What’s Monogamy? Meet The Celebrities Who Believe In Open Relationships
Monogamy isn’t for everyone, and that applies to many of our favorite celebrities. Maybe it’s the tedious filming days or maybe it’s just hard to keep your eyes on one person when you’re having on-screen relations with a co-star. Whatever the case may be, these celebrity couples have bent the rules of dating with less traditional relationship roles and goals. For some, an open relationship can keep them together as they are allowed to explore other options, but for others, it can break a relationship. Check out these celebs who have allegedly spent some time playing in open relationships.
Megan Fox & Brian Austin Green
This one is a little twisted and leads us to believe that Megan Fox definitely wore the pants in this marriage. The couple split for good in late 2019 after Fox came home from shooting overseas for 5 weeks. While they were married, sources revealed that while Green was not allowed to touch other women, Fox could touch other men.
During their marriage, the couple had also allegedly agreed on an open relationship where Fox was allowed to date other people, but Green could not. However, Fox claims she wasn’t as promiscuous as the media portrayed her.
Will Smith & Jada Pinkett Smith
Sources close to Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith claim that Will gives Jada permission to be with another man if she feels the need to, but that she has chosen not to act on it. Jada has done something similar with her hubby.
In an interview with HuffPost Live, Jada said, "I've always told Will, 'You can do whatever you want as long as you can look at yourself in the mirror and be OK.'"
Robin Thicke & Paula Patton
After having a fairly open marriage, Paula Patton called it quits with Robin Thicke. The couple was known for throwing others into their bed, but apparently, one particular invitee didn't go over so well with Patton.
Thick apparently invited a massage therapist to join the couple and things backfired. The massage therapist took a liking to Thicke when his wife wasn’t around. The couple ended up divorcing on March 20, 2015.
Jay-Z & Beyoncé
Both Beyoncé and Jay-Z have hinted at infidelity in their marriage in their music. Married since 2008, the couple has three children together but admitted they were once close to divorcing.
In 2013, rumors started circulating that Jay-Z was cheating and his album 4:44 appeared to admit to that. Beyonce's Lemonade album also included cheating. Jay-Z told BBC, "We were using our art almost like a therapy session." They remained married through it all.
Pink & Carey Hart
After splitting in 2003 and again in 2008 due to an unclear and uncomfortable open-door policy in the bedroom, Pink and husband Carey Hart seem to be giving their marriage a second chance.
This time around, the couple is keeping their relationship just between the two of them. It looks like monogamy works better for this power couple, but that doesn't mean it isn't hard work. Pink admitted to the DailyMail that keeping their marriage monogamous is hard work.
Zac Efron & Vanessa Hudgens
This couple was very different in real life than their on-screen relationship. After Efron refused to settle down until he was 40, Hudgens reportedly suggested an open relationship. This didn’t work out for the couple in the long run, and it resulted in a split.
Hudgens also even admitted that she had a hard time with the deal and was often jealous. Hudgens moved on and dated Austin Butler for several years, while Efron has been seen with Australian model Vanessa Valladares.
Larry King & Shawn Southwick
Southwick is the 7th wife of King, and due to the fact that they’ve been together for 17 years, it looks like she’s here for good. One of King’s ex-wives claims that both King and Southwick are aware of each other’s needs, but it doesn’t seem to be an issue.
After hints of affairs, King filed for divorce in August 2019, citing irreconcilable differences and telling People, "We had a big age difference and that eventually takes its toll."
Mo’nique and Sidney Hicks
While Mo’nique and Hicks have admitted to being in an open relationship, Mo’nique only has eyes for him. Hicks was caught having an affair, but this never appeared to be an issue for her.
Monogamy isn’t a deal breaker for this couple as they have been best friends for over 25 years and she admits that she will never call it quits. In fact, she shared that it was her idea to have an open relationship.
Chris Robinson & Kate Hudson
Kate Hudson rose to fame after her amazing role in 2000’s Almost Famous. She then appeared in a string of hits including How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days and Bride Wars. Her marriage to The Black Crowes lead singer Chris Robinson turned a lot of heads.
