By Jessica Wedemeyer
6:39am PST, Jan 19, 2022
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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 early January 2022, starting with this couple… On Jan. 11, The Sun broke the news that Simon Cowell is engaged to girlfriend Lauren Silverman. He reportedly proposed in front of their 7-year-old, Eric, and her teen son from her first marriage, Adam, during a family vacation in Barbados on Christmas Eve. "Simon and Lauren are ridiculously, nauseatingly in love — incredibly, lockdown brought them closer than ever," said a source. "Lauren was absolutely stunned and never in a million years expected Simon to pop the question. She burst into tears — happy tears — and obviously said 'yes' straight away. It was important to Simon that the kids were there too, as he adores them both and the family they've become. Lauren has been Simon's rock over these past few years — supporting him when he broke his back, and through thick and thin generally. They make a wonderful couple. Whilst Simon never thought he was the marrying type, he's realized he's met the woman of his dreams — and couldn't be happier. In the words of Beyonce, it was time to put a ring on it." Simon's spokesperson later confirmed the happy news… which Page Six tempered on Jan. 12 by reporting that the entertainment mogul — who made his clandestine romance with Lauren, who was married when they began an affair, public in 2013 after it was revealed she was pregnant — may have been pressured to pop the question. "Around Christmas I know that she was talking about [getting engaged], and he was refusing," said a source. "They had reached a difficult point in the relationship — you might call it a crisis. There was misery. Perhaps she had made it clear that she was not going to stick around unless they got married." The insider went on to allege that Simon actually "got her an engagement ring" once before — around the time they welcomed their son. "But he then put it away in a safe and made it clear that he didn't want to get married after all," claimed the source. "She's a nice middle-class girl and she always wanted to get married. Her mum said that she trusted Simon to 'do the right thing' before Eric was born. Well, she's been waiting a long time — and so has Lauren." A second Page Six source said that "everything [Simon] does now is about Eric and his legacy" and that the former "American Idol" judge "wants to give Eric legitimacy." Added the insider, "He is someone looking for a new purpose, and perhaps he has decided that the time has come to grow up. There is a sense of him turning over a new page." Meanwhile, multiple sources told Page Six that Lauren has been "desperate" to marry her longtime love.
Keep reading for more of the week's biggest celeb love life updates…
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On Jan. 11, People magazine reported that, according to a source, although Kanye West and the new woman in his life, Julia Fox, are practically attached at the hip these days, he's still angling to win back his estranged wife, Kim Kardashian. "He's still telling people that he wants to have Kim back and he is willing to make appropriate changes to do so," said the source, adding that the rapper "has no plans at this time to start a long-term relationship" with the "Uncut Gems" actress. Said a second People source of Ye and his new gal pal, "[She's] kind of like his muse. … He loves her smile and attitude. … She is intrigued by Kanye. She is flattered by the attention and goes along with his ideas. This is why he likes her." Still, the father of four "isn't looking for anything serious." Meanwhile, a Page Six source said that Kanye is "clearly hurting" amid Kim's burgeoning romance with Pete Davidson and that his relationship with Julia is "a ploy to get under [Kim's] skin." Said the source, "It's a desperate play for attention. There's no other explanation when he chooses … to go public with [a new girl]." As for Kim… Page Six reported on Jan. 12 that, according to yet another source, the reality star is "unbothered" by her ex publicly courting someone new because she's "fully moved on" from him and "feeling completely free" amid this new chapter in her love life. "Kim loves to see Kanye happy, and only wants positive things for him because it's what's best for their kids," added one Page Six source. As for Pete…
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Page Six reported on Jan. 6 that, according to a source, Kim Kardashian and Pete Davidson are "really happy together" following a vacation to the Bahamas — their first as a couple — earlier this month. "Things are going great between them. They're taking things slow, but both are really happy when they're together," said the source, adding that the reality star "wants to take her time" with the funnyman but is "really enjoying spending time" with him. A second Page Six source noted that the "Saturday Night Live" star "isn't intimidated at all" by the mother of four. "He's very supportive. He admires how successful she is and loves how down-to-earth, funny, smart and kind she is," said the second source. A third Page Six source added that Pete is "bringing out the best" in Kim, who "admires" his "grounded" lifestyle. "She's super happy and relaxed with him. Pete is super humble, down-to-earth. He doesn't care about appearances or being cool. With Pete, Kim feels zero pressure to be anything but herself," said the source. Kim also "loves how hard-working and focused he is" and that he sees her "as much as he can" in spite of the fact that they live on opposite coasts. Yet another Page Six source said that Kim is "happy and moved on" from her estranged husband, Kanye West, though "she always wants [him] to be happy."
