Deborra-Lee Furness has appeared to take a swipe at her ex-husband, Hugh Jackman, as the actor settles into life with a new partner.
The estranged couple officially announced their separation in September 2023, in a joint statement.
"We have been blessed to share almost 3 decades together as husband and wife in a wonderful, loving marriage. Our journey now is shifting and we have decided to separate to pursue our individual growth," they said.
"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."
Signed “Deb and Hugh Jackman,” the message made it clear that “This is the sole statement either of us will make.”
But while Jackman has since stepped into a very public romance with Broadway star Sutton Foster, Furness has spoken out in a powerful statement of her own following rumors that Jackman cheated during their relationship.
In an exclusive statement to the Daily Mail following her decision to officially file for divorce, Furness didn’t name names—but her message about betrayal and healing left little doubt she was addressing recent events.
"My heart and compassion goes out to everyone who has traversed the traumatic journey of betrayal," she said.
"It’s a profound wound that cuts deep, however I believe in a higher power and that God/the universe, whatever you relate to as your guidance, is always working FOR us.
"This belief has helped me navigate the breakdown of an almost three-decade marriage. I have gained much knowledge and wisdom through this experience. Even when we are presented with apparent adversity, it is leading us to our greatest good, our true purpose.
"It can hurt, but in the long run, returning to yourself and living within your own integrity, values and boundaries is liberation and freedom."
She closed with a lesson she says she's learned through the ordeal: "that none of this is personal," adding: "We are all on our individual journeys and I believe that the relationships in our lives are not random.
"We are drawn to people, we invite them in, in order to learn our lessons and to recognize and heal the broken parts of ourselves...I remain grateful."
Jackman and Foster’s paths crossed in the 2022 revival of The Music Man - the same period when his marriage reportedly began to unravel.
Although sources close to the situation insist there was no physical cheating, speculation about an emotional affair has lingered.
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"While he didn't physically cheat on her with Sutton, Deborra-Lee believes they were having an emotional affair and she feels he betrayed her," a source told the Daily Mail.
Despite announcing their separation in 2023, the divorce wasn’t filed until recently due to complex financial wrangling.
"One of the biggest reasons why they haven’t yet filed is that they never had a prenup," an insider close to Jackman told the outlet. "When they got married, they thought it would be forever. Who doesn’t? At the time, neither of them expected Hugh’s career to get as enormous as it has.
"Because there was no prenup, and he made a fortune during their marriage, this divorce is not going to be cut and dry. It may even get messy because the stakes are high. A lot of moving parts need to be worked out and there is a huge amount of money involved."
Another source added: "Hugh and Deborra-Lee have not yet filed for divorce because they are struggling to reach an agreement on how to divide their assets. Deborra-Lee feels entitled to more money than Hugh is willing to offer."
With Jackman's fortune estimated at $200 million, and the couple’s total wealth around $250 million, the financial implications are huge.