All the Celebrities Who Cheated On Their Partners Admitted It
Although infidelity can happen in any relationship, there’s one big difference when it comes to affairs in Hollywood — everyone hears about them. Although let’s be honest, so much of the rumored infidelity that makes headlines is so speculative that it’s hard to tell what really happened and what is just part of the rumor mill. But every now and then, a celebrity does something novel: They fess up.
It’s easy to understand why some stars may not volunteer a public admission of guilt. There’s a stigma surrounding infidelity that can be difficult to shake. It’s the same for the rest of us, right? And, true, being unfaithful to someone you love is a terrible thing to do. But (and this is important) it doesn’t necessarily mean that the person who was unfaithful is a terrible person.
In fact, there’s a lot to be said for someone who comes clean about their misgivings, takes responsibility and does what they can to work through their issues. While they clearly had issues with honesty in their past behavior, admitting they cheated is actually a step in the right direction.
Granted, some celebrities are probably put up to confessing by their PR people. For others, though — Jay-Z springs to mind — fessing up feels like a sign of genuine remorse and change. So, in the spirit of giving these stars the benefit of the doubt, let’s take a look at some Hollywood A-listers who admitted to stepping out on their significant others.
A version of this story was originally published May 2020.
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Oliver Hudson
Oliver Hudson admitted to cheating on wife Erinn Bartlett before their 2006 wedding in a 2024 episode of his podcast, Sibling Revelry.
“When I got engaged, something happened psychologically, and I spiraled, and I was unfaithful, and I was cheating, and I was crazy,” he admitted. “I never got caught. I told her everything because I couldn’t live with myself and get married and be married and have children with this sort of weight.”
The couple stayed together throughout the infidelity and now share three children!
Tom Schwartz
Of course, Tom Schwartz’s infidelities was not the biggest affair scandal on Vanderpump Rules, more on that later, but the star did get in trouble many times for cheating on his now-ex-wife Katie Maloney.
He admitted to kissing other women while drunk on several occasions and, in season 11 of the show, revealed that he kissed cast member Scheana Shay while still dating Maloney. The couple announced their separation after 12 years together in 2022.
Britney Spears
In her 2023 memoir, Britney Spears revealed that she cheated on ex-boyfriend Justin Timberlake with dancer Wade Robson way back in the early 2000s but says the duo “agreed to move past” the incident.
She also revealed Timberlake had cheated on her with an unnamed celebrity before their relationship ended in 2002.
Neymar Jr.
Almost two months after Neymar Jr. and his girlfriend Bruna Biancardi announced they were expecting their first baby together, the Brazilian soccer star admitted being unfaithful after cheating rumors started to swirl. “I’ve wronged you both,” he wrote in a lengthy Instagram caption alongside the picture of the two of them.
“Bru, I’ve already asked you for forgiveness for my wrongdoings, for the unnecessary exposure, but I feel in the obligation to come publicly reiterate that. If a private issue becomes public, the apology should be public too.” He ended the caption, “I can’t imagine myself without you. I don’t know if we’ll work out, but TODAY you are my certainty that I want to keep trying.”
Sebastian Lletget
After being accused of cheating on his fiancée Becky Q, Sebastian Lletget released a statement on Instagram, claiming, for one thing, “Over the last several weeks, during a moment I regret deeply, a 10 minute lapse in judgment resulted in an extortion plot. Since this person did not get what they wanted it has now become a public social media spectacle filled with more lies than any truth and false posts aimed at the love of my life, the one person who I should never take for granted or put at risk.”
The two have been dating since 2016, and got engaged in Dec 9, 2022 before this came to be.
Tom Sandoval
After rumors hit the headlines that Vanderpump Rules stars Ariana Madix and Tom Sandoval had broken up due to Sandoval’s cheating (with their fellow costar Raquel Leviss), Sandoval confirmed the news and admitted to the allegations on Instagram on March 8. “I want to first and foremost apologize to everyone I’ve hurt through this process,” Sandoval wrote in the statement. “Most of all, I want to apologize to Ariana. I made mistakes, I was selfish, and made reckless decisions that hurt somebody I love. No one deserves to feel that pain so traumatically and publicly.”