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On Jan. 8, The Daily Mail broke the news that Sean Connery's granddaughter, Natasha Connery, is dating Gregory Peck's grandson, Harper Peck. It's unclear how long exactly they've been an item, though they started posting about each other on Instagram more frequently in late 2021.
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When The Weeknd dropped his fifth studio album, "Dawn FM," on Jan. 7, he sparked a fresh round of rumors about his relationship with Angelina Jolie. "My new girl, she a movie star," he sings on the track "Here We Go… Again" Many fans interpreted the lyric as an official confirmation that he and the A-list actress — who's the only movie star he's been seen with since he started working on the album — are more than friends. The Weeknd also may have been alluding to his rumored romance with Angelina on "Starry Eyes," on which he sings, "I only met you in my dreams before when I was young and alone in the world / You were there when I needed someone to call my girl / And now you're my reality and I wanna feel you close / but you're defeated, baby." (He made it clear on his 2016 track "Party Monster" that he's a longtime Angelina fan when he sang, "Angelina, lips like Angelina.") The following lyrics reference a painful breakup — like the one the mother of six weathered with ex-husband Brad Pitt: "Let me be there / I can be there until you're whole / You weren't touched by a man in so long / 'cause the last time it was way too strong," The Weeknd sings. It's unlikely, of course, that the chart-topper or the Oscar winner will ever truly clear up the rumors about their relationship. Angelina, for one, has already proved adept at sidestepping questions about the singer.
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On Jan. 7 — following months of questions about the nature of Miley Cyrus's relationship with Liily drummer Maxx Morando — E! News reported that, according to a source, they're now "happily dating" and things are even "official between them." Said a second source, "They are both artistic and creative, so they bond over being musicians." The duo first got tongues wagging in November when they attended the Gucci Love Parade fashion show together, though it was unclear at the time that they were anything more than friends.
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On Jan. 11, Jana Kramer took to Instagram to confirm recent suspicions that she and Ian Schinelli are an item. "Sometimes you just have to stop fighting it and listen to your heart. I don't know what the future holds and honestly who does… Everyday I continue to heal and I know there is still lots of work to do, but damn it feels really nice to find happiness along the way. To find someone who doesn't look at your scars as a challenge or problem but rather helps you hold them and stands there to encourage you with love, strength and empathy along the way," she captioned a slideshow of PDA-packed pics with the former Navy SEAL and girl dad, who's made several appearances on her various social media platforms in recent weeks. Ian, meanwhile, captioned a slideshow of photos with the singer-actress, "Life is about moving on, accepting changes and looking forward to what makes you stronger and more complete. It is constantly evolving and spending energy in the right areas, with the right people, which puts you directly on a path towards some of the best things that will happen to you." The "One Tree Hill" alum split from Mike Caussin in April 2021 after he strayed from the marriage (again).
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On Jan. 12, Jason Momoa took to Instagram to announce that he and Lisa Bonet are going their separate ways after more than four years of marriage and more than 15 years as a couple. "We have all felt the squeeze and changes of these transformational times… A revolution is unfolding — and our family is of no exception… feeling and growing from the seismic shifts occurring. And so we share our family news that we are parting ways in marriage. We share this not because we think it's newsworthy but so that as we go about our lives, we may do so with dignity and honesty. The love between us carries on, evolving in ways it wishes to be known and lived. We free each other to be who we are learning to become… Our devotion unwavering to this sacred life and [to] our children. Teaching our children what's possible. Living the Prayer. May Love Prevail," he wrote.
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Megan Fox and Machine Gun Kelly got engaged on Jan. 11, they announced on Instagram the following day. "In July of 2020 we sat under this banyan tree. We asked for magic. We were oblivious to the pain we would face together in such a short, frenetic period of time. Unaware of the work and sacrifices the relationship would require from us but intoxicated off of the love. And the karma. Somehow a year and a half later, having walked through hell together, and having laughed more than I ever imagined possible, he asked me to marry him. And just as in every lifetime before this one, and as in every lifetime that will follow it, I said yes. …and then we drank each other's blood," the actress captioned a video depicting the proposal. MGK, meanwhile, captioned a video showing off Megan's new engagement bling, "'Yes, in this life and every life.' Beneath the same branches we fell in love under, I brought her back to ask her to marry me. I know tradition is one ring, but I designed it with Stephen Webster to be two: the emerald (her birth stone) and the diamond (my birth stone) set on two magnetic bands of thorns that draw together as two halves of the same soul forming the obscure heart that is our love." The duo were first linked in May 2020 amid her split from first husband Brian Austin Green.
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In early November, Frank Grillo said that his relationship with Nicky Whelan was "over" and that he was "single." On Jan. 10, however, the pair were snapped packing on the PDA outside BOA Steakhouse in Beverly Hills. The "Captain America: The Winter Soldier" star and the Australian model-actress have yet to comment on their apparently rekindled romance.
