20 Celebrities Who Regret Getting Divorced

20 Celebrities Who Regret Getting Divorced

Welcome to MsMojo, and today we’re looking at the celebs who either regret ending their unions or the manner in which their marriages fell apart.

Elvis Presley

At his peak, the King of Rock and Roll’s personal life was arguably bigger than his career. Relentless pressures of fame and tabloid attention permanently wounded his marriage to Priscilla Presley, but it seems the performer never truly let her go. According to Joe Moscheo of the Imperials, the divorce “was a blow from which [Elvis] never recovered.” In an interview with “Today,” Priscilla clarified that, while she and Elvis never had any bitterness toward one another, there were “hopes and dreams” that they might get back together. In her memoir, “Softly, As I Leave You,” she recounted meeting Elvis the Christmas after their divorce, where he confessed that a reconciliation might happen “someday, maybe someday.”

Pamela Anderson

In a whirlwind marriage to beat all others, Anderson wed Tommy Lee just four days after they first met. The marriage was riddled with issues, from domestic violence to a highly controversial tape, before a divorce three years later. But writing in her memoir, “Love, Pamela,” the “Baywatch” star claimed she was “forever grateful” for Lee as the father of her children. The actress further stated that the Mötley Crüe drummer was the only person she was “ever truly in love” with. Looking back at their marriage, Anderson stood by at their belief to “have babies and be together forever,” even if it ultimately didn’t last. Describing feeling “crushed” by the divorce, she called it “the hardest, lowest, most difficult point” of her life.

Tiger Woods

His 2009 infidelity scandal nearly destroyed both his career and public image. But while Woods has recovered since then, he remains disappointed in himself over how his infidelity affected then-wife Elin Nordegren. In his book, “Unprecedented, The Masters and Me,” the golfer admitted he “betrayed” Nordegrem, writing that his “regret will last a lifetime.” Despite attempting to repair their marriage, Woods admitted his “dishonesty and selfishness” had “caused [Elin] intense pain.” While Nordegren maintains she doesn’t regret leaving the marriage, Woods still has “huge regrets” over the fallout from the scandal. The athlete has since moved on – including relationships with Olympic gold medalist Lindsey Vonn and Vanessa Trump – but the divorce remains one of his most challenging times.

Nick Cannon

Welcoming multiple children in a short span has kept Cannon’s name frequently in the news. But according to the entertainer himself, this came from a place of “trauma.” In an interview with “The Breakfast Club,” Cannon attributed it to the fallout from his divorce from Mariah Carey. According to him, “it all started from a place of pain and not really healing properly.” The pair were married for six years before announcing their separation and divorcing two years later. In a 2024 interview with “E! News,” Cannon even went so far as to suggest he would “absolutely” get back together with Carey if she wanted to, claiming they still “belong together.”

Kelsey Grammer

Rather than regretting leaving his marriage with third wife Camille, Kelsey Grammer regrets the manner in which they were divorced. Although acknowledging their marriage as “difficult” and unhappy, Grammer confessed to mishandling the way he ended the relationship. In an interview with Anderson Cooper, the “Frasier” star lamented his failure to inform Camille of his relationship with Kayte Walsh while they were still married. According to Kelsey, keeping it hidden from Camille was the “wrong decision,” leading to their painful breakup in the public eye. While admitting the divorce was among the “ton of things” he regrets, Grammer also maintained he couldn’t “spend [his] life apologizing” for his mistake.

Larsa Pippen

Ending a marriage that lasted over two decades usually brings some measure of regret. In Larsa Pippen’s case, it wasn’t the end of the romance, but the impact the divorce had on the children she shared with Scottie Pippen. In a 2022 interview with “Us Weekly,” Larsa admitted feeling “guilty” about their kids growing up without having their parents together. The reality TV star had always envisioned providing the same kind of home life she had as a child, which added a bitter edge to her divorce. Despite the painful breakup – which she called the “longest divorce ever” – Larsa feels both she and Scottie ultimately came out of it in a “great place.”

