By Jessica Wedemeyer
11:42am PST, Jan 23, 2023
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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 mid-January 2023, starting with this former couple…
During an interview with Vlad TV that debuted on YouTube on Jan. 16, Smokey Robinson revealed that he was married to Claudette Rogers Robinson when he and Diana Ross had a fling earlier in their careers. "It lasted probably longer than it should've because I was married at the time," he said of the romance, which they've both acknowledged in the past — though it's never been explicitly clear before that Smokey cheated on his first wife with the superstar singer.
Keep reading for more of the week's biggest celeb love life updates…
MORE: Celeb couples with big age gaps
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On Jan. 14, Us Weekly reported that a divorce court recently awarded Cheryl Burke all ownership rights to the French bulldog she shared with ex-husband Matthew Lawrence during their marriage. The "Boy Meets World" star has reportedly agreed to surrender all documentation or data pertaining to his prior ownership of the pup, whom he gifted to the "Dancing With the Stars" alum after they tied the knot in 2019. Cheryl has had primary custody of the pooch since she and Matthew split in early 2022. The duo settled the rest of their divorce late last year.
MORE: Celeb breakups of 2023
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On Jan. 16, Us Weekly broke the news that Selena Gomez is dating The Chainsmokers' Drew Taggart. "They aren't trying to hide their romance by sneaking around at members only clubs," a source said, adding that the former Disney Channel star is "so affectionate" with her new beau and "can hardly keep her hands off him." According to the insider, they're "having a lot of fun together" but keeping things "very casual and low-key." The following day, Page Six published photos of the duo on a date at a New York City bowling alley. According to a spy, they spent part of the evening "making out" for all to see.
As thew new romance made headlines, the last woman to whom the Grammy-winning DJ-producer was linked — Steve Jobs' daughter, model Eve Jobs — suddenly went dark on Instagram. Us Weekly reports that their relationship, which kicked off in the summer of 2022, "fizzled out" before he started seeing Selena. According to Us Weekly's source, the breakup was "totally amicable," and Drew and Eve remain "friends" who are both "very mature and cool about going [their] separate ways."
MORE: Relive Selena's fashion evolution
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During an interview with Vanity Fair that debuted online on Jan. 17, Channing Tatum said that he's not sure he's "ever going to get married again" following his divorce from Jenna Dewan, with whom he shares daughter Everly — even though the A-list actor, who's been coupled up with Zoe Kravitz since 2021, is "a bit of a monogamist." Revealed the "Magic Mike" star, "Relationships are hard for me. … In business, I have no real fear of anything being destroyed. But heart things, when it comes to people I love, I have a really hard time. I end up trying too hard, you know?"
Case in point? Fans first started speculating that Channing and Zoe were more than friendly colleagues when he suddenly followed a handful of fan accounts dedicated to her on Instagram. "I have no chill," he admitted. "I was just seeing what she was up to! Also, I didn't know anyone would know."
Channing also opened up to Vanity Fair about throwing in the towel with Jenna: "We fought for [our marriage] for a really long time, even though we both sort of knew that we had sort of grown apart," he said. "I think we told ourselves a story when we were young, and we just kept telling ourselves that story, no matter how blatantly life was telling us that we were so different. But when you're actually parents, you really understand differences between the two of you. Because it is screaming at you all day long. How you parent differently, how you look at the world, how you go through the world." He added of their breakup, "In the beginning, it was super scary and terrifying. Your life just turns on its axis. This whole plan that you had literally just turns into sand and goes through your fingers and you're just like, 'Oh, s***. What now?'" Ultimately, the breakup was "probably exactly what I needed," he claimed. "I don't think I would've ever done the work, I think, on myself in the way that I had to do the work on myself to really try to figure out what next," he explained, adding that he now has a much deeper connection with his daughter.
MORE: Celeb couples' Instagram debuts
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On Jan. 16, Sean Penn and Robin Wright were photographed handling their luggage together at LAX Airport in Los Angeles. (See a photo here.) The hangout sparked rumors that the former couple — who were married from 1996 to 2010 and share two adult children, daughter Dylan Penn and son Hopper Penn — have reconciled romantically. The duo were off and on for years before they wed and nearly divorced in 2007. They haven't been seen together in public since 2017.
During a 2010 interview with Vanity Fair, the Oscar-winning actor described his former love as "a ghost to me now." Nearly a decade later — during a 2018 appearance on Marc Maron's podcast — Sean said that he and Robin "don't have a lot of conversation" but also "don't not get along." Explained the actor-filmmaker, "We have very separate relationships with our kids at this point and it seems to work better that way because they are making their own decisions. As it turned out she and I did not share the same ethical views on parenting, including the continuing parenting of adult children."