“My biggest regret is that I dishonored Ariana,” he continued. “I never meant to disappoint so many people, including our loving families and friends. My love for Ariana was stronger than any camera could have ever captured. Some of our best times together were never filmed. The same goes for some of our biggest struggles. I wish things happened in a different order and our relationship was not severely tarnished, and that it ended with the same respect with for her that it began with. I owed Ariana better.” Sandoval and Madix had been together since 2014.
Mario Lopez
Mario Lopez cheated on his fiance, Ali Landry, during his bachelor party in 2004. The couple was married for two weeks before Landry found out and confronted Lopez.
The Saved By the Bell alum later told the Daily Mail, “I figured at that point it was easier to ask for forgiveness. It’s my bachelor party, we were going to have a good time… I was wrong for obviously lying, and I shouldn’t have been in that position. I dealt with all this drama, and then at that point… I finally got the balls to say ‘Hey, listen I’m not ready for this, I’m sorry.'”
Woody Allen
Woody Allen famously and nauseatingly cheated on Mia Farrow, his wife at the time, with her adopted daughter, Soon-Yi Previn. Allen eventually went on to marry Previn and later told NPR, “The heart wants what it wants. There’s no logic to those things. You meet someone and you fall in love and that’s that.”
Nick Young
When Iggy Azalea was engaged to NBA player Nick Young, a “prank war” video filmed by fellow LA Laker D’Angelo Russell surfaced in which Young admitted he had cheated on the rapper. Afterward Young claimed it was false, and Azalea believed him.
Soon after, Azalea tweeted that she had broken up with the basketball player because she caught him on a security camera bringing girls into their home. Shortly after that, it came out that Young had gotten his ex-girlfriend pregnant, and the baby was definitely conceived while he was with Azalea. Yikes.
Jack Nicholson
Jack Nicholson and Anjelica Houston split in 1989 after Houston found out Nicholson had gotten another woman pregnant. Years later, The Shining actor spoke about his infidelity to Parade Magazine.
“I was in a wonderful relationship with Anjelica,” Nicholson said. “It was as good as it gets. I immediately told her what was up, and she made the decision for us.” He recalled, “Anjelica’s first response was, ‘You have to support this woman.’ Her second response was to come down to my job and beat the hell out of me. She really beat me up, I tell you. Anjelica can punch!”
In a rather gross take, Nicholson concluded, “I’m such a wag! I’m a scamp. I don’t deny it. I like myself… I grew up in a beauty parlor my family ran, so I’m used to getting along with ladies. I prefer their company, for the most part. I was pampered from the very beginning.”
Dax Shepard
In a conversation during his podcast, Armchair Expert With Dax Shepard, Dax Shepard to cheating on relationships in the past (this, of course, doesn’t include his longtime wife Kristen Bell). “I have a horrendous history of cheating, f**king deplorable,” he admitted, adding that this all happened when he was much younger. “Any attention from a girl, I had to have it at all costs.”
Justin Timberlake
In 2019, rumors emerged alleging Justin Timberlake had cheated on his wife, Jessica Biel, and there was evidence to back up the claims. Photos surfaced of the singer and actor holding hands with Palmer co-star Alisha Wainwright, and shortly afterward, he made a public apology that read:
“A few weeks ago I displayed a strong lapse in judgment — but let me be clear — nothing happened between me and my costar. I drank way too much that night and I regret my behavior. I should have known better.
This is not the example I want to set for my son. I apologize to my amazing wife and family for putting them through such an embarrassing situation, and I am focusing on being the best husband and father I can be.”
Jesse James
Sandra Bullock divorced Jesse James in 2010 after five years of marriage because he cheated on her with multiple women.
