Is Venus Retrograde Causing All These Celebrity Breakups?

Pop Crave. Deuxmoi. TMZ. Whatever your favorite source of hot gossip and cultural news, you’ve probably noticed every couple in Hollywood is breaking up.

It’s been a nasty few weeks as far as celebrity relationships go. And astrologers are taking to social media to warn people about the real reason behind the summer of breakups: Venus retrograde in Leo. Venus retrograde is a time to reassess what you value and reimagine how you view romance in your life. And because Venus is taking its cosmic backspin in the zodiac sign that rules fame, celebrity, and status, there’s a lot of heat on anyone whose love life is in the public eye.

This year, Venus is retrograde from July 22 to September 3, 2023, and we've already seen plenty of high-profile relationships ending. From Taylor Swift and Joe Alwyn (who, like the trendsetter she is, ended things before Venus retrograde) to supermodel Bella Hadid breaking things off with art director boyfriend Marc Kalman to Ariana Grande telling someone to break up with his wife because she was bored with her own marriage, celebrity relationships are the only thing anyone can think about.

Is Venus retrograde the only reason these celebrities are calling it quits? Probably not. But it does bring back old relationship issues or new challenges that put pressure on couples. These make-or-break moments can either help you come out the other side stronger together or will break you apart for good. Whether it be sudden breakups, broken engagements, or cheating scandals, the astrology is seriously spicy this summer. And we've decided to keep a running list of every star that's been affected by the stars.

Here's a look at every celebrity break-up, divorce, and cheating scandal that has happened this Venus retrograde. 

What is Venus Retrograde?

Venus retrograde is more than a cosmic boogeyman. It’s an astrological phenomenon and cosmic illusion that occurs when the planet of love and romance appears to reverse direction and retrace its steps across the night sky. During a retrograde period, the stars want you to slow down and review how you arrived at your destination. Venus entered her pre-retrograde shadow on June 19, 2023, before stationing retrograde in Leo on July 22, 2023, where she will remain until stationing direct on September 3, 2023.

Astrologers believe retrogrades hold a significant correlation to events on Earth. When a planet is retrograde, it gives you an opportunity to take care of your unfinished business and tie up loose ends surrounding the themes of that planet. Venus is associated with love, relationships, sex, marriage, money, and passion, which means you’re being directed to seriously pause and consider what you want out of your relationships. It's time to ask yourself if you’re happy with your current situation and make some difficult decisions if you’re not where you want to be.

RELATED: Your Ultimate Love, Money, and Beauty Guide to Venus Retrograde.

Why Is This Venus Retrograde Affecting Celebrities?

Okay, it makes sense why Venus is causing all these breakups and flings from the past to reappear. But why are so many celebrities affected by this Venus retrograde? The answer is that this Venus retrograde is in the sign of Leo, the sign of fame, creativity, status, and celebrity. In astrology, Leo is the only sign ruled by the Sun, which explains why they can grab people’s attention and keep it effortlessly. These folks are natural performers and entertainers – so it’s not uncommon for singers, actors, influencers, and performers to have strong Leo energy in their birth chart.

Because Leo season is all about people in the spotlight, a Venus retrograde in Leo could only mean plenty of drama. Celebrities are used to keeping up appearances in public and preventing gossip from getting too close to their personal lives. Venus retrograde has illuminated all the secrets that were hidden. Some couples are throwing up their hands and calling it quits after trying everything, while some are cautiously exploring the terms of their current partnerships, and still, others are rekindling old relationships for a second shot at love. Ready or not – Venus retrograde is going to be one wild ride.

READ MORE: The Reality Show You Should Binge-Watch, According to Astrology.

All the Celebrity Break-Ups and Make-Ups During Venus Retrograde (So Far)

Halle Berry and Olivier Martinez

Halle Berry (Leo) and Olivier Martinez (Capricorn) have finally reached a settlement in their divorce after eight years of separation. The couple first tied the knot in 2013 and had problems from the beginning. The trouble first began when Berry was prevented from moving to Europe with Martinez by her ex-boyfriend, Gabriel Aubry. Aubry is the father of Berry's daughter Nahla Ariela, and their custody agreement forced Berry and Martinez to relocate to Los Angeles, California. During this time, rumors of Martinez's temper were swirling, and the two were rarely seen together by the end of their marriage. Berry and Martinez filed for divorce back in October 2015 citing "irreconcilable differences." The two eventually reached a custody and spousal support agreement on August 23, 2023.

Britney Spears and Sam Asghari

Britney Spears (Sagittarius) and Sam Asghari (Pisces) have split after more than six years together and one year of marriage. The pair met in 2016 while filming on set for one of the singer’s music videos. Spears and Asghari reconnected later and kept their relationship out of the public eye until April 2018, when they attended their first public event together. Asghari proposed to Spears in September 2021, and the two wed in June 2022.