It was actually her dad, Bill, who told the media that she was interested in an open relationship and had her eyes set on other guys in Hollywood. The couple officially called it quits in 2007.
Brad Pitt & Angelina Jolie
You might think that former power couple Brangelina had a solid and monogamous marriage, but Jolie has some different views. She spoke out about fidelity in 2009 saying "I doubt that fidelity is absolutely essential for a relationship … It’s worse to leave your partner and talk badly about him afterward."
She continued, "Neither Brad nor I have ever claimed that living together means to be chained together. We make sure that we never restrict each other.” Sadly, this arrangement doesn't seem to have worked out for them, as the couple filed for divorce in 2016.
Ethan Hawke & Ryan Shawhughes
After the couple married back in 2008, Hawke made it known to Shawhughes that he couldn't guarantee that he would be faithful to her. It also raised some eyebrows that Shawhughes is the former nanny to Hawke's children with Uma Thurman.
Hawke has often referred to sexual fidelity as childish and doesn’t believe that humans were made to be monogamous. Having been married since 2008, Hawke claims that he is still 100% committed to his wife, but you never know what the future holds.
Demi Moore & Ashton Kutcher
The ex-couple was married for eight years and the entire time, the relationship was defined as an open one. Moore was comfortable with sexual freedom, but not lying and hiding relationships.
Kutcher reportedly crossed the line and had a little bit of his own fun without her. After the fact, Moore accused Kutcher of cheating for a second time in 2011 and the couple split shortly after. In December 2012, Kutcher officially filed for divorce.
Chris Martin & Gwyneth Paltrow
Chris Martin and Gwyneth Paltrow were married for ten years, but their relationship ultimately came to an end due to the choice to keep their relationship open. A source close to the couple told NYDailyNews, "It had been an open relationship for quite some time. I expected this was going to happen, it was just a matter of when."
Reportedly, Paltrow’s philosophy is that she and Martin are both adults and simply make their own choices. She also adds that it is important for every couple to take on their own challenges in the way that works best for them.
Kim Kardashian & Nick Cannon
Long ago when Kardashian and Cannon were dating, sources say the couple arranged an agreement that Kardashian could have the house of her dreams and a sugar daddy, but she had to accept his side chicks.
The other catch was that it was a one-way road and Kardashian couldn’t have any side action herself. A source told Cosmopolitan, "He told her that if she married him, he'd build her the biggest mansion in Bel Air, they'd make beautiful babies and she'd have all the money that she could ever need... But while Kim was expected to be monogamous, Nick told her he wouldn't be."
Andrei Kirilenko & Marina Lopatova
Andrei Kirilenko was drafted by the Utah Jazz in 1999 and moved to the United States in 2001. Before his move, the NBA superstar married Russian pop singer Marina Lopatova. During an interview, his wife revealed that she allowed him to sleep with one female of his choosing every year.
“What’s forbidden is always desirable. And athletes, particularly men, are susceptible to all the things they are offered,” she said. Kirilenko told reporters that while that option is available to him, he has chosen not to act on it.
Cindy Margolis & Guy Starkman
Cindy Margolis married restaurateur Guy Starkman and right from the start rumors started to swirl. Several sources claimed that the couple only married to have a child. Those rumors led to claims that they were sleeping around with other people throughout their marriage.
In 2002, they had their first child, a boy named Nicholas. In 2005, the couple welcomed twin daughters. They soon after called it quits and officially divorced in 2009.
Dolly Parton & Carl Thomas Dean
This couple’s view on open relationships sure seems to be working. The couple has been married since 1966. Parton opened up about how neither of them wants to know if they’re cheating on one another, so tagging it as an open relationship is what makes it work for them.
In her book Dolly on Dolly: Interviews and Encounters with Dolly Parton (Musicians in Their Own Words), the legendary singer opens up about their unique arrangement, writing, “We’re so totally open and free ... I always call him Daddy and he calls me Mama or Little Kid or Angel Cakes." Their arrangement hasn't always lead to happiness though, with Parton going on to reveal that she almost committed suicide after a relationship with an "unnamed lover outside her marriage" went south. Yikes!