The motorcycle-riding TV personality later told the Daily Mail, “Yeah, I did cheat on my wife, yeah, I stood up and took accountability for it and apologized. And that’s end of story. The easy [put down] is like, oh well you cheated on Sandra Bullock. That’s the world’s easiest comeback. In general, both women and men cheat. It’s part of life.” Talk about a bogus take. Nobody puts Sandy in the corner!
John Legend
Don’t worry, this was way before Chrissy Teigen joined the picture! Talking to Armchair Expert With Dax Shepard in 2020, John Legend talked about being a serial cheat once he started reaching success. “I just didn’t get a lot of girls when I was younger,” he said. “When I started to get that attention, I loved it. I just ate it up.”
He continued, “I escaped ‘technically cheating’ by keeping my relationship ill-defined, but it was really cheating. I definitely was dishonest and selfish and just enjoyed this new attention I was getting.” At we know he’s a changed man now!
Ned Fulmer
Ned Fulmer, a now ex-member of the YouTube group Try Guys, has been kicked to the curb by his wife, Ariel Fulmer, and fellow group members after being accused of cheating.
Fulmer was filmed kissing Try Guys producer, Alex Herring, at a New York club. The group not only kicked him out of their project, but is allegedly scrubbing all video content featuring Fulmer from their channel.
Fulmer released a statement that reads, “Family should have always been my priority, but I lost focus and had a consensual workplace relationship. I’m sorry for any pain that my actions may have caused to the guys and the fans but most of all to Ariel. The only thing that matters right now is my marriage and my children, and that’s where I am going to focus my attention.”
Adam Levine
Known to be a flirt and for flaunting his sex appeal (it’s giving narcissist), Adam Levine was accused of cheating on his wife of 8 years, Behati Prinsloo, with a 23-year-old Instagram model.
Sumner Stroh made a TikTok video alleging that she had a year-long affair with the Maroon 5 frontman, and she pulled up with several receipts. Levine released a statement on his Instagram Story following Stroh’s viral allegations, which read:
“I used poor judgment in speaking with anyone other than my wife in ANY kind of flirtatious manner. I did not have an affair, nevertheless, I crossed the line during a regrettable period of my life. In certain instances it became inappropriate.”
While Levine maintains he didn’t cheat on Prinsloo with Stroh, five other women have come forward with claims of inappropriate behavior from the tattooed father of two.
Jessica Simpson
Jessica Simpson admitted to having an “emotional affair” with Johnny Knoxville during her marriage to Nick Lachey in her memoir. She wrote, “But to me, an emotional affair was worse than a physical one. It’s funny, I know, because I had placed such an emphasis on sex by not having it before marriage. After I actually had sex, I understood that the emotional part was what mattered… Johnny and I had that, which seemed far more of a betrayal to my marriage than sex.”
The couple ultimately divorced in 2006 following four years of marriage.
'Open Book' by Jessica Simpson
Katharine McPhee
While married to her manager, Nick Cokas, American Idol star Katharine McPhee was photographed kissing director Michael Morris, who was also married. McPhee later told FOX News “I don’t have any regrets. All of the choices I made I learned from in a really deep way.”
Tristan Thompson
Khloé Kardashian and Tristan Thompson’s on-again, off-again relationship was well-documented by the press thanks to allegations that Thompson cheated on Kardashian (more than once, by the way).
Thompson reportedly cheated on Kardashian when she was pregnant with the couple’s daughter, True, in April 2018. Then, there was the whole ordeal involving Jordyn Woods in 2019. In 2021, just when it seemed like Kardashian and Thompson were on good terms, Thompson admitted to cheating on Kardashian with trainer Maralee Nichols — with whom he fathered a son.
Following confirmation of his paternity, Thompson wrote an apology to Kardashian, which he posted to his Instagram Story. “Khloé, you don’t deserve this,” he wrote. “You don’t deserve the heartache and humiliation I have caused you. You don’t deserve the way I have treated you over the years. My actions certainly have not lined up with the way I view you. I have the utmost respect and love for you. Regardless of what you may think. Again, I am so incredibly sorry.”
