30 Shocking Celebrity Cheating Scandals

Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re counting down our picks for the celebrity affairs that left fans stunned.

#30: Kevin Hart & Eniko Parrish

This scandal began in 2017, when the comedian was allegedly spotted with another woman in Las Vegas. His wife, Eniko Parrish, was eight months pregnant with their first child. Hart denied the allegations initially, but was forced to make a public statement after an attempted blackmailing. Hart had been secretly recorded during his one-night affair, and an email to Hart threatened to release the footage if he didn’t pay up. Hart’s longtime friend, Todd Jackson, was later arrested for the attempted extortion, though the charges have since been dropped due to lack of evidence. Despite the shocking scandal, Parrish and Hart have remained together.

#29: David Letterman & Regina Lasko

If there’s a way to handle a cheating scandal and attempted blackmail with class and dignity, David Letterman probably came the closest. In 2009, Letterman received a package containing evidence of his extramarital affairs with female staff on “The Late Show,” along with a demand for $2 million. After secretly recording meetings and handing over a fake check, Letterman was able to expose his would-be blackmailer: CBS News producer Joe Halderman. On the day Halderman was arrested for grand larceny, Letterman spoke candidly on “The Late Show” about what had happened. The news came as a shock to fans, but his honesty and humor saved his reputation from sure destruction.

#28: Jason Aldean & Jessica Ussery

When this country singer was first spotted with his second wife, he was still married to the first one. Aldean had been married to Jessica Ussery for over ten years when photos emerged of Aldean kissing cheerleader and former “American Idol” contestant Brittany Kerr in 2012. Both Aldean and Kerr acknowledged the scandal with a public statement, with Kerr calling it a “lapse in judgment.” Ussery filed for divorce in 2013, and Aldean and Kerr announced their engagement just one year later. Both have expressed regret over the way their relationship began, but they still seem quite happy together over ten years after the scandal.

#27: Justin Timberlake & Jessica Biel

From Britney to Cameron to Jessica, cheating rumors seem to follow this musician in every relationship. Britney Spears officially confirmed his infidelity in her 2023 memoir. But based on photos that emerged in 2019, many fans already suspected his two-timing ways. Despite being married to Jessica Biel, Timberlake was photographed getting a little too comfortable with his “Palmer” costar Alisha Wainwright. Their hand-holding and thigh-touching, though not outright cheating, definitely seemed like it crossed a line. Timberlake later apologized for his “lapse in judgement” but denied anything further happened. After Britney’s bombshell revelations, fans have drawn their own conclusions about Timberlake’s relationship habits.

#26: Ethan Hawke & Uma Thurman

After seeing Thurman’s performance in “Kill Bill,” you probably wouldn’t want to get on her bad side. Luckily for Ethan Hawke, he managed to survive infidelity rumors and his subsequent divorce from Thurman without bloodshed. Though not officially confirmed, many believe the divorce was driven by Hawke’s extramarital affair with their nanny, Ryan Shawhughes. Hawke denies cheating during his marriage to Thurman, though he has some interesting opinions on cheating as a concept. With the belief that humans aren’t naturally monogamous, he thinks people often overreact to infidelity. Even so, he would take marriage vows once more in 2008, when he wed his alleged affair partner.

#25: Katharine McPhee & Nick Cokas

This actress and former “American Idol” contestant made headlines in 2013 when she was spotted kissing her “Smash” director Michael Morris. At the time, McPhee had been married to her spouse Nick Cokas for five years. Her affair partner, incidentally, was also married. Although Morris’ marriage managed to withstand the scandal, McPhee’s did not. She and Cokas split shortly after the affair came to light, and filed for divorce less than a year later. McPhee has stated she doesn’t regret the affair, and sees it as a valuable life lesson for her. In 2019, she married record producer David Foster, with whom she has a son.

#24: Kenneth Branagh & Emma Thompson

These two British acting legends seemed like a perfect match when they married in 1989, with offscreen chemistry to rival the most romantic of films. In 1994, when Branagh began working with Helena Bonham Carter in “Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein,” rumors of infidelity began circulating. Branagh and Thompson divorced a year later, but didn’t cite cheating as the reason for the split. Thompson confirmed the rumors years later, opening up about how she had been blindsided by the affair and felt “like broken dishes” after their split. Learning about this challenging period in Thompson’s personal life makes her phenomenal performance in “Love Actually” all the more powerful.

