2022 is almost over and we’re in the mood to go down memory lane and take a look back at the year that has gone by. It was packed with news that shocked us and moments that broke the Internet (multiple times over) for both good and bad reasons, and it’s safe to say that 2022 was a rollercoaster.
This is especially true regarding the state of celebrity relationships around the world. While love was definitely in the air for some, it was time to call it quits for others. Older relationship-based feuds also came to head this year, like when Hailey Bieber and Selena Gomez were photographed together (one of the aforementioned Internet-breaking moments, if someone’s keeping track), at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures Gala in October.
The two have been at the centre of Internet muck because of the fact that Justin Bieber broke up with Gomez and got engaged to Hailey (then) Baldwin two months later.
Some of our favourite celebrity couples entered a new phase in their lives as they became parents for the first time. Then there were some who made us feel painfully single with their (adorable) PDA on Instagram.
Without further ado, let’s a take a deep dive into the good, the bad, and the ugly of celebrity relationships in 2022…
The Good
Priyanka Chopra and Nick Jonas welcoming their baby daughter
In the beginning of the year, Priyanka Chopra and Nick Jonas announced that they’ve welcomed a baby girl via surrogacy. The baby’s name was leaked by popular US tabloid channel TMZ and it was revealed that she had been named Malti Marie Chopra, after both PC and Jonas’ mothers. Since then, the new entrant into the Chopra-Jonas clan has been making regular appearances on her parents’ Instagram feeds.
Tom Holland and Zendaya going on dates around the world
While the Spider-Man: No Way Home co-stars have never officially confirmed whether they’re dating or not, the two have been spotted on various romantic dates all around the world. Without taking each other’s names, both Zendaya and Tom Holland have spoken about how it’s important for them to share their relationship with the world on their own terms.
Ranveer Singh being a cheerleader for Deepika Padukone
Whether it was her debut as a jury member at this year’s Cannes Film Festival or her being the first Indian celebrity to be invited to FIFA World Cup for unveiling the trophy, Deepika Padukone’s no.1 cheerleader was always her husband Ranveer Singh. The unfairly gorgeous couple has been on a roll with their PDA this year and it’s adorable (said grudgingly).
Katrina Kaif and Vicky Kaushal making everyone swoon with their love
The couple left the previous year behind with a bang with a big and beauitful wedding ceremony in Rajasthan. Over the months, the two slowly established they are the gold standard when it comes to celebrity relationships. While they kept their courtship period heavily under wraps, the two have been fairly open about showing off their love and relationship for everyone. They even opened up about their love story on their (separate) appearances on Koffee With Karan’s latest season.
Ranbir Kapoor and Alia Bhatt establishing 2022 to be their year
After months of speculations, Ranbir Kapoor and Alia Bhatt tied the knot in April this year. The romantic ceremony was documented with stunning photos, the best one featuring Bhatt’s pet cat as the actress posed in her bridal finery. A few months later, the couple announced that they were expecting their first baby which was followed by the humongous success of the movie that got them together, Brahmastra: Part One-Shiva. Year of the Bhatt-Kapoors, we tell you!
Sonam Kapoor and Anand Ahuja becoming new parents
Sonam Kapoor sent the Internet into a tizzy after she announced her pregnancy on Instagram, via an artfully monochromatic photoshoot. To nobody’s surprise, Kapoor set new standards for maternity fashion, with the image of her posing with her baby bump in an ivory Abu Jani and Sandeep Khosla sari still etched into our brain folds. The two welcomed their baby boy, Vayu, in August and went on to share heartwarming pictures of the family’s reaction on meeting the baby for the first time. Kapoor also shared images of the tastefully decorated baby nursery which led us on a quest to figure out how you can replicate her aesthetic in your own home, in case you were interested.
Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck’s magical wedding
Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck found their way back to each other after breaking up in 2004. The two began dating again in 2021 and, finally, got married a year later in 2022. The couple chose an intimate ceremony in a Las Vegas wedding chapel and shared the news of their nuptials on J-Lo’s newsletter. Later, the couple threw a more extravagant wedding ceremony for their friends and family where the bride looked resplendant in a Ralph Lauren gown.
The Bad
Olivia Wilde and Harry Styles break-up
While it was a year of many celebrities getting together, it was also a year of messy break-ups. One of the most confounding and uncomfortable to witness was Olivia Wilde and Harry Style’s relationship. Whether it was at the center of the drama surrounding Wilde’s directorial venture Don’t Worry Darling or not is still a pop culture mystery. The couple reportedly got together in 2021, not long after her split with comedian Jason Sudeikis. But they broke things off soon after the premiere of the movie.
Tom Brady and Gisele Bündchen’s divorce
NFL superstar Tom Brady and supermodel Gisele Bündchen announced that they are getting a divorce. The two shared statements on the split on their Instagram. “With much gratitude for our time together, Tom and I have amicably finalized our divorce. My priority has always been and will continue to be our children whom I love with all my heart. We will continue co-parenting to give them the love, care and attention they greatly deserve,” wrote Bündchen.
Kim Kardashian and Pete Davidson’s split
After nine months of dating, which included appearances on their reality show and a couple of joint red carpet appearances, Pete Davidson and Kim Kardashian went their seprate ways in August. According to Kardashian, the split was amicable and the two just drifted away from each other after the relationship spark died off.
The Ugly
Kanye West and Kim Kardashian’s messy divorce
Before he was going on podcasts to admit he loves Hitler, Kanye West had been harassing ex-wife Kim and her then-boyfirend Pete Davidson publicly earlier this year. After some questionable Instagram posts about Kardashian, the rapper began posting threats against Davidson, even including some in his song lyrics. He also began sharing the text messages sent by Kardashian on his feed, alleging that the reality superstar is not letting him meet his children, despite Kardashian claiming otherwise. West later deleted the posts and apologised for threatening Davidson.
Adam Levine’s shady DMs being leaked online
This was the year when many ugly cheating scandals came to light, like the fall from grace of Ned Fulmer, of the Try Guys, who was caught cheating on his wife with an employee. One of the biggest ones that came out was Adam Levine’s alleged affair with Instagram model Sumner Stroh. The model shared screenshots of the incriminating DMs sent by the Maroon 5 singer to her over the years, resulting in a predictable barrage of memes and TikToks on the subject. Levine, who has been married to Victoria’s Secret model Behati Prinsloo since 2014 and has two daughters with her, admitted to “crossing a line” with Stroh but claimed that it was never a full-blown affair.
Amber Heard and Johnny Depp’s long-winded and very public defamation trial
Finally, one of the worst bit of 2022 was the ugly public trial of Amber Heard vs Johnny Depp. The Charlie and the Chocolate Factory actor had sued ex-wife Heard for allegedly defaming him in a Washington Post op-ed where she had called herself a victim of abuse. The resulting trial ended up regurgiating years of horrifying abuse from both sides and revealed a disgustingly misogynistic side of the Internet that immediately ganged up against Heard.
What were some of your favourite/least favourite celebrity couple moments of 2022?