Vicki Gunvalson

This reality TV personality ended her 16-year-long marriage to Donn Gunvalson to pursue a relationship with Brooks Ayers. Years later, Vicki looked back at her infidelity with great remorse. Speaking at 2022’s “BravoCon,” Gunvalson called the divorce “the biggest regret [she] ever had,” adding that her unfaithfulness “destroyed [her] family.” “The Real Housewives” star echoed her statements in a 2025 interview on “The Ex-Files podcast,” saying she “wish[ed] more people would have shaken me up a little bit more to stay in the marriage.” While Donn has largely stepped out of the spotlight, Vicki has remained candid about the mistakes she made and continues to speak warmly of her ex-husband years after the divorce.

Samantha Lee

Tyrese Gibson’s marriage to Samantha Lee lasted only three years before the pair announced their separation. Speaking on the “Hardly Initiated” podcast, Lee revealed that the divorce was her choice. However, she expressed significant regret at her decision, saying, “I think we do take divorce very casually. I would never tell a woman to walk through that in the same frame as I was when I did it.” Lee reiterated her regret in the same interview, claiming her emotions got the best of her, and being on call with her attorney may have negatively influenced her decision. Gibson had no sympathies to offer in a scathing Instagram post, calling Lee “heartless” and “clout chasing” in an attempt to gain followers on social media.

Kanye West

His romance with Kim Kardashian ended just as publicly as it started. After years of divorce rumors, the pair finally confirmed their separation after seven years of marriage. However, Ye wasn’t going down quietly, openly calling for a reconciliation and even referring to Kardashian as his “wife” long after the split. The rapper would then begin a widely-followed feud with Kardashian’s then-boyfriend Pete Davidson, claiming he “wanted his family back.” In a 2022 poem posted online, Ye compared the divorce to the feeling of being “set on fire” and his “teeth being pulled with pliers.” He would also continue to criticize the breakup while airing out frustrations over losing daily contact with his children.

Elizabeth Taylor & Richard Burton

A romance so passionate, they married twice. “Liz and Dick” have remained pop culture gossip for more than half a century, with fans across generations following the timeline of their relationship. It only took 16 months after their first divorce for the pair to reunite and marry again. However, their second union would end less than nine months later. In an interview with “Vogue” after Burton’s death, Taylor professed her feelings for him, saying, “I was still madly in love with him the day he died. I think he still loved me, too.” The actress minced no words when comparing Burton to her later romances, either, saying, “after Richard, the men in my life were just there to hold the coat, to open the door.”

Jennifer Aniston

During the aughts, you’d have to be living under a rock to miss the “Brad and Jen” media frenzy. With “Brangelina” taking over headlines, the world watched Aniston’s marriage crumble in the tabloids. Even two decades later, fans still wonder what happened. In a 2005 interview with “Vanity Fair,” Aniston offered a peek behind the curtain, admitting, “There’s a lot I would probably do differently.” She elaborated that taking time off their careers to be together may have strengthened their relationship. Brad Pitt reportedly carries some measure of regret as well. According to “Us Weekly,” the actor wishes “he’d handled the end of their marriage in a more thoughtful manner.”

Robin Thicke

Just as Thicke’s career skyrocketed with the smash hit “Blurred Lines,” his marriage to Paula Patton hit rock bottom. To his credit, the singer took most of the blame, making a series of grand overtures to win her back. In addition to naming his next album after her and recording a heartfelt ballad, he even asked fans to ask Patton to give him another chance. Unfortunately, none of his grand gestures worked, and the pair filed for divorce in 2014. In an interview with “People Magazine,” Thicke admitted, “It was a melting pot of trouble brewing, and I was so arrogant that I thought I could handle it all.”

Bill Gates

For decades, Bill and Melinda Gates’ marriage seemed built to last, which made their divorce all the more shocking. Their split was met with widespread public interest, as private details of their union spilled out. Just when the buzz had since simmered down, Bill made headlines again in January 2025. In an interview with “The Times of London,” he reflected on the “miserable” divorce, calling it “the mistake I regret the most.” His choice of words wasn’t the most careful, with some misinterpreting it as regret over the marriage itself. Gates clarified on NBC’s “Today” show, saying that “even if I knew that it wouldn't last forever, I would still do it again.”

