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Celebrity Splits 2021: The biggest celebrity breakups this year

Shawn Mendes and Camila Cabello broke our hearts when they announced their split in November after being together for two years.


DECEMBER 15, 2021 4:44 PM EST

Love was in the air for many of our favorite celebrities this year, however with new romances there was also difficult moments and not so many happy endings, including some of the most unexpected celebrity breakups of 2021.

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Bill Gates and Melinda Gates

Bill Gates and Melinda Gates announced their unexpected breakup after 27 years of marriage and three children, Jennifer, Rory and Phoebe. The former power couple stated they no longer believed they could “grow together as a couple in this next phase of our lives.”

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Shawn Mendes and Camila Cabello

Shawn Mendes and Camila Cabello broke our hearts when they announced their breakup in November after being together for two years. The former couple declared they will “continue to be best friends,” with Shawn being open about his emotions on his latest song.

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Ben Affleck and Ana de Armas

Ben Affleck also surprised everyone after his split from Ana de Armas, as they had quickly become a fan-favorite couple last year, and while the reason for their breakup wasn’t clear, a close source to the couple revealed the actress wanted to have children in the future, while Ben “would not commit to having more kids.”

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Kim Kardashian and Kanye West

Kim Kardashian and Kanye West were definitely the biggest split of the year, being one of the most powerful couples, multiple rumors about their divorce emerged in January after seven years of marriage. Now the reality star seems to have moved on, while the singer is still trying to have a second chance with his estranged wife.

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Eiza González and Paul Rabil

Eiza González and Paul Rabil were spotted on multiple dates after meeting during Jamie Reuben’s 24th birthday party, and while they looked great together it was revealed that “their schedules just weren’t aligning,” ending their 7-month relationship in November.

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Jennifer Lopez and Alex Rodriguez

One of the most unexpected breakups of the year happened earlier this year, when Jennifer Lopez and Alex Rodriguez announced their split, as they realized they are “better as friends and look forward to remaining so,” breaking off their engagement and wishing “the best for each other and each other’s children.”

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Kaia Gerber and Jacob Elordi

Kaia Gerber and Jacob Elordi sparked romance rumors in September 2020 after being photographed spending time in New York City, and while they seemed to be perfect for each other, the pair broke up after a year of dating.

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Gigi Hadid and Zayn Malik

Gigi Hadid and Zayn Malik seemed very much in love after welcoming their daughter Khai in September 2020, however the relationship came to an end after it was reported that the singer had a big disagreement with Gigi’s mom Yolanda Hadid.

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Elon Musk and Grimes

Elon Musk and Grimes seemed to be going strong since they started dating in 2018, becoming parents of their son X Æ A-Xii early last year, but with the billionaire and the singer being focused on work, the pair decided to split and co-parent their baby. “It’s mostly that my work at SpaceX and Tesla requires me to be primarily in Texas or traveling overseas and her work is primarily in LA,” Musk stated.

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Liam Payne and Maya Henry

Liam Payne and Maya Henry announced their engagement in 2020 following two years of dating, however the singer decided to call it quits, admitting he is “not been very good at relationships,” explaining he is “more disappointed in myself that I keep on hurting people.”

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Zac Efron and Vanessa Valladares

Fans of Zac Efron were excited to see the actor falling in love with 25-year-old Australian waitress Vanessa Valladares last year, living a whirlwind romance with the star, even moving together shortly after meeting. However the relationship only lasted 10 months.