Both Sean and Robin are recently single: She filed to divorce third husband Clément Giraudet in September 2022, while he finalized his divorce from third wife Leila George in April 2022.
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New couple alert? On Jan. 13, Chase Stokes took to Instagram to share a "lil recap" — a slideshow of recent photos including a shot of himself and Kelsea Ballerini watching the College Football Playoff National Championship game in Los Angeles on Jan. 9. In the eyebrow-raising snap, which was taken from behind, the country music singer and the "Outer Banks" star can be seen leaning in close to chat with each other during the game.
Other evidence they're now a couple? Chase has left flirty comments on several of Kelsea's recent Instagram posts — though it's possible, of course, that they're simply good friends. During a Jan. 17 chat with a TMZ videographer, the actor said of the blonde beauty, "She's a sweet girl. We're having a good time. And that's all I'll say." Kelsea, meanwhile, took to TikTok to acknowledge the romance rumors in a brief video, though she stopped short of confirming whether or not she and Chase are an item.
On Jan. 18 — after a fan asked if there were "any rumors" she wanted to "clear up" — the Grammy nominee wrote on her Instagram Story, "Honestly, no. Having so many people care about my personal life, friendships [and] relationships is very new, and at first the speculation and anxiety around it felt crippling… But now I'm just choosing to be in this new season of life and explore the feelings and do what sparks joy without the need to please, inform or correct anyone other than my close lil world. Subject to change, of course. But I'm happy." (All we heard is that Chase sparks joy!)
In August 2022, Kelsea and Morgan Evans called it quits after nearly five years of marriage. Chase, meanwhile, split from his "Outer Banks" co-star Madelyn Cline in 2021.
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On Jan. 12 — the day before Liam Hemsworth's 33rd birthday — his ex wife, Miley Cyrus, dropped a new breakup anthem, "Flowers," that sparked a wave of unfounded rumors about their whirlwind marriage. Among the allegations that spread like wildfire across the Internet? First: The Australian actor once dedicated the Bruno Mars single "When I Was Your Man" to the former child star, and "Flowers" is a direct response to the 2012 hit. (The two songs sound remarkably similar.) Second: Miley shot the "Flowers" music video in the same house where Liam cheated on her with more than 14 women. There's zero evidence, however, that either rumor is true. In fact, Miley insisted in 2019 that cheating played no role in her divorce: "I can admit to a lot of things, but I refuse to admit that my marriage ended because of cheating," she tweeted. So what's the deal with the sudden rumors Liam was unfaithful? One Miley superfan reportedly fessed up to a conspiring with other fans to drive up interest in "Flowers" by making up rumors tying the track to Liam and his supposed bad behavior. Well, that's certainly a genius (albeit unethical) marketing move!
MORE: Notorious celeb cheating scandals
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There's a new man in Sam Smith's life! On Jan. 15, the four-time Grammy winner was photographed looking cozy with fashion designer Christian Cowan while out and about in New York City. (See photos here.) The pair were snapped walking arm-in-arm, and at one point, the 'Unholy' chart-topper could even be seen pecking Christian on the head. They've known each other since at least December 2022 — when they posed for a group photo at the White House with President Joe Biden, first Lady Jill Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris and second gentleman Doug Emhoff. Neither the English singer-songwriter nor the designer have publicly addressed the nature of their relationship.
MORE: Long-lasting celebrity couples
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On Jan. 17, former Victoria's Secret model Erin Heatherton took to Instagram to announce that she and Karol Kocemba recently tied the knot. "Best week of my life," she captioned a video of wedding guests lifting her hubby and herself on chairs as they danced the hora at the reception following their nuptials. The duo met on the dating app Hinge and got engaged in early 2022. The bride famously enjoyed a nearly yearlong romance with Leonardo DiCaprio back in 2012.
MORE: Celeb weddings of 2023
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Say it ain't so! On Jan. 19, former "The Bachelorette" star DeAnna Pappas announced on Instagram that she and her husband of more than a decade, Stephen Stagliano, are throwing in the towel: "It is with immense sadness, Stephen and I have decided to end our relationship as a couple. We have been working hard for a long time — both as a married couple and as individuals — and have come to the conclusion to remain separate. We remain loving parents to our beautiful children, Addison and Austin, and will continue to raise them together with love and faith. We ask you to respect our privacy during this difficult time as we navigate the new normal. We want to thank our dear friends and family for your endless support and many, many prayers during what has become the most difficult time of our lives," she wrote.
