6 celebrity marriages that turned into ugly divorces

Barbie Hsu and Wang Xiaofei had a whirlwind romance, deciding to marry back in 2011 after only dating for 20 days. However, their love-at-first-sight marriage deteriorated after 10 years, leading to their divorce announcement in 2021. Despite moving on with new partners, their relationship remains tumultuous, with nearly three years of public disputes and unresolved divorce proceedings.

Wang Xiaofei has repeatedly made headlines for lashing out and then apologising, often revealing private details about his ex-wife and insulting her family. Barbie, who initially wished her ex-husband well with his new partner, later struck back. Recently, their conflict escalated dramatically, with Barbie accusing Wang of cheating during their marriage, denying allegations she used his credit card to buy things for her current husband, and revealing she was pushed by Wang while pregnant, describing their ten-year marriage as having “two deaths and one serious injury.”

The conflict reached a peak when Wang attempted to force his way into Barbie’s mansion and later threatened to accuse her of drug misuse at a police station. His erratic actions have stirred widespread controversy.

Phoebe Huang and Christopher Downs

Credit: Phoebe Huang Weibo

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Taiwanese actress-host Phoebe Huang, 50, and Canadian actor Christopher Downs, 52 tied the knot in 2006 and welcomed their daughter, Kyana Poppy Downs, into a seemingly blissful mixed-heritage family. Their popularity soared when Kyana joined her father on the reality show Where Are We Going, Dad? Season 3, charming viewers as an adorable father-daughter duo. For years, they were regarded as a model family within the celebrity circle.

However, their 16-year marriage ended in a very public and bitter divorce in 2022, amidst allegations of physical and verbal abuse made by Huang, which Downs vehemently denied, claiming defamation. The fallout was messy, involving legal battles over financial settlements and accusations, with their friends even being dragged into defamation lawsuits. Caught in the middle of all the drama is their teenage daughter, Kyana, who’s only 15 and now has to navigate her parents’ very public breakup during a crucial stage of growing up. It’s a stark reminder of the toll celebrity breakups can take on families and the personal toll it can exact.

One of the most sensational celebrity divorces in recent years involved singer Wang Leehom and his ex-wife Lee Jinglei. In 2021, Jinglei dropped a bombshell on Instagram, exposing Wang Leehom’s infidelity and other scandals, while Wang Leehom retaliated by claiming he had been threatened by her for years, living in constant fear. Jinglei’s articulate writing style and clear logic earned her the nickname “Lei Goddess Hammer” among netizens, and her statements garnered widespread support from women, tarnishing Wang Leehom’s pristine idol image and causing his career to stall. They were also embroiled in a bitter custody battle over their three children. After enduring over three years of marital turmoil, Wang Leehom gradually returned to the music scene last year. In a bid to defend his reputation, he sued Chinese netizens spreading rumors of his infidelity with Vivian Hsu, publicly revealing the court’s verdict in his favour in Feb 2024.

Taiwanese-Japanese TV star Makiyo Kawashima divorced her non-celebrity husband, known as Mr Chin, in 2023, ending their one-year marriage. During her postpartum confinement, she went on Facebook Live to publicly accuse Xiao Jin of six offenses, including being inconsiderate, buying her cold drinks, and pressuring her to lose weight immediately after childbirth. They also had numerous arguments over childcare, with Mr Chin disappearing for four days at one point, leaving Makiyo unable to tolerate his disregard for the family. Following the divorce, she criticised Mr Chin for not providing child support and failing to pay rent, resulting in her being forced to vacate their rented accommodation within four days. The failure of her marriage has led Makiyo to decide to stop dwelling on the past and to prefer finding a partner to have more children with rather than remarrying.

Xiao Tiantian (Zhang Keyun) and Song Jinxian

Credit: Xiao Tian Tian’s Facebook

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Taiwanese actress Xiao Tian Tian (Zhang Keyun) dated and married Song Jinxian, a non-celebrity who is five years her junior, in 2020, and they had a daughter nicknamed “Mitaimu.” However, their marriage ended in just two years. Their relationship turned sour, with accusations of domestic violence and legal battles over property distribution. Xiao Tian Tian faced backlash when her ex-husband exposed her mistreatment of their pet, causing public opinion to shift. Since then, she has been focusing on her acting career to support herself and her child. Recently seen on a date with a new partner, she clarified through her agent that they’re more than just friends, signaling her move on from her past marriage.

Retired two-time Olympic table tennis medallist Fukuhara Ai and Taiwanese table tennis player Chiang Hung-chieh were once the golden couple of table tennis, and following their marriage, also went on the variety show Happy Trio to showcase their love. However, their 2021 divorce announcement shocked the world. Fukuhara Ai was caught in an extramarital affair, tarnishing her image as a devoted wife. The couple also had a public dispute over custody of their children, with Chiang Hung-chieh even holding an international press conference accusing his ex-wife of “kidnapping” their kids. After over three years of legal battles, they recently declared a temporary ceasefire and reached an agreement to co-parent their two children.

A version of this article originally appeared on Nuyou. Translation and additional text: Michelle Lee