DWTS’ Julianne Hough Reveals the *Real* Reason She Broke Up With Ryan Seacrest: ‘I’ve Realized…’

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Julianne Hough is opening up about the reason why she and ex-boyfriend Ryan Seacrest just didn’t work out. Hough, who dated Seacrest over a decade ago, from 2010 to 2013, recently opened up about her past relationships and the reason why she and Seacrest just weren’t right for each other.

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Why Did Julianne Hough & Ryan Seacrest Break Up?

Hough reflected on her relationship with Seacrest during an episode of the Armchair Expert podcast with host Dax Shepard and explained that the timing of their relationship – they started dating just as she was breaking into the business and he was already more established – left her constantly worried about the optics.

“The rug was swept up from underneath me, and I was just flying, and I was experiencing things that I didn’t even know existed,” Hough said. “But then I had this insecurity that I was like, I don’t ever want anybody to think that I’m with him for this reason.”

Julianne Hough - Dancing With the Stars
Julianne Hough - Dancing With the Stars

Hough explained that Seacrest had previously had experiences with people “using him,” and she wanted to make it clear she wasn’t doing the same, which probably led to a relationship that wasn’t what she wanted.

“I overcompensated, was malleable to fit into exactly what somebody needed me to be for them to be happy,” the former Dancing With the Stars pro went on to explain. “And what I’ve realized over the years is I don’t know if I’ve ever truly been in love with someone, but I have loved the feeling of being loved. And so let me be what that needs to be so that I can be loved.”

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She further expanded. “And then because I’m so filled with love from someone, of course I love you. I love everyone. I’ve been in love with everybody I’ve ever dated, but have I? I don’t wanna overanalyze it because every person I’ve also dated has been a very good person.”

After breaking things off with Seacrest in 2013, Hough went on to date hockey player Brooks Laich, who she then married in 2017. In 2020, she filed for divorce.

“We have lovingly and carefully taken the time we have needed to arrive at our decision to separate,” the two said in a joint statement at the time. “We share an abundance of love and respect for one another and will continue to lead with our hearts from that place.”

Their divorce was finalized in 2022.

Julianne Hough is currently Dancing With the Stars co-host alongside main host Alfonso Ribeiro. Seacrest, meanwhile, is the host of American Idol.

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What are ex-Dancing with the Stars pros up to now? Find out in the gallery below!