Top 10 Celebrity Relationships That Seemed Like Publicity Stunts

 Oh, reality show romances. Or should we say, showmances? We can’t help but be drawn into your web. Exhibit A: Gwen Stefani and Blake Shelton. “The Voice” judges and costars began a public courtship in 2015. The country star and pop legend wooed viewers with their on screen chemistry and charm, including a live performance of their romantic duet “Go Ahead and Break My Heart.” However, many fans have questioned the couple’s legitimacy due to the questionable timing. Both singers were only months removed from divorces when they began their budding romance. And many questioned if the heartbroken stars played up their relationship for the camera to add hype to their show. Sing it, Gwen .

Every Superman needs a Lois Lane. “The Man of Steel” and “The Big Bang Theory” stars were a paparazzi favorite when they got together in the summer of 2013.  But the public couldn’t help but notice the convenient timing. The duo was spotted together in the lead up to the “Man of Steel’s” big summer release. Ultimately, it wasn’t meant to be and the couple had a quiet split after just 10 days. The normally press shy actress later referred to their relationship as just “a fling.” Sorry, Henry!

This one goes out to the baby boomers. Hudson was Hollywood royalty back in the 1950-60s. But when rumors swirled that the leading man was gay, he began a romance with his agent’s secretary Phyllis Gates. The couple married in 1955, but the wedding bliss was short lived. Gates filed for divorce in 1958, citing “mental cruelty.” The rumors of a sham marriage persisted and then in 1985, Hudson became one of the first celebrities to die from an AIDS-related illness. Many later commented on the actor’s sexuality, including his ex-lover Marc Christian. Despite the divorce, Gates continued to speak up for her ex-husband calling him “the love of her life.”

No relationship is complete without being Instagram official. At least that’s the case for this couple. The “Hotline Bling” rapper has had quite the history of public romances, including an on-again-off-again romance with Rihanna. But no relationship so far has caught more attention then his steamy romance with J. Lo. The pair posted a series of Instagram pictures all but confirming the rumored relationship in 2016. Despite the buzz, the relationship dwindled after only two months. Many questioned whether they played up their romancep for social media. Then, at one of her May 2017 Las Vegas shows, J. Lo reportedly referred to Drake as nothing more than a “booty call.” It looks like she won’t be calling him on his cellphone any time soon.

 What do you get when the king of pop gets with a princess of rock and roll? A whole lot of questions. These two forged a close friendship in the early ‘90s. That is until their quickie marriage in 1994. Some in the media questioned the marriage’s timing, noting M.J.’s child sexual abuse accusations and Lisa Marie’s recent - as in 20 days ago - divorce. Still, the couple made some very public declarations of love, including sharing a kiss at the 1994 “MTV Video Music Awards.” The skeptics got their wish when Presley filed for divorce less than 2 years later. Presley later stated she didn’t “understand her relationship” with M.J. in a revealing interview with Oprah Winfrey.

 There’s no sweeter love story than high school sweethearts. So it seemed perfect when on-screen couple Vanessa Hudgens and Zac Efron got together in 2005. A little too perfect. The Disney stars were the face of “High School Musical” during the trilogy’s run in the mid-2000s. Many speculated that an off-screen romance was a convenient way to add hype the franchise. Still, the couple managed to have a five-year relationship before splitting in 2010. Just like Troy and Gabriella, it looks like these two are breaking free.

 #4: Kim Kardashian & Kris Humphries

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 A reality show wedding. A 72-day marriage. A lengthy legal battle. Yup, this one had it all. No one turned a head when Kim K. started dating NBA player Kris Humphries in 2010. That is until they aired a two-part TV special dubbed “Kim’s Fairytale Wedding.” Multiple news outlets began speculating that the marriage was a stunt to promote the Kardashian brand and TV show. Kim called it quits after only 72 days of marriage and a divorce was finalized in 2013. Though the marriage didn’t last, the infamous YouTube clips will live on forever.

#3: Taylor Swift & Tom Hiddleston

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T. Swift’s relationships draw in the paparazzi like moth to a flame. So it’s no surprise that some of her romances have raised a few eyebrows, such as her tabloid heavy romance with Harry Styles. But it was her summer fling with another Brit that inspired the most drama. In 2016, pictures surfaced of Taylor enjoying some quality beach time with Tom Hiddleston, who would later be snapped wearing a custom “I heart T.S.” t-shirt. Some of the media questioned the relationship’s authenticity, especially since it coincided with non-flattering press from a Kim Kardashian and Kanye West feud. The relationship was short lived, however, lasting a mere 12 weeks. Hiddleswift, we hardly knew ye!


#2: Kristen Stewart & Robert Pattinson

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  Sorry, Team Edward. Twi-hards rejoiced when rumors surfaced that the onscreen duo were a real-life item. The duo even played up a potential romance during “Twilight’s” press circuit, including a memorable near kiss at the “MTV Movie Awards.” While the couple was first linked back in 2008, their relationship was never officially acknowledged until 2012. That’s when rumors surfaced that K. Stew had cheated on Rob mere months before the release of “Breaking Dawn: Part 2.” The couple finally parted ways later that year, but not before the “Twilight” movies had grossed over $3 billion worldwide.

 This was the relationship and couch-jump heard ‘round the world. The film legend made his very public declaration of love for Katie in 2005. The couple’s whirlwind romance included an engagement less than eight weeks into dating. Holmes filed for divorce in 2012 – but not before inspiring countless conspiracy theories. Some believe that Holmes had to audition with the Church of Scientology to earn the role of Cruise’s wife. Adding fuel to the fire was Cruise’s string of bizarre interviews during the mid-2000s. The influence of Scientology on the relationship was a big talking point until its eventual demise after less than six years of marriage. We may never know the truth, but we’ll always have Oprah’s couch.