Celebrity relationships which failed and sailed amid 2021’s Covid challenges

The year’s highs and pandemic lows tested Australia’s A-listers. Here’s how the relationships of the rich and famous fared in 2021.

While some celebrities hooked up or found love, others called time on their whirlwind romances.

From Rita Ora’s shocking three-way kiss with Tessa Thompson and Taika Waititi to Zac Efron’s split with Vanessa Valladares, here are the celebrity romances which either flourished or ended in 2021.

REBEL WILSON AND JACOB BUSCH

Hollywood actor Rebel Wilson began dating boyfriend Jacob Busch late last year but by February it was all over.

A gala in Monaco was Wilson and Busch’s first public appearance as a couple. Picture: Getty Images

The Bridesmaids actor, 41, went public with Busch, 31, who is an heir to the Anheuser-Busch brewing dynasty, in September while attending a gala in Monaco.

They enjoyed a series of lavish trips together, including skiing in Aspen and a jaunt in Mexico, in the months leading up to their split, but eventually the romance fizzled out.

Wilson announced she was single in an Instagram post, while making her way to the Super Bowl.

“Lots on my mind … aghhhhhh …#single-girl-heading-to-Super-Bowl!” she wrote.

RITA ORA AND TAIKA WAITITI

British pop star Rita Ora and Thor director Taika Waititi found love in Sydney earlier this year while working on separate projects.

Rita Ora hosted a star-studded bash for boyfriend Taika Waititi in Los Angeles. Picture: Instagram

The pair began secretly dating in March while Ora, 31, was filming The Voice and Waititi, 46, was working on Thor: Love and Thunder.

In May, they made headlines when photos of Ora kissing the Academy award-winning director along with Hollywood actor Tessa Thompson went viral.

The trio looked worse for wear after “an all-night party at Waititi’s mansion” as they canoodled on a balcony in broad daylight.

“I think in the world of the internet, everything goes away pretty quick,” Waititi said of the racy snaps. “And also, ‘Is it that big a deal?’ No, not really. I was doing nothing wrong. It’s fine.”

Nine months on, Ora and father-of-two Waititi are said to be growing serious.

KEIRA MAGUIRE AND MATT ZUKOWSKI

Former Bachelor contestant Keira Maguire also endured a break-up after parting ways with Love Island’s Matt Zukowski.

Lockdowns took a toll on the unlucky-in-love reality TV stars’ budding relationship. Picture: Instagram

“We have a nine year age gap so there’s other things that we’re trying to figure out before we even get to that point (marriage). So definitely not sure at this stage if he’s the one,” she said before their split.

Maguire, 34, moved to Melbourne from Sydney last year following her 2018 split with Bachelorette runner-up Jarrod Woodgate from Sophie Monk’s season.

She met Zukowski, 25, at a nightclub and while there was an instant connection, they struggled to make the relationship work during Melbourne’s extended lockdown.

FRANCESCA PACKER AND ADAM COOPER

Billionaire heiress Francesca Packer is understood to have split with personal trainer Adam Cooper after a whirlwind romance.

Francesca Packer has split with Adam Cooper. Picture: Instagram

ABBIE CHATFIELD AND KONRAD

The forbidden romance between TV host Abbie Chatfield and reality TV contestant Konrad Bien-Stephens ruffled feathers after their accidental relationship debut almost ruined The Bachelorette.

In November, photos of Chatfield kissing the tattooed tradesman at the Beach Hotel in Byron Bay were made public, before he had been eliminated from the dating show.

To make matters worse, Chatfield, 26, appeared as bachelorette Brooke Blurton’s “best friend” during the finale episode and Blurton later accused the couple of ruining her season.

While Chatfield’s friendship with Blurton ended as a result, her romance with Bien-Stephens, 31, is still going strong and she wants to marry him.

“I’ve never really had anything like this before,” Chatfield said. “I’ve dated a lot of people in the last two years and he’s the first person that I’ve felt this with, which is really nice.

Abbie Chatfield confirmed she was dating Konrad Bien-Stephens shortly after the Bachelorette contestant was eliminated. Picture: Instagram

Hugh Sheridan and partner Kurt Roberts recently broke off their engagement and called the relationship quits. Picture: Mark Brake

HUGH SHERIDAN AND KURT ROBERTS

Non-binary actor Hugh Sheridan announced their whirlwind engagement to influencer Kurt Roberts in March, after just four months of dating.

The Packed to the Rafters star dropped down to one knee during their stage show at the Adelaide Film Festival however eight months later it was over.

The pair called off the engagement last month and Sheridan, 36, said the pandemic may have been a factor in their decision split.

“In retrospect, having a first public relationship, that public, that fast, might’ve been too much pressure on us,” Sheridan wrote on Instagram.

“Maybe it was Covid or quarantines or us working too hard (I take the blame for full responsibility for the working hours), maybe it’s dad’s death or all the above.”

JODI GORDON AND SEBASTIAN BLACKLER

Former Neighbours star Jodi Gordon, 36, ended her relationship with Sydney portfolio manager Sebastian Blackler, 30, earlier this year after the brief romance “fizzled out”, months after an apprehended violence order (AVO) incident.

Jodi Gordon and Sebastian Blackler parted ways a few short but dramatic months after their relationship began. Picture: Instagram

The Logie award-winning actor first went public with the investment manager in November last year.

However, things took a dramatic turn one week later when police were called to Gordon’s Double Bay home and took out an AVO against British-born Blackler on Gordon’s behalf.

Gordon later began dating Sydney businessman Aidan Walsh, however they appear to have since split.

ZAC EFRON AND VANESSA VALLADARES

Hollywood actor Zac Efron and model Vanessa Valladares began dating last year after he moved Down Under for a change of scenery.

However, their relationship hit a rough patch 10 months later and in April they called it quits.

Efron’s coffee shop meet cute with Valladares seemed like a story plucked straight from a Hollywood script.

Despite their relationship coming to an end, the pair have reportedly remained friends. Picture: Instagram

The couple first went public with their romance in September last year, with Efron, 34, having met Valladares, 27, while she was working as a waitress at Byron Bay General Store cafe months prior.

Valladares is said to have quit her job and moved into Efron’s bachelor pad at Belongil Beach shortly after they began dating.

They were often spotted together around Byron Bay, and enjoyed romantic trips to Thredbo ski resort, Melbourne and Sydney.

The Baywatch actor reportedly told friends that while there was “no drama”, they were better off as friends.