Rumors of a break-up between the two first swirled back in March of this year when the pair were spotted vacationing in separate cities without their wedding rings. However, the couple’s reps denied that the couple was having any issues. And in June, Asghari posted an anniversary tribute to Spears on Instagram with the caption, "Happy 1 Year to me & my better half. One year married to the woman of my dreams. Happy anniversary my Love."

It wasn’t until August 16, 2023, that sources at E! News confirmed the couple's separation. News outlets first reported that the couple had split amicably and that this was what was best for Spears. However, rumors quickly began circulating via TMZ that Asghari had filed for divorce from Spears due to infidelity. The source also claimed that he would be seeking to redefine the terms of his prenup with the Spears. TMZ points out that it cannot confirm “if the rumor has any basis in fact,” and neither of the couple's teams have commented on the matter at this time.

Keke Palmer and Darius Jackson

After three years of dating, Keke Palmer (Virgo) and Darius Jackson (Aquarius) have officially called it quits. News of their break-up comes one month after Jackson publicly shamed Palmer for her fashion choices and “bad behavior” at an Usher concert on July 6, 2023. Jackson—who shares an infant son with Palmer—took to Twitter to put the singer and actress on blast after she showed up wearing a sheer dress with a black bodysuit.

“It’s the outfit tho…you a mom,” Jackson tweeted after videos of Palmer being serenaded by Usher went viral. He doubled down on his criticism, writing, “We live in a generation where a man of the family doesn’t want the wife & mother to his kids to showcase booty cheeks to please others & he gets told how much of a hater he is.” He added, “This is my family & my representation. I have standards & morals to what I believe. I rest my case.”

Palmer responded to the incident by posting photos of the controversial outfit to her Instagram with the caption, “I wish I had taken more pictures but we were running late.”

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And it seems like Palmer is getting the last laugh. Earlier this week, she teased a clip of an upcoming music video featuring Usher. The newly-released song titled "Boyfriend" dropped on Wednesday, August 16, the same day news of Jackson and Palmer’s break-up was announced. Sources also told PEOPLE that Jackson has reportedly already “moved on” from the incident and is hoping to put the social media drama behind him.

Taylor Swift and Karlie Kloss

No celebrity breakup (or makeup) has been as unexpected during this Venus retrograde as the friendship reunion between Taylor Swift (Sagittarius) and Karlie Kloss (Leo). Swifties were stunned to see Swift's former BFF Kloss, and not ex-boyfriend Joe Alwyn, in attendance at the final Eras Tour show in Los Angeles on August 9, 2023. Kloss was seen dancing with friends, singing along to lyrics, and taking selfies during

"Kaylor" began back in 2012 when Swift mentioned Kloss in an interview, saying, "I love Karlie Kloss. I want to bake cookies with her!" Kloss responded on Twitter saying, 'hey @taylorswift123 love the cover! Your kitchen or mine? :).' The two met in person for the first time at the 2013 Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show in New York and from there, the pair became inseparable. Fans may remember that Kloss was the first person to listen to the original 1989 recording in 2014 while taking a road trip through Big Sur with Swift. The pair later recreated the epic trip when they posed together on the cover of Vogue in 2015.

Yet despite their very public relationship, rumors of a break-up between the two began swirling in 2019 after Swift didn't attend Karlie and Josh Kushner's wedding. Fans have pointed out that tracks from Folklore and Evermore appear to reference the mysterious feud between Swift and Kloss. While others say the singer's discography paints a picture of their time as *ahem* very close friends. Regardless of what went down between them, and who's to blame, Kloss making an appearance at Swift’s concert seems to be a sign that their friendship exile has finally ended

Natalie Portman and Benjamin Millepied

Natalie Portman (Gemini) and Benjamin Millepied (Gemini) announced their plans to divorce after eleven years of marriage. This comes weeks after the couple confirmed the rumors of Millepied's infidelity. According to outlets, Portman tried to put Millepied's affair behind her so they could move forward, but the damage was already done. “After news of his affair came out, they’ve been trying to work on their marriage but are currently on the outs,” an insider told Us Weekly in an article published on August 7, 2023. The couple met in 2009 on the set of Black Swan (2010) and have been married since 2012. The couple share two children together, son Aleph, 12, and daughter Amalia, 6.

Kaitlyn Bristowe and Jason Tartick

Kaitlyn Bristowe (Gemini) and Jason Tartick (Scorpio) announced their split on August 7, 2023, after being engaged for more than two years. The two Bachelor Nation stars were on the show at different times and began dating in 2019 after meeting during a taping of Bristowe’s Off the Vine podcast. The two released a joint statement on Instagram confirming the split, as well as their plan to co-parent dogs Ramen and Pinot.

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Sophia Bush and Grant Hughes

Sophia Bush (Cancer) and Grant Hughes (Virgo) are getting divorced after one year of marriage and ten years of friendship. The news broke was confirmed by PEOPLE on August 4, 2023, the same day Bush reportedly filed for divorce. Just weeks ago, the pair shared now-deleted Instagram posts celebrating their first wedding anniversary. Sources say the two remain friends and will continue working together.