John F. Kennedy & Jacqueline Kennedy
The open relationship of President John F. Kennedy and wife Jackie Kennedy was the worst-kept secret in Washington, D.C. Before his assassination on November 22, 1963, Kennedy was rumored to have had an affair with Hollywood star Marilyn Monroe.
Several sources claimed that Jackie was well aware of his affairs and was okay with his lifestyle. Others claim that the couple were on the verge of filing for divorce right before he was killed.
Shirley MacLaine & Steve Parker
Shirley MacLaine had an amazing career that spanned more than 60 years. Despite her massive fame, she managed to marry Steve Parker in 1954 and keep their relationship private. They divorced in 1982 after 28 years of marriage but it wasn’t until 2011 that anyone learned about their lifestyle.
While promoting her book I’m Over All That, MacLaine admitted that she shared an open relationship with her husband. Because of her busy acting schedule, the couple often found themselves apart.
Corey Feldman & Susie Sprague
Corey Feldman and Susie Sprague turned heads when they married in 2002. The couple met at a nightclub and then tied the knot on an episode of "The Surreal Life." They soon after admitted that they were both swingers and said their relationship was completely open.
Feldman reportedly hosted a bunch of orgies but didn’t talk about them openly. The couple filed for divorce in 2009, citing irreconcilable differences. It wasn't until 2014 that the divorce became final.
Hugh Grant & Elizabeth Hurley
Hugh Grant was one of the hottest bachelors in Hollywood until he tied the knot with wife and fellow British star Elizabeth Hurley in 1987. The couple divorced in 2000 after a public scandal in which Grant was caught with a lady of the night in Los Angeles.
It was revealed that Grant had been with multiple women throughout the relationship, but the last public bust pushed the envelope too far for Hurley.
Franklin D. Roosevelt & Eleanor Roosevelt
It might surprise some people to know that Former President Franklin D. Roosevelt was an even bigger player than JFK. Apparently, First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt knew of her husband's affair with Lucy Mercer.
However, they stayed together, mostly for political reasons, and so Eleanor could continue her social work on a national level. Her husband eventually passed away from Polio, but not before leading the United States through World War II.
Ludacris & Eudoxie Mbouguiengue
Chris Bridges, better known as Ludacris, is a well-known rapper and actor. He started dating Gabonese model Eudoxie Mbouguiengue in 2009 and announced in 2013 that he was having a baby with his old flame, Tamika Fuller.
Eudoxie stuck with Ludacris and soon announced that she was pregnant with their fourth child. The couple was engaged and married on the same day-- December 26, 2014, in Costa Rica. In June 2015 they welcomed a baby girl.
Robert Crumb & Aline Kominsky-Crumb
The name Robert Crumb (AKA R. Crumb) might not be well-known to all of our readers but you have likely heard of the comic’s genius work with such series as Zap Comix and Fritz the Cat. Crumb was married to Dana Morgan from 1964 to 1978 and then married fellow cartoonist Aline Kominsky almost immediately after his divorce. The Crumbs often talk about their open marriage which they say stems from their love of the hippie movement.
Robert travels to Oregon once a year to spend time with his girlfriend. Aline has enjoyed a longtime fling with Christian Coudures. Robert even jokes about his wife’s lover, “Between Christian and I, we kind of make an ideal husband…but if she ever started making comparisons about our lovemaking technique, I might get jealous.”
Tori Spelling & Dean McDermott
Former Beverly Hills, 90210 star Tori Spelling divorced husband Charlie Shanian in 2006 and married Dean McDermott immediately afterward. People close to the couple say they were in an open relationship in their early days together but slowed down their beliefs after having four children together.
Despite some cheating by McDermott, the couple has stayed together. According to Inquisitr, McDermott says it's difficult for him to remain monogamous because it feels unnatural to him.
Henry Kissinger & Nancy Maginnes
Henry Kissinger was a polarizing figure in US history. In 1938 he escaped Nazi persecution and dreamed of becoming an influential character in US politics. In 1969 he was appointed National Security Advisor. He would go on to serve in positions under both Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford.