Courteney Cox

Much like their “Scream” characters, Courteney Cox and David Arquette’s chemistry was undeniable. Tying the knot in 1999, the couple stayed together for over a decade before their 2010 separation, officially divorcing three years later. According to Cox, the breakup of their relationship wasn’t due to a lack of effort. In an interview with “More” magazine, the actress explained, “In divorce you always have regret. We were married for a long time, so it's not like we didn't try.” Although details behind their split remain private, Cox and Arquette have maintained a healthy friendship, with the actress calling Arquette her “very best friend.”

Shaquille O’Neal

By his own admission, the former basketball superstar “had it all” in his marriage with Shaunie Nelson. The pair, married from 2002 to 2011, faced numerous ups and downs before calling it quits. In his 2011 autobiography, “Shaq Uncut: My Story,” O’Neal takes full blame for their marital woes, admitting to his infidelity. Years later, speaking on “The Pivot Podcast,” the athlete called himself “greedy”, claiming “It was all me” during their marriage. Admitting he didn’t fully value family life when he had it, O’Neal has expressed regret at letting it all slip away. While owning up to his mistakes on “The Big Podcast,” he called his time with Shaunie and his children “the happiest days of my life.”

Gavin Rossdale

The Bush frontman and “Hollaback Girl” singer kept their marriage intact for over a decade before announcing their separation in 2015. In her divorce filing, Stefani cited Rossdale’s alleged affair with their children’s nanny as a key factor. Things took a bitter turn before their divorce was finalized the following year. Speaking on the “Amy & T.J. podcast,” Rossdale called their separation the “simple shame in my life.” He also described the effect it had on their children as “debilitating,” regretting the impact the split had on them. To avoid repeating past mistakes, the singer takes extra care not to speak negatively about his ex, hoping to protect their children from further disappointment.

Ryan Phillippe

Among the hottest young couples of their time, Ryan Phillippe and Reese Witherspoon’s relationship dominated tabloids, convincing many that they were in it for the long haul. But it wasn’t to be. In 2006, the “Cruel Intentions” co-stars announced their separation, initiating divorce proceedings that lasted for the next two years. In an interview with “W” magazine, Phillippe looked back at this period with mixed feelings, referring to it as “the worst time in my life.” The actor recalled isolating himself in his house for days to avoid paparazzi, calling it a “disturbing environment” for his then-8-year-old daughter. While he has since moved past it, the media spotlight hovering over his and Witherspoon’s separation left a lasting mark.

Kris Jenner

Though she’s now mainly known as Kris Jenner, there was a time when she was Kris Kardashian. Her marriage to Robert Kardashian, which lasted from 1978 to 1991, was complicated by her affair with Todd Waterman. In an episode of “The Kardashians,” Kris opened up about her past indiscretion. Ashamed of the mistakes made in her youth, the socialite remembered her former husband fondly, calling him a “great husband” and “great dad.” The pair mended their friendship before his death in 2003. Still, Kris has taken responsibility for her actions, considering the infidelity that ended her marriage as her “life’s biggest regret.”

Will Smith

Before his name was forever entangled with Jada Pinkett, Will Smith was first married to Sheree Zampino. The marriage lasted three years, during which Zampino gave birth to Smith’s first son, Trey. Although Will moved on with Jada, the breakdown of his first marriage continues to haunt him. In an episode of Pinkett Smith’s “Red Table Talk” series, the actor revealed that “divorce was the ultimate failure for me.” Separating from the mother of his then 2-year-old child hit him hard, and Smith still considers it the “worst thing in my adult life.” To add insult to injury, Zampino filed for divorce on Valentine’s Day.

Ben Affleck

From the aughts to the mid-2010s, Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner were among Hollywood’s iconic “It” couples. For a decade, their marriage was seen as a benchmark for success, until the pair announced their separation in 2015. Affleck’s life took a steep downturn soon after, with his troubles frequently highlighted in the press. Years later, the actor opened up about his past struggles, which stemmed from his alcohol use disorder. Speaking to “The New York Times,” Affleck viewed the end of his marriage with Garner as “The biggest regret of my life,” adding that “Shame is really toxic.” He echoed these statements in another interview with “The Sydney Morning Herald,” labeling the divorce as a “very painful experience.”

Can you think of any other celebs who wished they hadn’t signed their divorce papers? Let us know in the comments.