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Nicole Kidman's brutal six-word insult about ex-husband Tom Cruise in resurfaced David Letterman interview
Nicole Kidman’s sharp wit and poise in a decades-old talk show appearance are capturing renewed attention, as fans revisit a 2001 clip from The Late Show with David Letterman following news of her split from husband Keith Urban.
A viral throwback to a difficult time
The interview, which originally aired on August 2, 2001, came just months after Kidman’s high-profile separation from Tom Cruise. She had appeared on The Late Show to promote her supernatural thriller The Others, but the conversation quickly turned to her personal life.
Letterman, known for his bold interview style, opened with a question that startled viewers even then: “I heard you’re getting divorced. How’s that going?”
Kidman, visibly composed, smiled and replied: “I’d probably still be here,” when Letterman suggested she wouldn’t have come on the show if things weren’t alright.
When asked whether she was getting a lot of questions about her divorce, Kidman replied: “Um, yeah, I get a lot of questions.” Then, with a sly grin, she added the now-iconic quip: “Well, I can wear heels now.”
The audience erupted in laughter and applause, a moment that instantly became pop culture legend.
The clip, now circulating widely on social media, has taken on new significance in light of Kidman’s recent separation from country star Keith Urban, her husband of 19 years. Fans have been sharing the footage across X (formerly Twitter) and TikTok, praising Kidman’s grace and humor during one of the most turbulent periods of her life.
Back in 2001, the actress kept her composure throughout the Late Show exchange, trading lighthearted banter with Letterman. At one point, she even turned the question back on him, asking cheekily: “How was your divorce?”
Kidman’s current divorce
On September 30, Kidman filed for divorce from Urban in Nashville after nearly two decades of marriage, citing irreconcilable differences. According to court filings, she listed their date of separation as the same day.
The couple (who wed in 2006) share two daughters, Sunday Rose, 17, and Faith Margaret, 14. Kidman is also mom to Isabella, 32, and Connor, 30, her adopted children from her marriage to Cruise.
A source close to the actress told PEOPLE that the breakup has been painful. “She didn’t want this. She has been fighting to save the marriage,” the insider said, adding that her sister Antonia and the Kidman family have rallied around her for support.
Reports indicate that Urban, 57, quietly moved into his own home before the split became public. “It really hasn’t been a secret in their circles that Keith and Nicole have been living separately for a while now,” another insider said.
As the 2001 interview makes the rounds again, many see it as a testament to Kidman’s resilience. Her quick humor and self-assuredness in the face of heartbreak back then mirror the same quiet dignity she’s showing now.