He was first married to Ann Fleischer from 1949 to 1969, and then remarried in 1974 to Nancy Maginnes. At 92 years old he started opening up about his swinger lifestyle. There are published books that showcase his promiscuous past.
David Boreanaz & Jaime Bergman
David Boreanaz has been a mainstay on our TV screens since the late 1990s when he appeared on "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" and "Angel." He went on to star as Seeley Booth on the hit show "Bones." Boreanaz was first married to Ingrid Quinn from 1997 to 1999, and then to Playboy Playmate of the Month Jaime Bergman starting in November 2001.
Boreanaz was caught texting his mistress in 2009. His wife demanded a large sum of money to keep the affair quiet. Boreanaz admitted to the affair with Rachel Uchitel, the same girl who helped break up Tiger Woods’ marriage. This was while Bergman was pregnant.
Jude Law & Sadie Frost
Jude Law is a star of screen and stage. He has been nominated for two Academy Awards, three Golden Globes, and two Tony Awards, among many other nods. Law first met Sadie Frost on the set of the film Shopping and they married in 1997. The couple had three children together before Law fell in love with Sienna Miller on the set of Alfie, and divorced in 2003.
Then, Law was caught in bed with his children’s nanny, leading to Miller calling off the engagement. Since then, Law went on to have three more children with three different women.
Snoop Dogg & Shante Taylor
Snoop Dogg didn’t forget where he came from after selling more than 35 million albums worldwide. He married his high school sweetheart, Shante Taylor, in 1997, but then divorced in 2004 for unknown reasons. They eventually hooked back up and remarried in 2008 and have been together ever since.
Many people thought Taylor called it quits because of his promiscuous lifestyle, however, she knew about his choices and ultimately decided love could win.
Wendy Williams & Kevin Hunter
Wendy Williams was a “shock jock” before she made her way to TV. She shocked viewers with her honest and sometimes R-rated comments. In 2008 she became the host of "The Wendy Williams Show" and her star has only risen further since that time. Williams married husband Kevin Hunter way back in 1997 and he even served as her agent.
Hunter was accused of cheating on Williams back in 2013, but she didn’t seem to care, eventually telling reporters, “I don’t regret it. I do think it’s a double standard with cheating.” The couple officially divorced in April 2019.
Gwen Stefani & Gavin Rossdale
The open relationship between Gavin Rossdale and Gwen Stefani lasted for 13 years. Reports have suggested that she was more than happy to accommodate her husband’s lifestyle choices because he was so damn hot. The couple still spends time together with the kids.
Stefani became engaged to country superstar Blake Shelton in late October 2020, who was formerly with Miranda Lambert. They both divorced their respective spouses, and then soon after announced that they were dating after meeting on the set of the hugely popular show "The Voice."
Gabrielle Union & Dwyane Wade
Gabrielle Union and Dwyane Wade are a power couple in Hollywood and the NBA. They began dating in 2008, but their relationship ended under some suspicious and strange circumstances. Union said Wade was monogamous but then he ended their relationship after he got another woman pregnant in 2013.
The couple married in 2014 and welcomed a daughter in 2019. Wade also has three children from other relationships and is the guardian of his nephew.
Chris Brown & Karrueche Tran
Chris Brown sleeping around? Who would have guessed? Sarcasm aside, his girlfriend Karrueche Tran allegedly put up with his cheating in order to keep him in her life. What we know for certain is that there has been some type of weird love triangle going on between Brown, Tran, and Rihanna for some time now.
Given his past, we’re a bit surprised that any group of women would be fighting over this abusive singer. He hasn’t really opened up about his relationship status so we can’t confirm all of the numerous rumors.
Hugh Hefner & Crystal Harris
This doesn’t come as a shock due to the fact that he has publicly flaunted his polyamorous relationships on the reality show "The Girls Next Door." After breaking it off with his three main squeezes on the show, Hefner married Crystal Harris.
While their relationship was pretty low-key, it’s safe to assume that the 89-year old hadn’t changed his ways when it comes to inviting more than one beautiful blonde into the bedroom. Hugh Hefner passed away on September 27, 2017, at the age of 91.
