You saved my life. I love you." It's unclear how long they've been an item.
On Oct. 14, Madison LeCroy announced that she and her boyfriend of just six months are engaged. "When you know you know," she captioned a photo of herself and her beau on Instagram. She later told People magazine that her love — whom she's only identified as Brett so far — popped the question on Oct. 8 while belatedly celebrating her 31st birthday with her and her son from a previous relationship, Hudson. "I honestly was not expecting it that day," she said, adding that she's been "crying like crazy from joy" ever since. The "Southern Charm" star — who shot into the spotlight when she was linked to Alex Rodriguez amid his engagement to Jennifer Lopez — shared that Brett had been planning to propose for a few months and even asked for her son's permission to pop the question. The couple initially sparked split speculation when Madison's birthday (Oct. 6) passed without any mention of Brett. Clearly they're still going strong!
Earlier this year, there was speculation that Tyga and Camaryn Swanson had quietly gotten engaged. But on Oct. 11 — a day before the rapper was arrested on felony domestic violence charges for allegedly assaulting the blonde beauty during an altercation at his home — she made it clear on her Instagram Story that they're no longer a couple. In addition to sharing a photo and a video showing her bruised face, she posted a screenshot of a purported text message chain with Tyga in which she tells him, "I can't believe this is how it has to end. Honestly I'm so heart broken and didn't think you were capable to ever do this to me."
According to People magazine, "Awkward" alum Jillian Rose Reed married Marty Shannon at Rimrock Ranch in Pioneertown, California, on Oct. 11. The duo, who got engaged in July 2019, exchanged vows in front of the bride's former co-stars Greer Grammer, Beau Mirchoff, Brett Davern, Barret Swatek, Molly Tarlov, Desi Lydic and Nikki DeLoach. "I'm honestly just looking forward to spending my older years with the same person that has held my hand since my youth," the bride gushed of her new husband. "I love so many things about him. I love how he is totally unapologetically himself. Yes, I love how he loves me, but what I find really cool about him is that he owns every part of himself."
Chelsea Handler gushed about her boyfriend, Jo Koy, on the Oct. 11 episode of "The Tonight Show," saying that he's essentially restored her faith in love. "If I fell in love at the age of 46, you guys, I have hope for every person in this world," she said. "Men were very discouraging these past couple of years. … I was like, 'Oh, God, who am I gonna end up with?' Then I had my friend Jo Koy, who was in my life a very long time — he used to be on my old show 'Chelsea Lately' — and he and I were friends. And then he kept showing up and showing up and showing up. And then one day, I just looked at him and I thought, 'Oh, that's my guy!' So he's like my best buddy and then I also, you know, get to have sex with him. Fun time!" She then shared some helpful advice: "If you have a friend in your life that you think you're not into or not attracted to, just remember my story and to be open-minded because little things can tap you on the shoulder and then all of a sudden you see something through a different lens," she said. Concluded the funnywoman, "I would never talk about a man like this unless I meant it."
During an interview with Page Six that debuted online on Oct. 7, Dr. Wendy Osefo opened up about how she and her husband, Eddie Osefo, got past the affair rumors that have haunted them on the current sixth season of "The Real Housewives of Potomac." Said the reality star, "When something is not true and you know your truth, it really doesn't impact you. My response to the women … was, 'Don't try to tarnish his reputation.' That's all it was rooted in. I never once spoke to the legitimacy of it. I know it's not true. That's not what we [were] talking about. What we [were] talking about is, 'Don't play with my husband's name.' And I said that very clearly." She went on to imply that co-star Gizelle Bryant fueled the cheating rumors to detract from the gossip surrounding her own relationship. (Gizelle's off-and-on love, pastor Jamal Bryant, has been accused of having multiple affairs with his parishioners.) Continued Wendy of her relationship with Eddie, "We're husband and wife, but above all, we're friends. When your friendship unit is really strong and you genuinely care for someone, everything else, you do it as a team. … We always talk about everything. When I told him what was said, he was like, 'I'm sorry that someone who you thought was a friend did this to you.' That was the conversation in our house."
On Oct. 9 — Chase Bryant's 28th birthday — the country music singer took to Instagram to announce that he and Selena Weber are engaged. "Can't wait to spend forever with you my love. Best birthday present ever, was you saying yes to eternity!" he captioned a selfie with his future missus and her new engagement ring on full display. Selena, meanwhile, captioned the same shot, "For anyone who knows me personally you know how badly I have always wanted to meet my person. To be with the one God intended me to have a life with. I can't express the happiness I feel in my heart right now. You are such a great man and I am so excited to marry you @iamchasebryant." It's unclear how long they've been an item.
According to People magazine, country music singer Abby Anderson married Tyler Graham at Saddle Woods Farm in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, on Oct. 8. "We are so excited to start life together," said the bride. "I feel like we've been married already. I can't imagine life without Tyler. He's my person. … Not only am I getting an amazing man, but a whole new family I love with all my heart." The duo started dating in 2018 and got engaged in May 2020.
According to People magazine, Whiskey Myers drummer Jeff Hogg married registered nurse Staci Schellinger at The Wildflower in the bride's hometown of Emory, Texas, on Oct. 10. "She puts in the effort to do things because she knows it will make me happy. If each of you put the other person first, the relationship will grow, and that's what we both try to do," the groom gushed of his new missus. The duo, who first connected on Facebook, have been an item for about seven years.