#23: Billy Bob Thornton & Laura Dern

There’s getting ghosted, and then there’s this. It was the 90s, and Billy Bob Thornton and Laura Dern had been dating for three years after meeting on the set of “Ellen.” They were even engaged to be married in 2000 when Dern left home to film a new movie. While she was away, her fiancé became a husband – without her. Thornton eloped with Angelina Jolie, who he had met the year prior on the set of “Pushing Tin.” Jolie became Thornton’s fifth wife, and it seems Dern dodged a bullet. The spontaneous marriage lasted just two years, despite matching blood vial necklaces that totally screamed “eternal love.”

#22: Olivia Wilde & Jason Sudeikis

This celebrity power couple ended their engagement in 2020, after nine years and two children together. Shortly after their split, Olivia Wilde was spotted holding hands with Harry Styles, whom she had recently directed in “Don’t Worry Darling.” This led to speculation that Styles had been the reason for the split, and that there might have been overlap between the two relationships. Wilde vehemently denies these rumors, stating that her relationship with Sudeikis had long been over by the time she began dating Styles. Others, including Wilde and Sudeikis’ nanny, offer a different version of events, saying that romance on the “Don’t Worry Darling” set ultimately ended the relationship for good.

#21: Ben Affleck & Jennifer Garner

Even though they made a beautiful couple, the ten-year marriage between these two actors wasn’t as perfect as it looked on the surface. Shortly after they announced their divorce, it came to light that Affleck had pursued a relationship with the nanny to his and Garner’s three children. Though fans were shocked, Garner, it appeared, was not. She didn’t deny the affair had occurred, as Affleck had, but rather stated it wasn’t the ultimate reason for their separation. In fact, the pair had split before Garner even found out about the nanny. Their break-up was about his other affairs, plus his partying and gambling habits.

#20: Tom Sandoval & Ariana Madix

Reality stars Tom Sandoval and Ariana Madix are both well-known as stars of “Vanderpump Rules.” After splitting from his ex-girlfriend and former co-star Kristen Doute in 2014, Sandoval officially began dating Madix. The two remained together for nine years in a seemingly loving relationship until cheating allegations surfaced in 2023. Apparently, Madix discovered Sandoval’s infidelity when she found inappropriate content involving “Vanderpump Rules” co-star Raquel Leviss on his phone. In the aftermath of the scandal, Sandoval first issued a statement, in which he seemed to acknowledge the affair but failed to apologize to Madix. Although a public plea came days later, it seemed the damage was already done.

#19: Eva Longoria & Tony Parker

In 2007, “Desperate Housewives” star Eva Longoria got hitched to professional basketball player Tony Parker. This was Longoria’s second marriage, and all seemed to be going well between the couple. However, just three years later, the actress filed for divorce after stumbling upon illicit text messages between Parker and another woman. While there was no official confirmation from the parties involved, the woman in question was reported to be Erin Barry, the wife of one of Parker’s San Antonio Spurs teammates. Needless to say, the discovery of these messages broke the trust between the two and led to the immediate dissolution of their marriage. Longoria has since been married to Mexican businessman José Antonio Bastón.

#18: Debbie Reynolds & Eddie Fisher

When it comes to Hollywood, love triangles are a dime a dozen. But only few can grab the nation’s attention quite like that of Eddie Fisher, Debbie Reynolds and Elizabeth Taylor. Reynolds and Taylor had been friends since their teenage years, having met each other on the MGM studio lot. After her husband, Mike Todd, lost his life in a plane crash, Fisher began spending time with Taylor and seemingly fell in love with her. The next year, he left Reynolds and their two children, and quickly tied the knot with Taylor. The scandal became an instant media sensation and affected all of their careers. Reynolds herself once compared the highly-publicized triangle to that of Brad, Jennifer and Angelina. More on that later.

#17: Ned & Ariel Fulmer

After attaining fame at Buzzfeed, the Try Guys – made up of Ned Fulmer, Keith Habersberger, Eugene Lee Yang, and Zach Kornfeld - branched out on their own in 2018. Just like most other popular groups, the Try Guys became known and loved for their individual personas. Over the years, Fulmer branded himself as a “wife guy,” frequently gushing over his marriage to his partner Ariel and their two children. So you can imagine everyone’s surprise when it was revealed in September 2022 that he had been involved in an extramarital affair with Alexandria Herring, a producer on their show. The ensuing scandal resulted in Fulmer’s removal from the group, although the couple remained together after reportedly working things out.

#16: Jude Law & Sienna Miller

British-American actress Sienna Miller first rose to prominence with her roles in the 2004 films “Layer Cake” and “Alfie.” While on the set of the latter, Miller struck up a relationship with her co-star Jude Law and the two got engaged on Christmas Day that year. It didn’t take long for things to turn sour. Less than a year later, Law admitted to cheating on Miller with the nanny of his children from his previous marriage. Although the couple tried working things out initially, they eventually went their separate ways. After going through the harrowing experience of being cheated on, Miller herself soon became the other woman, in an affair with actor Balthazar Getty, who was married at the time.