Rita Wilson and Tom Hanks
Rita Wilson released a video for her song, “Forgiving Me, Forgiving You” that led listeners to wonder whether she and husband, actor Tom Hanks, cheated on each other during their 28 years and counting together. In similar fashion to Mr. and Mrs. Smith co-stars Angelina Jolie and Brat Pitt getting together, Hanks was married at the time he met his future wife, Wilson, on the set of the 1985 film Volunteers.
“Well, yeah, I did happen to be married at the time," Hanks admitted. "And there’s nothing to celebrate about that.” The lyrics in Wilson's new song describe her real-life relationship problems and hint at infidelity. It also tells a story of a couple who decides to stick together, through it all.
Margaret Cho and Al Ridenour
Although comedian Margaret Cho and her artist husband Al Ridenour divorced in 2014, they were married for 11 years prior to the split. During their marriage, Cho was quite candid about the fact that she and Ridenour engaged in numerous affairs with other people.
Cho opened up to The Huffington Post in 2013. She said that there had been several times when she would return home and find her husband entertaining another woman. Cho explained, “We have a really big house. It’s kind of like if we wanna have that, it’s like, ‘You can stay on your side or I’ll stay on my side.’ When I see her, I’ll make her dinner. ... Oh yeah. I’ve definitely been in the house.” Good to have a sense of humor!
Jane Fonda and Roger Vadim
People still enjoy gossiping about the love life that Jane Fonda and Roger Vadim shared together. Fonda, an American actress, married the French film director Vadim in 1965. He was known for having had a series of beautiful lovers, both prior to and during his marriage to Fonda, and has been publicly linked to Brigitte Bardot and Catherine Deneuve, among others.
The Daily Mail has repeatedly reported that Fonda and Vadim engaged in frequent threesomes and foursomes. If that’s not an open marriage, then we’re not sure what is!
Ossie Davis and Ruby Dee
When actor Ossie Davis married Ruby Dee in 1948, they decided that they’d have an open marriage. Together, they wrote an autobiography in which they stated "It occurred to us, from observation and reasoning, that extramarital [...] was not what really destroyed marriages, but rather the lies and deception that invariably accompanied it–that was the culprit.
So we decided to give ourselves permission to sleep with other partners if we wished–as long as what we did was honest as well as private...." The arrangement must not have been ideal because they later changed their minds and decided to be monogamous to each other.
Marlene Dietrich and Rudolf Sieber
The iconic German actress Marlene Dietrich married her assistant director Rudolf Sieber when she was only 21 years old. Although the two had a daughter together, Dietrich engaged in many torrid affairs during the marriage, with both men and women. Sieber frequently joined in, so presumably did not mind her “swinging” lifestyle.
Some of Dietrich’s most famous bedroom conquests are said to have included Frank Sinatra, Greta Garbo, John Wayne, Kirk Douglas, Joseph Kennedy, and Edith Piaf. Dietrich remained married to Sieber until his death.
Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell
Like mother, like daughter! Actress Goldie Hawn is Kate Hudson’s mom. She’s allegedly been in an open relationship with her long-term partner, fellow actor Kurt Russell. The two have been together for 34+ years! In a 2017 People interview, the blonde beauty said that staying monogamous is a "tough order”. She continued, "You're in the prime of your life, you are attracted to other people, potentially, you have fantasies about that”.
Hawn believes that honesty and communication are key. Various other sources have claimed for years that the couple maintains an open relationship. It certainly seems to be working for them.
Emma Thompson & Greg Wise
The British actress Emma Thompson and her writer husband Greg Wise have been married since 2003, and seem to have an idyllic relationship. She's made some comments in interviews that, while not proving that the couple is in an open relationship, also suggests that she wouldn't necessarily be opposed to one either.
She once said to the Daily Mail, “I think that we’re locked into certain ideas, and certain romantic ideals that have shaped our thinking about relationships for some time. And I do sometimes wonder about whether there are alternatives, and about whether our fury and rage and disbelief and horror about infidelity is quite realistic.”
