Queer relationships are known for their intensity, and our splits are no exception. Since the new millennium, lesbian celebrities have leveled up breakup drama with decade-long custody battles, restraining orders, and dunking on each other’s legacies. After much internet scouring, I have compiled some of the most outrageous public lesbian breakups that make me so thankful for the block button.
2009: Lindsay Lohan and Samantha Ronson
This iconic late 2000’s couple officially broke up in 2009 after having a year-long on again, off again relationship. On Ellen, it girl/actor/singer Lohan claimed DJ Ronson had “disappeared;” what we would now call “ghosting.” Other sources claim the breakup occurred after Lohan was restrained by bodyguards while trying to attend a family party where Ronson was DJing. Reports even suggested Ronson’s family considered a restraining order.
2010: Melissa Etheridge and Tammy Lynn Michaels
The “Come to My Window” singer, and the D.E.B.S star’s 2010 split was so strong, they were still going to court over it in 2020. They were engaged in 2008, but Proposition 8 blocked their wedding plans. In 2010, Etheridge ended their marriage due to “irreconcilable differences,” sparking a custody battle over their twins that lawyers drool over.
Michaels revealed on her blog that they privately separated in 2009, and she learned of the public breakup from headlines Ethridge had shared in the media, not from Etheridge herself. This likely helped her get $23k a month in spousal support AND music royalties. The most recent re-hash in court was won by Etheridge in 2020, cutting Michaels’ support down to $10k a month.
2018: Ruby Rose and Jessica Origliasso
After an allegedly amicable split in April 2018, The Veronicas’ singer Origliasso accused actor Rose of harassment for ignoring her no-contact rule after Rose commented “Congrats, so happy for you both,” on an Instagram post of Origliasso kissing her new girlfriend, Kai Carlton. In 2019, on The Veronicas’ reality show, Jess shared that the relationship led to her cutting ties with her sister, whom is also her band mate, and had become isolated. In 2023, Rose announced that she would be writing a tell-all memoir that will “piss a lot of people off,” and stated that The Veronicas were “horrific.” I have a feeling we still haven’t seen the end of this drama.
2022: DeWanna Bonner and Candice Dupree
Former WNBA stars and Phoenix Mercury teammates-turned-lovers DeWanna Bonner and Candice Dupree married in 2016, and had twins two years later. I suspect they split in early 2020 when Bonner was traded to the Connecticut Sun.
Dupree retired in 2021. In 2023, Bonner shocked the world, posting a picture of her proposal with Sun teammate, Alyssa Thomas! There is no record of her divorce from Dupree, but I’m sure you have to sign some papers before putting another ring on your finger.
But the real tea is: Dupree held fifth place on the all-time highest-scored points in the WNBA list until May 15th when her ex-wife, Bonner PASSED her on the list, becoming the new 5th of all time, with an ASSIST from Thomas. (NOBODY IS TALKING ABOUT THIS PART!!!!) DeWanna won the breakup at that moment.
2019: Domo Wilson and Crissy Danielle (Known as Domo and Crissy)
Although the Youtube stars had what appeared to be a harmonious breakup video in 2019, Domo later revealed that Crissy had begun to see someone very quickly after their split. This led to a public Twitter fight with Domo cutting Crissy off from spending time with the son they had together. (Crissy never legally adopted him because she said she “procrastinated.”)
2022: JoJo Siwa and Avery Cyrus
The “Karma” singer and her suspected “dream guest on [her] podcast,” Cyrus, dated for three months on and off before their final breakup was confirmed with Jojo gifting Cyrus an “I’m sorry for breaking up with you,” present in a December 2022 TikTok. Although that video had made the breakup seem sweet and amicable, later that week, Siwa’s mom shared a video of Jojo discussing being “used for views.” In September of 2023, Cyrus dropped a TikTok sharing what is presumably the story of her breakup with Jojo, where she shared she was broken up with via a voice memo by a person who was still in cahoots with her ex. On the Call Her Daddy podcast, Siwa revealed both that she dumped Cyrus via voice memo, and the three-month legal mess that followed their split, including an anonymous threatening message that her lawyers confirmed was Cyrus. Cyrus didn’t directly respond, however, she did post a video at Coachella a few days after the podcast came out, dancing to Jojo’s Karma song. Regardless if Cyrus was “a bad girl,” or not, thankfully, we know Abby Lee Miller prepared Siwa for a lot in life.
2024: Anjali Chakra and Sufi Malik
Two years after the Insta-famous pair had gotten engaged in 2022, and just a month before their planned wedding in April 2024, Chakra and Malik had to publicly call their ceremony quits. They each made an Instagram post where Malik admitted to cheating. Malik’s post has since been deleted, while Chakra’s is still up. The split left the lesbian internet heartbroken as because the mixed religion, publicly out Desi couple, were important representation for the queer community. But they taught us a beautiful lesson: Anyone, no matter race, religion, or sexuality, can still disappoint you.
Although these iconic duos may not have been the perfect matches for each other, they walked so that we could run (away from toxic situationships).
