Hugh Jackman Sparks Controversy Over Alleged Affair with Co-Star That Led to Divorce from Ex-Wife
Hugh Jackman, 56, and Sutton Foster, 49, are making headlines as reports surface about the former co-stars dating in real life. The news follows Sutton’s recent divorce filing from her screenwriter husband, Ted Griffin, with whom she shares a seven-year-old daughter, Emily.
On October 26, gossip blogger Tasha Lustig caused a stir on Instagram with revelations about Hugh Jackman and Sutton Foster. “Do y’all remember when I told you this man was up to no good,” Lustig teased, pointing to a photo of the Music Man co-stars looking cozy on a red carpet. She claimed Jackman had “blindsided” his ex-wife, Deborra-lee Furness, by “running off with the mistress” and hinted that the Broadway stars were gearing up for a “soft launch” of their relationship.
The post quickly went viral, attracting significant attention — including from Deborra-lee Furness herself, who “liked” it from her private account, a detail only visible to those she follows. Adding fuel to the fire, Furness’ close friend, British media personality Amanda de Cadenet, chimed in with a supportive comment: “You are on point with this one. My beloved friend Deb is about to have her glow up any moment FYI!”
Jackman and Foster have been part of the same Broadway circles for years. During a late-night show appearance, Jackman shared that he’d “watched everything she’s done” and joked that he first saw her in Thoroughly Modern Millie when she was “like, 4 years old.” (Foster, in reality, won a Tony for her performance in 2002, at the age of 27).
Jackman and Foster have already been spotted attending public events together, appearing smitten at the opening night of The Music Man on Broadway in February 2022.
Reports suggest that their alleged affair during the production was “Broadway’s worst-kept secret,” and now the “really happy” pair are said to be eager to take their relationship public.
Last month, Foster filed for an uncontested divorce from her husband of 10 years, screenwriter Ted Griffin, in New York. The former couple shares a seven-year-old daughter, Emily.
Last year, Hugh Jackman and Deborra-Lee Jackman, once regarded as one of Hollywood's most enduring couples, shocked fans with the announcement of their impending separation. The couple first met in 1995 on the set of the Australian TV series Correlli. It was Hugh’s first day on the job after graduating from drama school.
Recalling the moment, Hugh shared, “She was a big star. Everyone loved Deb. I get picked up by the car, and Deb is in the front seat. I get in the backseat. She had sunglasses on, took off her seatbelt, turned around, and said, ‘Hi, I’m Deborra-Lee Furness. Nice to meet you.’ I remember thinking, ‘I like this girl.’”
Over the years, Hugh Jackman and Deborra-Lee Furness faced significant challenges with infertility, enduring multiple unsuccessful IVF attempts and several miscarriages, which were "particularly difficult on Deb," Hugh revealed. Initially, the couple had planned to have one or two biological children before adopting. However, after reaching a point of exhaustion with IVF, they decided to move forward with adoption.
In 2000, they adopted their eldest son, Oscar, who is now 24 years old, and in 2005, they adopted their daughter, Ava, who recently celebrated her 19th birthday.
Recently, Jennifer Lopez and Matt Damon sparked controversy when they were seen holding hands while trying to seek privacy. The gesture led to heated speculation and public discussion about the nature of their relationship.