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Stop us if you've heard this one before: A former Bachelor Nation lead is sparking romance rumors with an early castoff from their season… Like Peter Weber and Katie Thurston, "The Bachelorette" alum Clare Crawley is apparently dating someone who previously competed for her heart. On Jan. 9, the hairstylist took to Instagram to share videos of herself spending time with Blake Monar, whom she sent packing on the third episode of her season. (He then briefly appeared on the seventh season of "Bachelor in Paradise" in the summer of 2021.) "Went for business, left with the most unexpected remarkable memories! Indy, you were truly beautiful and exactly what my soul needed," she captioned a montage video from her time in Indiana with Blake, who co-founded his own line of haircare and skincare products. In September, Clare and off-and-on love Dale Moss — who got engaged on the fourth episode of her season — called it quits for good.
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During an interview with Page Six that debuted online on Jan. 12, Lindsay Hubbard finally confirmed long-standing rumors that she and "Summer House" co-star Carl Radke are more than friends, though she insisted they've yet to adopt the "boyfriend-girlfriend" label. "We're definitely dating!" she said. "We don't really talk in labels … [but] we're very much together. We're very happy. … We've always had this thing for each other. Sometimes you'll look back and be like, 'Was I just filling the time until I was ready and he was ready?' Timing is just an interesting thing. When we tried to date a couple of years ago, we were both in such very different headspaces. I honestly feel like I tried to cover up my feelings, but I don't think those feelings ever died." She added that she and her beau "have so much fun together" and "speak the same language." Lindsay also gushed of Carl, "He's just so wonderful and obviously handsome. We want the same things in life, so hopefully there's a strong future there." The pair briefly dated back in 2019.
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New couple alert? On Jan. 10, Deux Moi published a photo of former Bachelor Nation star Tyler Cameron dining with Gracie Hunt at Monarch in Dallas. It's unclear when exactly the dinner date went down. The beauty queen — she was named Miss Kansas USA in 2021 — is the daughter of Kansas City Chiefs CEO Clark Hunt.
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On Jan. 12, People magazine broke the news that "The Real Housewives of Miami" star Nicole Martin got engaged to her partner of seven years, lawyer Anthony Lopez, while vacationing with their son, Greyson, in Aspen, Colorado, on New Year's Eve. "We've talked about marriage before. I think we both knew it would happen one day. I just didn't know that day was coming so soon. It was a total surprise!" said the reality star, adding that the proposal was "simple and private, and nothing short of perfect." Recalled the anesthesiologist, "Anthony isn't the most emotional person, but out of nowhere he started sharing some really beautiful sentiments about our lives and relationship — honestly he kind of lost me at this point, because my heart started racing as I realized what was coming, and all I could think was, 'Oh my God, oh my God … is this really happening right now?!' The next thing I hear is him say, 'I don't want another year to go by without making sure you know that I love you, and I want to spend forever with you.' And just when I thought my mind was blown, he pulls out the most stunning ring." The Miami natives met in Las Vegas in 2015, but marriage wasn't always necessarily a given. "I've never been opposed to the idea of getting married, I just think a lot of people put too much pressure on the concept of marriage and use it as a means of creating security and happiness. Those things don't come from marriage, they come from inside you," Nicole, who's been married once before, said. "In my own personal experience, marriage did not mean happily ever after. So instead of focusing on getting married again, I focused my time and energy on what truly matters — being happy and creating a life I love. That has really been my priority these past few years — Anthony and I have a great relationship, we wanted a family and have an amazing son we adore, we are established in our careers, we remodeled our dream house, we traveled and have made incredible memories. Neither of us has prioritized marriage because we have been busy enjoying our lives." She then gushed of her hubby-to-be, "Anthony has always respected me as an individual. He's never tried to change me. He has been incredibly supportive of me and my career. He pushes me to grow and be better. We have grown together over the years and I've loved every moment of it. Plus all the other obvious points — he's funny, he's witty and he's handsome." She concluded by saying they're "focused on enjoying our engagement right now" and "not rushing anything" in terms of wedding planning. "But if I know us, it will probably be something very impromptu and spontaneous," she admitted.
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In early January, Maurissa Gunn sparked rumors that she and Riley Christian had quietly called it quits when she suddenly deleted every photo of him from her Instagram grid. Further fueling the split speculation? They haven't been seen together since the holidays. The duo got engaged on the finale of season 7 of "Bachelor in Paradise," which aired in October.