Lamar Odom
Before being cheated on by Tristan Thompson, Khloé was also betrayed by her then-husband, NBA star Lamar Odom on several occasion throughout their 4 year marriage which ended in 2013.
It wasn’t until a 2017 interview with Us Weekly that he fully came clean about his infidelities and how much remorse he felt over them. “If there is one thing I regret when I was married, it was having multiple affairs with different women,” he said. “That wasn’t the stand-up thing to do. I wish I could have kept my d-ck in my pants
Mike Caussin
In April 2021, Jana Kramer filed for divorce from husband of six years Mike Caussin amid reports that he had cheated on her for a second time.
Previously, in 2016, the couple separated just before news broke that the former football player had cheated on Kramer with multiple women months after welcoming their baby daughter, but the couple worked to reconcile as Caussin checked into sex addiction rehab and they welcomed a second child, son Jace, in 2018. The following year, Kramer admitted on her podcast that Caussin had had a “relapse” and she’d found evidence of him engaging with other women.
Kramer announcied the news of their split in an emotional Instagram in spring 2021, writing: “Please know that I still believe wholeheartedly in marriage, love, and rebuilding,” she wrote. “I just can’t fight any longer. It’s time to heal.”
Jay-Z
When Beyoncé dropped her Lemonade album and Jay-Z his 4:44, it left little doubt in fans’ minds that Jay-Z had been unfaithful to his wife.
In the time since, Jay-Z has openly discussed his transgression, telling T: The New York Times Style Magazine, “You know, most people walk away, and the divorce rate is like 50 percent or something ‘cause most people can’t see themselves. The hardest thing is seeing pain on someone’s face that you caused, and then have to deal with yourself. So, you know, most people don’t want to do that. You don’t want to look inside yourself.”
As he told Van Jones, “For us, we chose to fight for our love, for our family. To give our kids a different outcome. To break that cycle for Black men and women. We were never a celebrity couple, we were a couple who just happened to be celebrities. We are real people.”
Meg Ryan
Meg Ryan and Dennis Quaid‘s relationship ended when Ryan had a high-profile affair with fellow actor Russell Crowe. She and Quaid split in 2000 but, eight years later, she told In Style that she wasn’t the only unfaithful one in their marriage.
“It was a great story, but what wasn’t in the story was the reality of my marriage for nine years,” she explained. “Dennis was not faithful to me for a long time, and that was very painful. I found out more about that once I was divorced.”
Ryan Phillippe
Oh, how our Cruel-Intentions-loving-hearts shattered when we found out Ryan Phillippe had cheated on his co-star-turned-wife Reese Witherspoon. The relationship ended in 2007 after Witherspoon reportedly confronted him about being unfaithful after reading text messages between him and Stop Loss co-star Abbie Cornish.
Having said that, Phillippe pointed out in a 2008 interview with W Magazine that the scrutiny Cornish subsequently faced was uncalled for. “It was unfair for her to be called the names that she was, because it wasn’t about that. I don’t think an outside person can ever cause a divorce. I had difficulties in my relationship, and in my marriage, long before I ever met her,” Phillippe said.
Dean McDermott
In 2013, after welcoming the fourth of their now five children, it was revealed that McDermott cheated on Spelling in a two-day fling.
In a candid interview with ET Canada the following year, McDermott admitted what he did was wrong — but that he was often painted in an unfair light for it. “When you’re at the checkout and you look over and you see one of these magazines and it’s like, ‘Dean McDermott’s a monster,’ I’m like, ‘No, I’m not a monster, I’m a human being and I messed up,” he said. “I messed up and I’m owning up to it and I’m getting help. But to label me a monster or evil is very hurtful.”
McDermott and Spelling worked through the cheating but eventually called off their marriage in 2023.
