Maria mentioned Hugh Jackman’s most recent pap walk with Sutton Foster last week in one of her Celebrity Social Media posts - like their first hard launch photos back in January, these shots were PEOPLE exclusives, an FYI that the two are still together.
Hugh’s been photographed several times since because he’s performing his show at Radio City and in the pictures he looks relaxed and happy…which is not the same energy shared by his ex-wife Deborra-Lee Furness. Turns out, the same week that Hugh and Sutton were pap walking, Deborra had finally filed for divorce and the terms had already been settled so the judge signing off is just a formality. It’s been nearly two years since they separated and now that their split is official, Deborra has released a statement.
Not an ugly statement and not bitter but also not sunshine and rainbows either. She is not interested in hiding her pain for anyone else’s comfort.
“My heart and compassion goes out to everyone who has traversed the traumatic journey of betrayal. It’s a profound wound that cuts deep, however I believe in a higher power and that God/the universe, whatever you relate to as your guidance, is always working FOR us. This belief has helped me navigate the breakdown of an almost three-decade marriage. I have gained much knowledge and wisdom through this experience. Even when we are presented with apparent adversity, it is leading us to our greatest good, our true purpose. It can hurt, but in the long run, returning to yourself and living within your own integrity, values and boundaries is liberation and freedom.”
Betrayal is a big word, a word that most of us who speak English instantly respond to. Betrayal is serious wound because you cannot be betrayed unless you first trusted, deeply. Opening her statement with that word is a clear indication that Hugh did Deborra dirty after 27 years of marriage – he was her most trusted partner, and he betrayed her. The specific details of how he betrayed her are not shared, but it’s enough to strongly imply that there was deceit involvement, and disloyalty, even treachery – all synonyms of betrayal and profoundly detrimental to a marriage.
At this point, though, this should not be a surprise for anyone who’s been paying attention. It’s widely assumed publicly that Hugh stepped out on Deborra with Sutton. What’s curious to me, as a gossip columnist and a media observer, is that his reputation doesn’t seem to be super tarnished by it the way it has affected other celebrities. What’s also curious is that Deborra’s statement was exclusively shared with … the Daily Mail. The Daily Mail as we know is gross, so it’s a weird choice, but there might be a rationale in that maybe she didn’t have much choice?
Hugh Jackman is a much bigger name than Deborra-Lee Furness. Hugh has access to more respectable entertainment outlets and, as we’ve already seen, he’s established a connection with PEOPLE Magazine with all these photo “exclusives”. So for Deborra, the Daily Mail may have been one of the few options she could rely on not to “both sides” the situation and present her case the way she wanted it presented.
Attached: Hugh heading to the theatre yesterday in New York.
