In the volatile world of celebrity breakups and celebrity divorces, things can get nasty. Tweets get fired off, fingers get pointed, and at least one person is left with a broken heart. But what can make those splits even harder, is when kids are involved. We’ve seen plenty of contentious custody battles go on for years while the smear campaigns run rampant. We’ve seen [far too] many celebrities who pay more child support in a month than plenty of people make in a year. (Can you imagine?!) We’ve seen celebrities who make co-parenting look easy and attainable. And we’ve seen celebrities who “stole” their child from their ex.
We’ve also seen plenty of celebrities who — for a variety of reasons — call things off before their child’s first birthday. In some cases, they do it before the baby is even born.
Keke Palmer & Darius Jackson
There were public cries for Keke Palmer to leave boyfriend Darius Jackson in July 2023, less than five months after they welcomed their son Leodis “Leo” Andrellton. At the time, Jackson publicly mom shamed and sl*t shamed Palmer for the outfit she wore to an Usher concert. Little did fans know, the disgusting display of male fragility and verbal abuse was just the tip of the iceberg.
Four months later, in Nov. 2023, Palmer requested an emergency restraining order against her ex and filed for sole legal and physical custody of baby Leo. In the heartbreaking documents, she revealed she had endured two years of physical, mental, and emotional abuse from Jackson. You can learn more about the gut-wrenching situation here.
If you’re in an emergency situation, call 9-1-1. If you or someone you love is dealing with an abusive person, you can contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline 1-800-799-7233 (TTY 1-800-787-3224) or find your state hotline here.
Neymar Jr.
About 6 weeks after welcoming their daughter, model Bruna Biancardi announced her breakup from soccer player Neymar Jr.
In an Instagram story from Nov. 2023, she told followers this was a “private matter” but said she wanted to say she’s not in a relationship with anyone else “given my daily exposure to news, rumors, and jokes.”
“We are Mavie’s parents, and that is the reason for our bond,” she said. “I hope they stop linking me to news stories – about alleged cases of Neymar’s infidelity.”
Soon after, Neymar publicly admitted to cheating on Biancardi with influencer Fernanda Campos. “Bru, I’m doing this for you and your family. Trying to justify the unjustifiable. It wasn’t necessary, but I need you in our lives … I made a mistake. I was wrong.”
Despite the split, the soccer player — who also has a 12-year-old son from a previous relationship — said he “can’t imagine” life without Biancardi.
“All of this affected one of the most special people in my life. The woman I envisioned being by my side … I don’t know if it will work, but today I am certain that I want to try. Our purpose will prevail, our love for our baby will win.”
Nick Cannon
Oh boy, let’s see if we can accurately get through this one. Even Nick Cannon’s brother Gabriel can’t successfully name his 12 nieces and nephews off the top of his head! “I’m not even gonna attempt,” Gabriel said in Sept. 2023.
Cannon has had multiple relationships end before his children’s first birthdays. The Drumline star has 12 kids — one who tragically died in infancy from a brain tumor — with five women.
First, Cannon welcomed twins Moroccan and Monroe with his ex-wife Mariah Carey in 2011. The couple split three years later, after six years of marriage.
He then welcomed Golden Sagon in 2017 with ex Brittany Bell. Three years later, in 2020, the couple welcomed Powerful Queen.
Cannon welcomed twins Zion Mixolydian & Zillion Heir with ex Abby De La Rosa in 2021, and nine days later, he welcomed his late son Zen with ex Alyssa Scott.
In July 2022, he welcomed a son, Legendary Love with Bre Tiesi. Later that year, in September, he welcomed Onyx Ice with LaNisha Cole. That same month, he welcomed another son with Bell, Rise Messiah. Two months later, in Nov. 2022, he welcomed his daughter Beautiful Zeppelin with De La Rosa. One month later, he welcomed a daughter, Halo Marie, with Scott.
That’s a lot of babies and a lot of breakups (and make-ups!) to keep track of. As of Feb. 2024, Cannon was still dating Tiesi.
Khloe Kardashian and Tristan Thompson
Khloé Kardashian and Tristan Thompson’s tumultuous relationship reportedly ended in February 2019, just under a year after their daughter True was born. There were multiple reports of infidelity, including Tristan “snuggling up” and “making out” with Jordyn Woods, Kylie Jenner’s best friend at the time.