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On the Jan. 12 episode of "Watch What Happens Live," Meghann Fahy shot down rumors that she and "The White Lotus" co-star Leo Woodall are dating following weeks of speculation they're more than friendly colleagues. "I don't kiss and tell," she said when initially pressed to clarify whether or not they're an item. When host Andy Cohen asked point-blank if they're "friends with benefits," she replied, "We're friends." Womp, womp!
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On Jan. 17, Brides magazine broke the news that Anika Noni Rose quietly married her long-term boyfriend, Jason Dirden, in a ceremony officiated by "Euphoria" and "Fear the Walking Dead" star Colman Domingo at the Paramour Estate in Los Angeles on Oct. 16, 2022. The bride and groom — who got engaged in December 2021 — met in 2014 while co-starring in the Broadway production of "A Raisin in the Sun" and took their relationship to the next level a few years later.
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On Jan. 6, a spokesperson for Noel Gallagher and Sara MacDonald released a joint statement to People magazine announcing that they're going their separate ways following 12 years of marriage and more than two decades of coupledom: "Noel and Sara will together continue to look after their children who remain their priority. … [They] ask the media to respect their privacy and that of their family at this time," the rep said.
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On Jan. 13, Damson Idris and Lori Harvey confirmed recent speculation they're an item when they took to their Instagram Stories to share a sweet shot of the "Snowfall" star pecking the model on the cheek in honor of her 26th birthday. (See the post here.) Lori later shared a slideshow of photos from her birthday bash at LAVO Ristorante in West Hollywood including a shot of herself sitting in Damson's lap. (The pair were also photographed holding hands as they left the party.) The duo first sparked romance rumors late last year.
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On Jan. 12, "Euphoria" actress Storm Reid and Deion Sanders' son, 20-year-old college football player Shedeur Sanders, made their red carpet debut as a couple at the Los Angeles premiere of her new thriller "Missing." The 19-year-old "A Wrinkle in Time" alum later told "Entertainment Tonight" of her beau, "He's super sweet, super talented. I'm just glad to have him here supporting me."
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On Jan. 8, Bachelor Nation's Michelle Money — who competed for Brad Womack's heart on season 15 of "The Bachelor" in 2011 and then appeared on the second season of "Bachelor Pad" and the first season of "Bachelor in Paradise" — took to Instagram to announce that she and professional golfer Mike Weir are engaged. "Mike and I are getting married! After dating for almost seven years, we both want to take that next step and tie the knot! Looking forward to being Mrs. Michelle Weir! I love you baby! You make my dreams come true! Me and you forever!" she captioned a slideshow of photos of herself and her beau.
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According to People magazine, which published exclusive wedding photos, "Ozark" actor McKinley Belcher III — who just wrapped the Broadway revival of "Death of a Salesman" — married his boyfriend of four years, visual artist and photographer Blake Fox, in a ceremony officiated by his "Death of a Salesman" co-star André De Shields at the Antique Loft in Hoboken, New Jersey, on Jan. 17 — their fourth anniversary. "It means everything!" McKinley gushed of their nuptials. "We've grown so much together, I've longed for the moment where we get to commit to each other, celebrate our love in front of our friends and family. The love we've found is a singular thing, that I dreamt and hoped I'd find in the right partner."
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Here we go again! On Jan. 18, Ray J indicated on Instagram that he and off-and-on love Princess Love are working on their marriage again. "Had to get my wife back and start fresh. I love my family!! I'll fight over and over for life for my family and kids!! I'll put it all on the line for my children to be happy and safe and close to me 24/7," he captioned a video of himself touring a massive Las Vegas hotel suite. According to TMZ, the notoriously volatile duo, who share two children, have yet to call off their divorce.
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On Jan. 12, 2000s supermodel Catherine McNeil revealed on Instagram that she and professional basketball player Miles Plumlee tied the knot in a private ceremony at a New York City courthouse the previous day. "Mr. and Mrs. Plumlee. By far the happiest day of my life," she captioned a slideshow of videos from her low-key nuptials. The groom, meanwhile, captioned his own slideshow of photos and videos, "WE DID IT!!! 01/11/23. You make me the happiest man in the world @catmcneil." The happy couple, who announced their engagement in June 2022, have been an item since at least the summer of 2019.
