Hugh Jackman and Deborra-Lee Furness’ close family determined to find ‘best possible’ way to mend rift

Hugh Jackman’s best friend has hinted that there’s chaos behind the scenes following Deborra-Lee’s bombshell statement.

Australian radio presenter Gus Worland, who’s been best friends with Hugh Jackman for the majority of their lives, has broken his silence over the bitter row between the actor and his ex-wife, Deborra-Lee Furness.

Worland, who went to the same primary school as Jackman, has shared an insight into how Jackman and Furness are dealing with the unexpectedly messy fallout of their split in recent days since Furness released a bombshell statement.

“No one wants anyone to go through what he is, and he is going through it publicly because of his fame,” Worland said during an interview on 2GB’s Ben Fordham Live on Thursday.

Gus Worland and Hugh Jackman have been close for years. Picture: Foxtel.

“One thing I have been really strict on is to let Hugh and Deborra-Lee do what they have had to do. I was over in New York with him last month and he is fine. He is going along well.”

Worland went on to add that Jackman is busy enjoying his new life with girlfriend Sutton Foster, whom he met while still married to Furness.

“He is moving on with his life. I hope Deb does as well. They were together for 30 years and have two beautiful kids together,” he said. “I go to their kids and ask them what we can do to make sure they get through this as best as possible.”

Jackman and Furness had both maintained a dignified silence about their split, since announcing in September 2023 they’d gone their separate ways after 27 years of marriage.

But that all changed with Furness’ blistering public statement this week, issued to tabloid outlet Daily Mail. In it, Furness, 69, speaks of experiencing a “traumatic journey of betrayal” that “cut deep”.

Hugh Jackman and Deborra-Lee Furness are battling out their split publicly. Picture: Instagram.

She said the “breakdown” of the couple’s marriage had been “a profound wound”, but also suggested she was better off single.

“It can hurt, but in the long run, returning to yourself and living within your own integrity, values and boundaries is liberation and freedom,” she said.

It’s a marked contrast to the former couple’s joint statement announcing the split, which couched the reality of their separation in therapy-speak about “navigating this transition” with “gratitude, love and kindness”.

Reports of Jackman’s new romance with Sutton Foster, 50, first surfaced in late 2024.

Foster and Jackman then took their romance public in January this year when they were spotted holding hands in Santa Monica, California.

That same month, photos surfaced of the lovebirds making out in an In-N-Out drive-thru while in San Fernando, California.

Originally published as Hugh Jackman and Deborra-Lee Furness’ close family determined to find ‘best possible’ way to mend rift