A month later, Kardashian tweeted saying, “Tristan is equally to blame but Tristan is the father of my child … Honestly, Tristan cheating on me & humiliating me, wasn’t such a shock as the first time … What’s been harder & more painful is being hurt by someone so close to me. Someone whom I love & treat like a little sister. But Jordyn is not to be blamed for the breakup of my family. This was Tristan’s fault …”
Grimes & Elon Musk
Grimes and Elon Musk have had quite the drama-filled time as parents. In 2020, they welcomed a son with the highly-controversial name X Æ A-12. The singer and the tech mogul split up in 2021 and later welcomed a daughter, Exa Dark Sideræl, via surrogate that December.
Since splitting, the couple has had a contentious custody battle which included Musk allegedly evading being served custody papers.
Sherri Shepherd & Lamar Sally
Things got especially complicated with Sherri Shepherd and Lamar Sally. In 2014, when Shepherd and Sally’s surrogate was six months pregnant, Shepherd filed for divorce. The talk show host then fought to keep her name off the baby’s birth certificate because a donor egg was used. Shepherd was successful in her plea and Lamar Jr. has been raised solely by Sally. Shepherd pays child support and Sally has unsuccessfully tried to increase those payments in the past.
Heidi Klum & Flavio Briatore
Model Heidi Klum and Formula One manager Flavio Briatore announced their relationship in March 2003. Klum then announced they were expecting in December, but the two called things off before their daughter Leni was born in May 2004. Klum married her now-ex-husband Seal in 2005, and he adopted Leni soon after.
In 2016, Briatore admitted it’s “hard to miss” Leni given that he “never sees” her.
“Leni is my natural daughter, but the three of us happily agreed that it made more sense if Seal adopted her, because a child needs to grow up in a family,” he said. “…I know that Leni is not an abandoned child.”
Denise Richards & Charlie Sheen
Though exes Denise Richards and Charlie Sheen did celebrate their first daughter Sam’s birthday as a couple, Richards filed for divorce from Sheen while pregnant with their second daughter, Lola.
Tom Brady & Bridget Moynahan
Tom Brady and Bridget Moynahan dated for a couple years in the early 2000s. They broke up in Dec. 2006, and the actress announced she was pregnant with the twice-retired quarterback’s son just a few months later. They welcomed a son, John “Jack” Moynahan in Aug. 2007.
Around the time of the breakup Brady met ex-wife Gisele Bündchen, with whom he shares kids Benjamin and Vivian.
Mary-Louise Parker & Billy Crudup
As for Mary-Louise Parker and Billy Crudup, the Almost Famous actor left a pregnant Parker for actress Claire Danes in 2003. Parker made headlines in 2023 when she sent well wishes to Crudup after he married model Naomi Watts.
“I honestly of course wish them every happiness because that’s my son’s father,” the Weeds actress said. “So I’m happy for them. I’m happy they found each other.”
Kelly Rutherford & Daniel Giersch
Kelly Rutherford and Daniel Giersch had a similar experience. They welcomed a son Hermés in 2006. In 2008, while three months pregnant with their daughter Helena, the Gossip Girl alum filed for divorce from Giersch.
What followed was a lengthy legal battle consisting of deportation, accused abduction, and bankruptcy. As of late 2015, Giersch has full custody and Rutherford has extended visitation rights, per People.
Wissam al Mana & Janet Jackson
Fans were thrilled for Janet Jackson when she announced in 2016 that she would be welcoming her first child at the age of 50. Three months after their son’s birth, Jackson and her husband Wissam al Mana divorced.
“Janet and Wissam don’t see eye to eye on many things,” an insider told E! News. “One of the many divorcing factors was their religious beliefs. Wissam and Janet did not feel that they were on the same page when it came to this and the way they wanted their child to get raised.”
Tameka Foster & Usher
Super Bowl Halftime Show performer Usher shares two kids with ex Tameka Foster — Usher Raymond V and Naviyd Ely Raymond. Usher filed for divorce less than a year after Naviyd’s birth, a week after he was spotted out and about with Grace Miguel. Usher and Miguel were married for 3 years before splitting.
Usher is now married to Jenn Goicoechea, with whom he shares kids Sovereign and Sire.
Kevin Federline
DJ Kevin Federline first became a father in the summer of 2002 when he and Shar Jackson welcomed their daughter, Kori. By the time their son Kaleb arrived in 2004, though, Federline was dating Britney Spears.
Federline shares kids Sean and Jayden with Spears as well as daughters Jordan and Peyton with Victoria Prince.
Vanessa Morgan & Michael Kopech
Just months after Riverdale‘s Vanessa Morgan announced she and her husband Michael Kopech were expecting a baby, Kopech filed for divorce. Morgan welcomed their son named River in 2021.
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