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On Jan. 10, MailOnline broke the news that model Delilah Belle Hamlin and her boyfriend of nearly three years, "Love Island" alum Eyal Booker, quietly called it quits in late 2021. "Delilah ended her relationship with Eyal before New Year's Eve. It was important to her that 2022 could be a fresh start and right now she wants to be single and focus on her career," said a source. An Us Weekly source, meanwhile, said that the breakup came as "a shock to some of their closest friends" because "they were so in love" and had just spent the holidays together with her family.
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On Jan. 6, former "Counting On" star Jeremiah Duggar took to Instagram to announce that he and Hannah Wissmann are engaged. "She said YES!!!! Hannah, getting to know you for the past year has been so incredible! I can't even find the words to describe it. You are the best thing that has ever happened to me and I cannot wait to marry you. I love you!!" he captioned a slideshow of photos depicting the proposal. The bride-to-be, meanwhile, captioned her own slideshow of photos, "YES!!!! A thousand times, yes!!! Making memories with you is my favorite and I cannot wait to spend a lifetime making more. You are an answer to prayer, a dream come true, the love of my life and my very best friend. I love you, Jeremiah!" The duo announced they were courting in late October 2021.
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On Jan. 9, Bachelor Nation's Katie Morton — who competed for Colton Underwood's heart on season 23 of "The Bachelor" in 2019 — announced on YouTube that she and English professional soccer player James Rowe called it quits in August following about a year of coupledom after he failed to sign with an American team. "There were a lot of things that came into play that put a lot of pressure on us, and ultimately we separated at the end of August," she said, adding that at the time, they didn't know when they'd see each other again. "This might be a bad timing thing. We still love each other. It's not going how we had wanted it to," she continued. "We both individually had things that we wanted to work on, and they weren't lining up so ultimately it just wasn't working out for us. … So anyway, we separated, and I would say it was a decently amicable split." She also implied that her ex is suffering an "identity crisis" as his career as a professional athlete winds down — which he'll need to navigate on his own.
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On Jan. 11 — their fifth anniversary — People magazine broke the news that 5 Seconds of Summer guitarist Michael Clifford secretly married longtime love Crystal Leigh a year earlier on Jan. 11, 2021. The duo quietly tied the knot in front of just 15 friends — members of their wedding party including his bandmates — in an intimate backyard ceremony at their new home in Australia. They're planning to have their "real wedding" in Bali later this year.
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On New Year's Eve, former "The Bachelorette" star Andi Dorfman took to Instagram to share a new photo of her boyfriend. On Jan. 4, E! News identified him as Blaine Hart. According to a source, they met for the first time through a mutual friend 15 years ago and reconnected over the summer of 2021. "They have been together ever since!" said the source, adding that their relationship is "the fairy tale Andi always dreamt of" and that the former reality star "has never been happier before in her life." Echoed an Us Weekly source, "They are so very happy and can't wait to see what 2022 brings for them. Andi is totally smitten, and they are the perfect match. Her friends and family absolutely adore Blaine!"
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During an interview with Page Six that debuted online on Jan. 7, "Jersey Shore" star Angelina Pivarnick shed some light on the current state of her relationship with Chris Larangeira a year after she filed for divorce in January 2021: She's still fighting for their marriage of two years. "I said to myself, 'I am not going to get divorced. I am going to try everything that I can in my power to save my marriage, no matter what it is,'" said the reality star, adding that things have been "very hard" and "a whirlwind of craziness" since Chris briefly moved out of the home they share. The pair, who have since reconciled, relied on therapy to get back on track. Angelina actually gave her hubby an ultimatum: They'd either go to couples counseling or call it quits for good. "That was it for me. If he wasn't going to go to therapy with me, I was done," she recalled. "At first, he really didn't want to go to therapy. It was like pulling teeth. Eventually, you'll see this season that I was like, 'Listen, if you don't go with me, it's done. It's over.' He realized, 'I have to go.'"
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On the Jan. 11 episode of "Watch What Happens Live," Lala Kent claimed that Randall Emmett's infidelity issues had been "going on for quite some time" before she finally dumped him in late 2021. "It's been kind of repeated behavior that I have found out about," she said. "And it's not just [with] one person, it's many. I believe it started after I got sober [in late 2018]. I don't know how I didn't see it." She acknowledged there were red flags, though: "The constant phone use [was a red flag]. It was glued to him. He couldn't even go into a massage without his phone on him, and he was very funny if I would get anywhere near the phone. That should've been a huge red flag to me. And the constant being gone. He was never around. But I just figured who would creep around with him?" she revealed. The "Vanderpump Rules" star went on to say that she only communicates with her ex-fiancé via an app in regards to their daughter, Ocean. "There was no closure at all when it came to my relationship and exiting it," she said. "If it doesn't have to do with [Ocean] then I have no desire to communicate with that person."
