Hugh Jackman’s ex-wife Deborra-Lee Furness breaks silence following unexpected split
Gregory Robinson
Featured Image Credit: Stefania D'Alessandro/WireImage / Don Arnold/WireImage
Hugh Jackman's ex-wife Deborra-Lee Furness has opened up after announcing their shock split.
After 27 years of marriage, the former couple announced their divorce earlier this month.
Together they share two children together; Oscar, 23, and Ava, 18.
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Hugh and Deborra-Lee released a joint statement to People to confirm their plans to separate.
“We have been blessed to share almost three decades together as husband and wife in a wonderful, loving marriage,” the statement reads.
“Our journey now is shifting and we have decided to separate to pursue our individual growth.
"Our family has been and always will be our highest priority. We undertake this next chapter with gratitude, love, and kindness. We greatly appreciate your understanding in respecting our privacy as our family navigates this transition in all of our lives.
“This is the sole statement either of us will make.” the statement concluded.
However, Deborra-Lee has spoken out for the first time since the statement’s release on Monday (25 September), when she answered a phone call from Australian radio hosts, Kyle Sandilands and Jackie O Henderson, on The Kyle & Jackie Show.
After Deborra-Lee answered the phone, Sandilands confessed: “We have actually called you by mistake, it’s ridiculous.
“We didn’t mean to actually call you. But now you’re here, we won’t go into it. We love you, we hope you’re well.”
She didn’t appear to be irritated by the random phone call and replied: “Thank you guys, I really appreciate it. You’re really sweet.”
Although the divorce wasn’t directly mentioned, Sandilands continued: “I just feel it’s too soon. I don’t want to get involved in anything. But we love you, and you ring us when you want to chat.”
The couple first met on the Aussie TV show, Corelli, in 1995 and exchanged vows the following year.
Hugh and Deborra-Lee have both repeatedly spoke out against rumours which plagued their relationship.
In 2011, Deborra-Lee became aware of the rumours swirling around their relationship as a result of questions raised by fans about Hugh's sexuality since people with a lot of time on their hands think its impossible for a man to be in musicals and not be gay.
She told Page Six in November that year: "The line I heard was, 'Wolverine? Who would have thought?'"
However, she noted neither of them paid 'much heed' to the whispers and simply viewed it as 'kind of tragic that these people have nothing better to do than gossip about people they don't know'.
And last year, she made light of the rumours again on the Not an Overnight Success podcast, saying: "Hugh’s been gay for whatever, I mean, hello guys — if he was gay, he could be gay!”
Adding: “He [wouldn’t] have to hide in the closet anymore, and he’d be dating Brad Pitt, or whatever. Not that Brad’s gay, but you know what I’m saying!”