Tina Knowles and Richard Lawson

On July 26, 2023, Tina Knowles (Capricorn) and Richard Lawson (Pisces) announced their plans to divorce after eight years of marriage. This is the second marriage for Beyoncé and Solange's mom, Tina Knowles, and the pair officially cited "irreconcilable differences" as the cause of divorce. The couple got married in an all-white ceremony in April 2015, after two years of dating, and have no children together.

Rosalía and Rauw Alejandro

Rosalía (Libra) and Rauw Alejandro (Capricorn) announced their plans to end their engagement after three years together. The singers were rumored to be dating in August 2021, and the pair announced their engagement in the music video for their song “Beso” earlier this year. The couple shared the news of their split on July 25, 2023, and shared that they have nothing but love and respect for each other.

Bella Hadid and Marc Kalman

Bella Hadid (Libra) and Marc Kalman (Taurus) have broken up after two years of dating and a rumored engagement. The two began dating in July 2021 and announced their split on July 19, 2023. Sources told Entertainment Tonight that the two were "...very in love, but the relationship ultimately ran its course, and they decided to end things. The breakup comes almost a year after rumors that Kalman had plans to propose to Hadid soon.

Sofía Vergara and Joe Manganiello

Sofía Vergara (Cancer) and Joe Manganiello (Capricorn) announced on July 20, 2023, that they are divorcing after seven years of marriage. The pair married in November 2015 and Manganiello listed the date of separation as July 2, 2023. The actor went on to say that Vergara's "partying lifestyle" and their difference of opinion on having children was ultimately what led to their relationship ending. Vergara, who is worth more than $180 million compared to her ex’s net worth of $40 million, has already filed to enforce the terms of their prenup. The two have asked for privacy as they work through things.

Ariana Grande and Dalton Gomez

Ariana Grande (Cancer) and Dalton Gomez (Leo) are getting divorced after two years of marriage. On July 17, 2023, just one day after the singer and actress was seen without her engagement ring and wedding band at Wimbledon, it was announced that Grande and Gomez were ending their relationship. As news broke of Grande’s divorce, outlets began reporting that Grande had started a relationship with Wicked co-star Ethan Slater (Gemini).

Around the same time, Slater filed for divorce from his wife of ten years, Lilly Jay, with whom he shares a son. Grande and Slater say they were separated from their respective spouses before getting together. However, Slater’s ex-wife has since broken her silence, telling Page Six, “[Ariana’s] the story really. Not a girl’s girl...My family is just collateral damage [in the media frenzy].”

Kim Zolciak-Biermann and Kroy Biermann

Kim Zolciak (Taurus) and Kroy Biermann (Virgo) are giving love a second chance. The Real Housewives of Atlanta alumna shocked the world when she announced that she was filing for divorce from her husband, former NFL player Kroy Biermann, in May 2023. The two then surprised everyone a second time when they announced on July 7, 2023, that they were calling off their divorce. The couple shared that they are getting along and trying to make it work for the sake of their children, Kroy Jr., 11, Kash, 10, and twins Kaia and Kane, 9.

Ricky Martin and Jwan Yosef

Ricky Martin (Capricorn) and Jwan Yosef (Virgo) are divorcing after six years of marriage. Martin and Yosef announced their plans to separate on July 6, 2023, and told outlets that they're committed to the “joint upbringing” of their children, Lucia, 4, and son Renn, 3. The couple first made their relationship official when they walked the amFAR Inspiration Gala red carpet together in 2016 and the two married in 2017.

Billy Porter and Adam Porter-Smith

Billy Porter (Virgo) and Adam Porter-Smith (Aquarius) are getting divorced after six years of marriage. The couple were wed in 2017 and announced their plans to go their separate ways on July 5, 2023. Porter's rep Simon Hall released a statement to PEOPLE, saying, "The decision was an amicable and mutual one and was made after much consideration. They continue to love and support each other as they embark on this next chapter."

Kyle Richards and Mauricio Umansky

Kyle Richards (Capricorn) and Mauricio Umansky (Cancer) have separated after 27 years of marriage. The couple said “I Do” in 1996 and welcomed three daughters together: Alexia, 27, Sophia, 23, and Portia, 15. Richards and her family have been feature cast members on The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills since the show's premiere in 2012. Outlets first reported that the pair were divorcing on July 3, 2023, following rumors of cheating, but the two clarified their current relationship status in a joint statement on Instagram the next day.

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Camila Cabello and Shawn Mendes

Camila Cabello (Pisces) and Shawn Mendes (Leo) decided to break up [again] after being tangled up in a will-they-won't-they love affair for the last few years. The couple first called things off back in November 2021 but always seemed to have a close connection. Then in April 2023, the two were spotted kissing at Coachella, fueling rumors that the pair were back together. The lovers were seen out on multiple dates together in New York City and Los Angeles in the following weeks. However, the news broke in early June 2023 that they'd broken up once again.