10+ Celebrities Who Established Special Bonds With Their Exes

Breaking up with loved ones or leaving a marriage are both painful decisions. Ex-partners seldom remain in touch after a relationship ends. Yet, some couples opt to stay together for the rest of their lives and prioritize their friendship over their love. The following celebrity couples demonstrate that friendship may sometimes be more effective than love and that friendship can make some ties even more meaningful than they were before.

1. Demi Moore and Bruce Willis

Although Demi Moore and Bruce Willis were married for over a decade, and eventually got a divorce in 2000, they are still very good friends. Demi even attended Bruce and his second wife’s vow renewal ceremony in 2009.

2. Jason Momoa and Lisa Bonet

Jason Momoa and Lisa Bonet shocked everyone when they announced in early 2022 that they had decided to go their separate ways after more than 10 years together. But since their breakup, Momoa has alluded to how important Bonet is to him. “We’re family, you know,” the Aquaman star told Access Hollywood on the Oscars red carpet. “We have 2 beautiful children together. We’re family forever.”

3. Reese Witherspoon and Ryan Phillippe

Although their relationship had its ups and downs, the former couple did everything in their power to offer their children a great childhood. That includes staying on good terms with each other too. Most recently, Reese and Ryan got together for their son’s birthday.

4. Channing Tatum and Jenna Dewan

“We have lovingly chosen to separate as a couple,” they said in a public statement. “We fell deeply in love so many years ago and have had a magical journey together. Absolutely nothing has changed about how much we love one another, but love is a beautiful adventure that is taking us on different paths for now.”

5. Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony

Jennifer Lopez said in an interview that she didn’t feel her best during her marriage to Marc Anthony, but after their separation, they became great friends and parents to their twins.

6. Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner

Like most couples who decide to separate, Jennifer Garner and Ben Affleck kept their relationship close because of their children. Jennifer said that “all kids deserve to witness relationships that are filled with respect.”

7. Chris Pratt and Anna Faris

The couple decided to end their relationship in 2017. They have a son named Jack together. Faris and Pratt said that they still have a lot of love for each other. When it comes to their son, Faris said that communication is key and she even attended Pratt and Katherine Schwarzenegger’s wedding.

8. Gwyneth Paltrow and Chris Martin

According to Gwyneth Paltrow, she and Chris Martin went through a “conscious uncoupling,” so their divorce wasn’t very difficult. The 2 still see each other very often and co-parent their children.

9. Emma Stone and Andrew Garfield

A year after Emma Stone and Andrew Garfield ended their relationship, Stone said in an interview that he is someone that she still very much loves. Garfield and Stone remain friends. He said in an interview about his role in Spider-Man: No Way Home that Stone texted him, fishing for answers, but he didn’t tell her.

10. Nina Dobrev and Ian Somerhalder

The Vampire Diaries duo, Ian Somerhalder and Nina Dobrev, started dating in 2010 but split up in 2013. The reason for their breakup isn’t publicly known, but she said, “I’m really young. I’m a career woman and a very driven woman, and I’ve got a lot I have to accomplish before I settle down and have kids.”

However, their relationship continues exactly how it started, as a friendship. They continue to be best friends and work together, and even though they found love with different people, they still keep up with each other and exchange text messages.

11. Courteney Cox and David Arquette

Courteney Cox considers her former husband her best friend and they’re still very close to each other, especially while co-parenting their daughter Coco.

12. Cameron Diaz and Justin Timberlake

Cameron Diaz revealed in a 2014 interview with Self magazine that she’s still friends with all of her exes, including Justin Timberlake. “I’m still friends with my ex-boyfriends,” she said. “I feel like all my relationships are strong — friends, family. I’ve invested in my people and they’ve invested in me.”

13. Madonna and Sean Penn

Madonna and Sean Penn are still on good terms, speaking highly of each other during interviews and being happy about the other’s career accomplishments.

14. Heidi Klum and Seal

Heidi Klum and Seal first met in a New York City hotel lobby in 2004. When they first laid eyes on one another, they were immediately attracted to each other. Seal said, “It was the kindness in her smile that prompted me to feel that I hadn’t seen anyone more beautiful.” However, they ended their “7 very loving, loyal, and happy years of marriage” in 2012 and have remained friends since then.

On America’s Got Talent, they reunited and got very excited about working together. “I love goofing around with Seal on AGT!” It was even her idea to let Seal come on the show along with their children.

15. Lenny Kravitz and Lisa Bonet

Lisa Bonet and Lenny Kravitz started off as friends and roommates before it turned into a romantic relationship. They had their daughter, Zoë, in 1988, and got divorced in 1993. Kravitz said he and Bonet are now best friends. He’s also friends with her latest husband and they’re one big happy family.