Celebrity divorces that became massive media wars in Hollywood
Photos: Hollywood stars who went through explosive divorces (collage by RBC-Ukraine)
Hollywood has long been known not only for beautiful love stories, but also for high-profile divorces that remain among the hottest topics in the media for years.
RBC-Ukraine has compiled the loudest celebrity “wars,” where stars battle in court, throw accusations at each other, and divide children and multi-million-dollar fortunes.
Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt
Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt were together for about 12 years and were considered one of Hollywood’s most famous and strongest couples. They started dating after filming “Mr. & Mrs. Smith” and officially married in 2014. However, the marriage did not last long, and in 2016, Jolie filed for divorce, shocking fans around the world.
After the split, the former couple became involved in long legal disputes over child custody, finances, and their shared French estate. Even now, the stars reportedly maintain tense relations, and some legal issues between them remain unresolved.
Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt (Photo: Getty Images)
Johnny Depp and Amber Heard
After a short but extremely high-profile marriage, the couple filed for divorce in 2017. Their relationship quickly escalated into a massive conflict filled with mutual accusations and lengthy court proceedings.
The biggest public reaction came during the 2022 trial, which was broadcast worldwide and exposed details of the stars’ private lives. Both sides accused each other of abuse, creating one of the biggest media scandals in Hollywood history.
Today, the legal battles between the former spouses have officially ended, but their silent conflict is still considered one of Hollywood’s loudest scandals.
Johnny Depp and Amber Heard (Photo: Getty Images)
Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban
The celebrity couple married in 2006 and, for many years, were considered one of the strongest couples in American show business. Their marriage lasted nearly 20 years and was often viewed as an example of a stable relationship.
In 2026, rumors about problems in the relationship resurfaced in the media, and in January, the couple officially announced their separation.
Today, both stars are trying to avoid public conflict, maintain friendly relations, and keep personal details out of the media “for the sake of the children.”
Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban (Photo: Getty Images)
Kim Kardashian and Kanye West
The star couple officially divorced after Kim filed court documents in 2021. The process involved legal issues regarding child custody and financial agreements. However, unlike other Hollywood couples, it did not turn into a prolonged public courtroom battle.
Most disputes were handled through lawyers, and eventually the former couple reached agreements on co-parenting and division of property without turning it into a massive public spectacle.
Kim Kardashian and Kanye West (Photo: Getty Images)
Kim Basinger and Alec Baldwin
This was one of Hollywood’s most talked-about couples of the 1990s. They married in 1993 and officially divorced in 2002 after nearly nine years together.
Their separation was extremely public and involved lengthy court battles over custody of their daughter, Ireland. The conflict between the former spouses frequently appeared in the press, and some emotional moments even became public.
Alec Baldwin and Kim Basinger (Photo: Getty Images)
Kevin Costner and Christine Baumgartner
The actor and model divorced in 2023 after nearly 19 years of marriage. The official reason cited was “irreconcilable differences,” but the process quickly turned into a high-profile court battle.
The couple fought over finances, alimony, and division of property, making their breakup a constant topic in the media. Only in 2025 did the former spouses manage to settle the conflict and gradually reach agreements, although the press continued discussing the divorce for a long time.
Kevin Costner and Christine Baumgartner (Photo: Getty Images)