Kris Jenner
Kris Jenner‘s marriage to her first husband, Robert Kardashian, ended after she cheated on him. She admitted to the affair in her 2011 memoir and though she kept the man’s name private, it has since been revealed to be a former soccer player named Todd Waterman.
In a 2023 episode of The Kardashians, Jenner revealed that the affair was her “biggest regret.” When asked why she did it by her daughter Khloé, Jenner said, “I don’t know because he was such a great husband and such a great dad, and I think that I fell into a situation where I thought that the grass was greener somewhere else, and I made a huge mistake.
Kristen Stewart
Twihards were beside themselves in 2020 when Kristen Stewart was spotted making out with a man who was most definitely not her Twilight co-star boyfriend of three years, Robert Pattinson. As it turned out, the man Stewart had been kissing was her Snow White and the Huntsman director Rupert Sanders, who was married at the time to her co-star, Liberty Ross.
Shortly after photos of the illicit pair surfaced, Stewart issued a public apology. “I’m deeply sorry for the hurt and embarrassment I’ve caused to those close to me and everyone this has affected,” she said. “This momentary indiscretion has jeopardized the most important thing in my life, the person I love and respect the most, Rob. I love him. I’m so sorry.” Although the couple did reconcile, they ultimately went their separate ways but are on friendly terms now.
Kevin Hart
In October 2017, when his wife Eniko Parrish was then-8-months pregnant, word got out that Kevin Hart had been unfaithful. At first, he posted a bombshell Instagram informing fans of an alleged extortion attempt using a “sexually provocative” video of him with another woman. However, he ultimately opened up further about the incident, apologizing to Parrish and taking full responsibility and calling it a “f-cking massive mistake.”
“I’m guilty, regardless of how it happened and what was involved, the shit that I can’t talk about, I’m guilty. I’m wrong,” he said on the Power 105.1 FM show The Breakfast Club in December 2017.
Jude Law
Reports surfaced in 2005 that Jude Law had been carrying on an affair behind fiancée Sienna Miller’s back — with his children’s nanny, no less. “I want to publicly apologize to Sienna and our respective families for the pain that I have caused,” he said in a public statement at the time. “There is no defense for my actions which I sincerely regret and I ask that you respect our privacy at this very difficult time.”
Hugh Grant
‘Twas the cheating scandal heard around the world! In 1995, although in a serious relationship with Elizabeth Hurley, Hugh Grant was arrested and charged with “lewd contact” after being caught in Los Angeles with a sex worker named Divine Brown. Amazingly, Hurley and Grant went on to date for several more years, and it was possibly due to the fact that he didn’t try to dodge his poor behavior.
“I was just an idiot. I didn’t try to say, ‘I’ve got this psychological problem.’ I just said, ‘I did it,’” he told Jay Leno during an appearance on The Tonight Show. “You know in life what’s a good thing to do and a bad thing to do. I did a bad thing.”
Usher
Following a very messy and public split in 2009, rumors swirled that Usher and then-wife Tameka Foster’s marriage had failed due to infidelity on his part.
The singer finally addressed infidelity rumors in a 2012 episode of Oprah’s Next Chapter. “Towards the end of our marriage, I found myself lost, and I just wanted out,” he said, adding, “No. I was faithful at heart, but not faithful all the way. Even having a conversation with another woman, period, about matters of your relationship or emotions is, in my opinion, not being faithful.” He also admitted that he had sexual relationships with other women when he and Foster were separated.
Shortly after, Foster confirmed rumors that her ex had cheated with one of her bridesmaids. “He admitted to sleeping with one of the two. It was a very disappointing revelation. I had suspected it for some time,” she said in an interview.
Ethan Hawke
After five years of marriage and two kids, Ethan Hawke and Uma Thurman separated in 2003 amid allegations that he cheated with his now wife and his kids former nanny, Ryan Shawhughes.
