Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, managed to dispatch herself. Multiple times. In Paris with a Balenciaga outing that looked like high-fashion funeral cosplay, pulling Concerned Face beside burned LA homes while her unpaid intern Harry hovered, the faux royal tour to Colombia.
Her lifestyle show With Love, Meghan sealed it. Nothing kills hope faster than balloon arches and raw broccoli wreaths. Nothing except a baby dance clip resurrected for reasons no PR could explain. Wait, there are no PRs left! The Sussexes just lost their 11th.
Keith Urban and Nicole Kidman at the Country Music Awards in Texas in May 2025.Credit: LM Otero Invision/AP
Closer to home, Australia’s favourite mum and dad couples imploded. Hugh Jackman and Deborra-Lee Furness filed for divorce and Hugh went public with new love Sutton Foster. Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban called time after 19 years. “Least surprising thing all year,” an LA insider told me.
Before Christmas, AFL glamour couple Lachie and Jules Neale’s split was bonkers, Jules saying she’d been betrayed and demanding a former BFF remove photos of Lachie from her Insta feed.
I was glued to the mess, equal parts heartbreak and theatre, mostly raging at media which papped Jules at the shops and described her as “glassy-eyed”. Like she’s hitting Berghain rather than trying to stay classy and protect her kids.
The weakest move of the year? Tough guy Lachie hiding while his wife took the heat. Mate. Say something. Own it.
Sydney Sweeney survived being cancelled and a film flop.Credit: Evan Agostini/Invision/AP
There were survivors. Sydney Sweeney weathered a film flop, culture-war accusations over “great jeans/genes” and a Trump endorsement. Oasis reformed.
Brooklyn Beckham continued sulking and blocking family members, even when his dad got a knighthood. Kris Jenner debuted a new face – I’m ropeable with jealousy – and Amber Heard had twins via surrogate.
It was the year that gave us proper celebrities again. People who make terrible choices, disregard achy breaky hearts, get cancelled, redeemed, stripped, knighted, divorced, reunited.
Kate Halfpenny is the founder of Bad Mother Media.
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