Celeb divorces: Kim Kardashian, Kanye West become the latest to split

Kim Kardashian and Kanye West are the highest-profile additions to a Hollywood club which is not very exclusive — the celebrity divorce club.

It’s the one exclusive club Kim Kardashian doesn’t want membership of, but as the reality star files for divorce from Kanye West, the unfolding US$2.1 billion divorce gives them instant access to the newest celebrity bust-up club, whether they like it or not. Fellow members include everyone from Armie Hammer to Ioan Gruffudd and Simon Baker, who have all called it quits in recent times, with varying degrees of drama.

It is reported that Kim is “deeply disappointed” her almost seven-year marriage to Kanye has failed, but the pair will try to make the separation as amicable as possible. They are not contesting their pre-nup, will keep control of their respective brand empires and share custody of their four children.

Kim Kardashian and Kanye West are becoming members of the divorce club. Picture: Jamie McCarthy/Getty

The couple have been married for six years and share three children together. Picture: John Lamparski/Getty

It hardly seems worth quibbling over who gets to take the toaster. But just in case, Kim has hired Laura Wasser, who represented her during her divorce from second-husband Kris Humphries and was Johnny Depp’s divorce lawyer. She might want to scrub that off LinkedIn.

A least third time round, Kim knows exactly how it works. We take a look at some of the latest and messiest celebrity divorces:

SAM AND PHOEBE BURGESS

Sam and Phoebe Burgess’ ugly split continues to get worse. The pair married in 2015 in a lavish ceremony, but broke up in 2018 after the birth of their second child Billy. They reunited, separating again in 2019 and divorcing last year.

However, the pair’s troubles were far from over. Earlier this month, Sam was found guilty of intimidating his former father-in-law outside the Hooke family home and sentenced to a two-year community corrections order and two-year apprehended violence order.

This week, Sam allegedly tested positive to cocaine and driving offences on the way to collect his two children from the Southern Highlands.

Sam Burgess and ex-wife Phoebe Burgess have had an ugly divorce. Picture: Ryan Pierse/Getty Images

Actors Armie Hammer and Elizabeth Chambers announced they are getting a divorce after 10 years of marriage. Picture: Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images

ARMIE HAMMER AND ELIZABETH CHAMBERS

It was a shock when Rebecca’s Armie Hammer announced his divorce from wife of 10 years Elizabeth Chambers in July.

“A separation like this is a seriously seismic event in someone’s life,” he told GQ, but even he didn’t realise the earthquake that was coming, when a storm of women alleged Armie was controlling and emotionally abusive and had cannibalism fantasies.

Elizabeth posted on Instagram: “I am shocked, heartbroken, and devastated … I didn’t realise how much I didn’t know.”

Neither did we, Liz.

IOAN GRUFFUDD AND ALICE EVANS

They had been together for 20 years and married for 13, but it was all over in the most dramatic of styles in January when Hornblower’s Ioan blew up his marriage.

Ioan Gruffudd and wife Alice Evans have split. Picture: Instagram

“Sad news. My beloved husband/soulmate of 20 years, Ioan Gruffudd, has announced he is to leave his family, starting next week,” Alice posted on Twitter.

“Me and our young daughters girls (sic) are very confused and sad. We haven’t been given a reason except that he ‘no longer loves me. I’m so sorry’.”

She then stated Harrow actor Ioan had deleted the tweet from her account, writing, “And hell yes when I am being gaslit and mentally tortured I will wash my linen in public.”

JOHNNY DEPP AND AMBER HEARD

But let’s hope it’s not as messy as Johnny Depp and Amber Heard’s divorce, from which the fall-out continues.

The pair married in 2015 but a year later Amber filed for divorce citing domestic abuse. Johnny denied it and the pair released a joint statement saying: “Our relationship was intensely passionate and at times volatile, but … there was never any intent of physical or emotional harm.”

Johnny Depp with his former wife Amber Heard. Picture: Michael Kovac/Getty Images

But when in 2018 Amber repeated she was a victim of domestic violence in the Washington Post, Johnny sued for defamation saying she was the perpetrator, not victim. But it was his libel case against The UK’s The Sun, for calling him a “wife beater” that laid bare the true horror of their relationship.

After a lurid trial before Christmas, Johnny lost and subsequently withdrew from Fantastic Beasts.

He is appealing the UK case and preparing for the US case.

“I intend to prove that the allegations against me are false,” he said.

“My life and career will not be defined by this moment in time.”

SIMON BAKER AND REBECCA RIGG

Let’s hope The Mentalist Simon Baker knows what he’s doing, with the announcement last month that he and Rebecca Rigg are divorcing after 29 years together.

The pair, who were once voted Sydney’s Sexiest Couple in this newspaper, separated in April, but have said their children will continue to be their main focus.

“We remain close friends and our three children will always be the most important focus of our lives,” they said in a statement.

Simon Baker and Rebecca Rigg in happier times. Picture: Richard Dobson

Phil Collins and Orianne Cevey on their wedding day in 1999.

PHIL COLLINS AND ORIANNE CEVEY

When the Genesis star reunited with his ex-wife Orianne it looked like love prevailed Against All Odds.

Phil and Orianne first married in 1999 and divorced in 2008, with Orianne receiving a $44 million divorce settlement. In 2016 the pair gave it another go and she moved in to his Miami mansion.

However, by last year it was over again and just to make sure he got the memo, she married Thomas Bates in August and moved him into the house too.

When Phil got a court order to evict them, Orianne alleged he “did not shower or brush his teeth from 2019 until August 2020” and his “stench became so pervasive that he became a hermit”.

Something in the Air, indeed.

AND ONE NEAR MISS...

DOMINIC WEST AND CATHERINE FITZGERALD

Special mention goes to The Affair’s Dominic West who took his job title literally when he was snapped smooching The Pursuit Of Love co-star Lily James in Rome last October.

He then fronted up outside his house in the UK, with understanding wife Catherine FitzGerald.

They’re still an item — she told this month’s Tatler that she is “working on” persuading Dominic to decamp permanently to her Irish ancestral home Glin Castle, in County Limerick.

Maybe it comes with a dungeon.