#15: Gwen Stefani & Gavin Rossdale

Music stars Gwen Stefani and Gavin Rossdale seemed like the perfect couple. The two were both lead vocalists for their respective rock bands, No Doubt and Bush, when they first met in 1995. After dating on and off for a few years, they tied the knot in 2002, kicking off a 13-year marriage that produced three boys. When it came to light that Rossdale had engaged in a three-year affair with their nanny, however, everything changed. Stefani filed for divorce from the Bush frontman due to “irreconcilable differences,” which was finalized in 2016. She soon hitched her wagon to country musician and fellow “The Voice” coach Blake Shelton. The two have released multiple collaborations and eventually got married in 2021.

#14: Will & Jada Pinkett Smith

The relationship between Hollywood power couple Will and Jada Pinkett Smith is, admittedly, quite complicated. Even before they got married in 1997, the two had been in the public eye. They eventually welcomed two children – Jaden and Willow – who have also become superstars themselves. In 2020, the Smiths spurred controversy when rapper August Alsina revealed that he and Jada had an affair, with Will’s blessing. Although her team initially denied the claims, Jada later appeared on her web show “Red Table Talk” alongside Will, where she admitted to being in an “entanglement” with Alsina. However, as the couple claimed to have been separated amicably at the time of the affair, they reportedly do not consider it a case of infidelity.

#13: King Charles & Princess Diana

Following their highly publicized royal wedding, then-Prince Charles and Princess Diana’s marriage began to fall apart due to Charles’ affair with Camilla Parker Bowles. Although they had secretly carried on the illicit relationship throughout his marriage, it only came to light in 1992 when an intimate phone call between the two was leaked to the press. Charles and Diana separated that same year, with the former later confirming his affair in a 1994 interview. Diana also had a fling with British major James Hewitt during their marriage. The scandal resulted in the couple’s divorce in 1996, and significantly damaged the reputation of the British monarchy. Charles eventually got married to Camilla in 2005 and became King in September of 2022.

#12: Kristen Stewart & Robert Pattinson

When their hit fantasy film “Twilight” premiered in 2008, fans were immediately obsessed with actors Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson. Their onscreen chemistry seemed to have bled into real life, as the two reportedly began dating that year. Their relationship waxed stronger until 2012, when Stewart was photographed getting intimate with “Snow White and the Huntsman” director, Rupert Sanders. The sensational pictures were splashed all over the tabloid press, resulting in Stewart and Sanders issuing public apologies to their respective partners. In the aftermath, Pattinson seemingly called the relationship quits and moved out of their shared home. Although the couple briefly reconciled that year, they eventually parted ways for good.

#11: Brad Pitt & Jennifer Aniston

The love triangle of Brad Pitt, Jennifer Aniston and Angelina Jolie became one of the most sensationalized tabloid narratives of the 2000s. After a two-year whirlwind romance, Pitt and Aniston had a private Malibu wedding in July of 2000. Things seemed to be going great until the couple stunned the world by announcing their separation and divorce barely five years later. The high-profile split was made even more scandalous by Pitt’s almost immediate involvement with Angelina Jolie. This led many to speculate that Pitt engaged in an affair with Jolie after working together on the 2005 blockbuster “Mr. & Mrs. Smith.” The two eventually tied the knot in 2014, only to also file for divorce just two years later.

#10: Adam Levine & Behati Prinsloo

Levine has been married to Behati Prinsloo since 2014, but in 2022 a cheating allegation emerged. A TikTok personality named Sumner Stroh claimed that she and the Maroon 5 frontman had been hooking up for about a year. She also said that he asked her if he could name his child – ergo, Prinsloo’s child – after her. That’s pretty hard to stomach if true. Levine has denied that he had any physical relations with Stroh, but it was still pretty shocking news. It wasn’t long before more women alleged that he had sent them inappropriate communications. The singer often features his wife and family in his videos, so the scandal was definitely a mask-off moment.

#9: Ashton Kutcher & Demi Moore

Cheating on anyone is wrong. Cheating on Demi Moore with a 21-year-old you met in a bowling alley is just downright impossible to understand. In the beginning days of their relationship, it seemed Moore and Kutcher couldn’t be more in love. But, according to Moore’s memoir, that eventually changed. She said Kutcher became distant as the years went by, and started lying to her about his whereabouts. This behavior eventually led to the aforementioned bowling alley tryst, leaving Moore – and us – heartbroken. The couple’s divorce was made official in 2013.