Years later, in 2012, he alluded to the mistakes he’d made in their marriage, telling The Guardian, “Nothing teaches you like getting leveled. And I got leveled in my early 30s. Nothing went exactly the way I thought it would. Wait a second: love isn’t real and, holy shit, I put all this energy into not making the same mistake my parents did and I just re-enacted them all! I thought I was so much smarter than everybody else. And I’m not.”
Tiger Woods
In 2009, new broke that golfer had cheated on his then-wife, model Elin Nordegren, with whom he had two children. As the rumor goes, Nordegren confronted him and he tried to flee before crashing his car in front of their Florida mansion right after Thanksgiving.
After reemerging months later, Woods confirmed the rumors in a press conference.
“I felt I had worked hard my entire life and deserved to enjoy all the temptations around me. I felt I was entitled. Thanks to money and fame, I didn’t have to go far to find them,” he said, revealing he’d spent 45 days in in-patient treatment. “I was unfaithful. I had affairs. I cheated. What I did is not acceptable. And I am the only person to blame.”
David Letterman
In 2008, after a balckmail attempt, Late Show host David Letterman admitted to cheating on his wife with his assistant Stephanie Birkitt who was dating CBS News Producer Robert “Joe” Halderman at the time.
Halderman was later found guilty of attempting to extort Letterman.
“I have had sex with women who work for me,” he confessed in a now-infamous on-air moment, apologizing to wife Regina Lasko who had been “horribly hurt by my behavior.”
Eddie Cibrian & LeAnn Rimes
Eddie Cibrian and LeAnn Rimes’ marriage began with both of them cheating on their previous partners.
In 2009, Cibrian and Rimes were caught on camera passionately making out while on break from filming their movie Northern Lights. They were both married at the time, him to Brandi Glanville and her to Dean Sheremet.
Rimes addressed the affair in a 2010 interview when she told People.
“I did one of the most selfish things that I possibly could do, in hurting someone else,” she said of her affair. “I take responsibility for everything I’ve done. I hate that people got hurt, but I don’t regret the outcome.”
David Boreanaz
Though still married to Jaime Bergman, Bones David Boreanaz actor once jeporadized his marriage by having a fling with Rachel Uchitel, the same woman with whom Tiger Woods was alleged to have cheated on his wife.
He confessed to the affair in 2010. “I haven’t been faithful to my wife,” he said. “Our marriage has been tainted with my infidelities. I was irresponsible.” Although the pair had been dealing with the matter privately for a year by that point, they felt compelled to come forward following an extortion attempt.
“I was associated with a woman who I was involved with and had a relationship with. She asked for money,” the actor revealed.
Eric Benet
Halle Berry’s marriage to Eric Benet ended in 2003 after he underwent treatment for sex addiction following multiple instances of cheating.
In a 2005 interview with People, Benet finally addressed his infidelities, insisting he didn’t go as far as people assumed. “We all know I cheated. It was out there. It’s a betrayal,” he said. “But I never did have sexual intercourse while I was with Halle. Going into rehab was presented to me by her mother that in order for the marriage to have a shot, this is what you need to do… but no, I’m not a sex addict. I wanted to save my marriage and do anything necessary to do that.”
Arnold Schwarzenegger
During his tenure as governor of California, Arnold Schwarzenegger’s wife of 25 years, Maria Shriver grew suspicious that her husband had fathered a love child with their housekeeper Mildred.
After his term finished, Shriver confronted the actor in couple’s therapy.
Though he already admitted to it over a decade ago, Schwarzenegger reflected on the affair again in his recent Netflix docuseries.
“Maria and I went to counseling once a week, and in one of the sessions the counselor said, ‘I think today Maria wants to be very specific about something. She wants to know if you are the father of Joseph,’” Schwarzenegger remembered. “I thought my heart stopped, and then I told the truth.”
In May 2011, the couple split and, later that month, Schwarzenegger came clean to the world about his lookalike son Joseph Baena.
