Keith Urban had an angry response to a question about Nicole Kidman’s sex scenes before it was reported that they had split.
After almost two decades of marriage, the once-strong relationship between the A-list stars has reportedly come to an end.
The separation, which has shocked many fans, follows a growing rift that seems to have reached a boiling point earlier this year.
Sources close to the couple suggest that the tension between the two began to build in June, when the 57-year-old country star expressed his dissatisfaction with Kidman’s racy roles in recent films.
The Radio Interview Incident
In a highly publicized moment, Urban’s frustration became apparent when he abruptly ended a radio interview after being asked about his wife’s love scenes with Zac Efron in the film A Family Affair.
The radio host, Max Burford, had casually asked: “What does Keith Urban think when he sees his beautiful wife with beautiful younger men like Zac Efron, having these beautiful love scenes on TV?”
The 'Blue Ain't Your Color' singer's reaction was swift and pointed - he ended the interview on the spot, with a crew member heard saying that they were “pulling the chat” due to discomfort with the line of questioning.
The hosts were left bewildered, with Burford commenting, “I thought we were vibing with Keith.” Co-host Hayley Pearson added: “He hates us. I knew that was going to happen.”
The incident, which occurred just after their 19th wedding anniversary, is believed to have further strained the couple’s already troubled relationship.
While Kidman, 58, has been starring in numerous films where her character’s romantic life takes center stage, including A Family Affair and Babygirl, her husband's reaction to her on-screen love scenes appears to have fueled more serious issues between them.
A source close to the couple has since revealed that Urban’s concerns go beyond the media interviews and onto a more personal level.
"The intimacy isn't there, they are just going through the motions," they explained, per The Mirror. "Keith had to call her out that he isn’t happy. She was blindsided by this.
Living Apart and Fighting to Save the Marriage
The couple, who have two children together - 17-year-old Sunday Rose and 14-year-old Faith Margaret - have been living apart since June, according to The Guardian.
Urban is said to have moved out of the couple’s Nashville home, leaving the Big Little Lies star reportedly desperate to salvage their marriage.
Despite their efforts to reconcile, including Kidman’s public displays of affection toward her husband on social media, a source told PEOPLE that she “didn’t want this” and has been “fighting to save the marriage".
The timing of the split has led some to believe that the couple's professional commitments may have contributed to the unraveling of their personal bond. Still, there is a sense that reconciliation remains possible.
"There was a lot of love between the two and they might not divorce. They been together for decades so there is a world which they can reconcile, but the way their pairing is now, they are not a couple," the source added.