#8: Jesse James & Sandra Bullock

Jesse James and Sandra Bullock were an unexpected match. She was a wholesome, romantic comedy queen, he was a tatted-up TV mechanic. When the pair tied the knot in 2005, it’s fair to say many were surprised. But they looked happy, and isn’t that all that matters? Alas, they weren’t as happy as they appeared. In 2010, James was accused of cheating on the “While You Were Sleeping” star with multiple women, and apologized publicly. The strain of the scandal may have caused Bullock to cancel some stops on her press tour for “The Blind Side,” and she subsequently filed for divorce.

#7: Gerard Piqué & Shakira

For so many years, Shakira and Gerard Piqué seemed like the perfect couple. In fact, they’ve even been included on Forbes’ list of “The World’s Most Powerful Couples” in the past. The pair met on the set of one of her music videos, and quickly fell in love. But in 2022, the singer and soccer player released a joint statement that they would be going their separate ways. Rumors quickly started to fly, and speculation that Piqué’s infidelity was the reason for the split ran rampant. It’s been alleged that his partying led to an affair, and that Shakira had enough.

#6: Tristan Thompson & Khloé Kardashian

No one deserves to go through the mess that Tristan Thompson has wrought on Khloé Kardashian. Unfortunately, Kardashian hasn’t had great luck with cheaters – her ex-husband Lamar Odom was also unfaithful. But Thompson’s indiscretions are on another level. His initial cheating scandal came to light as Kardashian was preparing to give birth to their first child. Though that was the first incident, it sadly wasn’t the last. There was the Jordyn Woods saga, which generated a lot of press and drama within the family. He also fathered a child with a woman named Maralee Nichols while in a relationship with Kardashian.

#5: Robert Lange & Shania Twain

For a while, it seemed like Shania Twain and Robert Lange had mastered the art of having both a personal and professional relationship, which is no small feat. Lange has written with and produced songs for Twain, and the two got married in 1993. But more than a decade later, the unthinkable happened. They announced that they would be separating in 2008. Fans were surprised that such a long-lasting relationship could end so suddenly, but then, it all became clear. It turns out that Lange was cheating on Twain with her close friend Marie-Anne Thiébaud.

#4: Jay-Z & Beyoncé

It appears this story has roots in 2014, when a video that captured Solange Knowles, Beyoncé’s sister, kicking Jay-Z in an elevator the night of the Met Gala became public. Rumors flew online about what the two could possibly be fighting about. In 2016, Queen Bey released “Lemonade,” and the visual album contained clear allusions to Jay-Z’s infidelity. It’s still unclear what exactly was going on in that elevator, but the vocalist’s songs made it pretty obvious that her husband had strayed from their marriage. The couple has stayed together, but the phrase “Becky with the good hair” will live on for a while.

#3: Arnold Schwarzenegger & Maria Shriver

Sometimes, cheating results in a secret love child. Maria Shriver and Arnold Schwarzenegger married in 1986. But in 2011, 25 years of apparent bliss ended in a second. In a shocking turn of events, it was revealed that he was the father of a baby he had with another woman about 14 years before the relationship ended. To make matters worse, the woman in question, Mildred Baena, worked for the couple. Schwarzenegger claimed that he had told Shriver about the child … but only after she had already figured it out for herself and questioned him.

#2: Hugh Grant & Elizabeth Hurley

It seems these two are still on good terms. Hugh Grant and Elizabeth Hurley began dating in 1987, quickly becoming one of the hottest Hollywood couples on the block. Grant is known for his sweet, bumbling on-screen persona. So everyone was shocked in 1995 when he was caught in a compromising situation while he and Hurley were still linked. She stuck by him during the whole thing, and the couple didn’t break up until 2000 – five years after the incident. Though things didn’t work out romantically, she did later ask him to be the godfather of her child. There’s obviously still some love there.

#1: Tiger Woods & Elin Nordegren

Perhaps one of the most jaw-dropping scandals in recent history, we definitely never saw this one coming. Tiger Woods married Swedish model Elin Nordegren in 2004, and, by all appearances, they had a beautiful and happy marriage together. But, in 2009, a little news item about a possible affair on Woods’ part changed everything. A few days later, he got in a major car accident that unleashed oodles of media speculation upon the couple. Over the next couple of weeks, many women came out of the woodwork claiming to have been involved with him. It turns out Woods was having multiple affairs, leading to his and Nordegren’s divorce in 2010.

Which of these celebrity cheating scandals shocked you the most? Let us know in the comments!