While some relationships grew even stronger after spending 24 hours a day, seven days a week together, plenty of other celebrity romances imploded.
As Julianne Hough and Brooks Laich become the latest A-list casualties of love lost in lockdown, we look back at the couples who couldn’t overcome all that time spent together.
Julianne Hough and Brooks Laich
The US Dancing With The Stars alumna filed for divorce from her Canadian former-NHL player husband on November 3, six months after they announced their separation on May 29.
Suspicions were raised when Hough began quarantining separately from her husband of three years in March – she in California and him in Idaho.
Demi Lovato and Max Ehrich
The romance that went from zero to 60 in under 0.3 seconds fizzled out just as fast as it heated up in September. The relationship between the singer and the Under The Dome actor began in May, and he soon popped the question with a $1 million diamond ring in June.
However in the space of a few months, Lovato went from, “I knew I loved you from the moment I met you” to “quarantine either makes or breaks the deal.”
Armie Hammer and Elizabeth Chambers
The Rebecca actor and his bakery entrepreneur wife called it quits in July after 10 years of marriage. Having quarantined in the Cayman Islands together, along with their two children, the moment lockdown finished, Hammer jetted back to the US alone.
"I don't think I handled it very well," he told GQ. "I think, to be frank, I came very close to completely losing my mind."
Cardi B and Offset
Nearly three years after Cardi and Offset wed, the mum-of-one filed for divorce on September 15. However, according to Page Six, Cardi B has had yet another change of heart and petitioned to dismiss her divorce on Monday, November 2.
"You know how I be arguing with y'all on social media? That's exactly how we are, between me and my man," the WAP rapper told her Instagram followers in October.
Kelly Clarkson and Brandon Blackstock
Singer-turned-talk show host, Clarkson filed for divorce from her husband in June, after almost seven years together. The pair had been quarantining in Montana with their two children, River Rose, 6, and Remington, 4, before Clarkson filed in LA.
She’s been working on new music that she says will address the split.
Sofia Richie and Scott Disick
Breaking up in May after almost three years together, the model and the reality TV star split after Disick’s most recent stint in rehab where he sought treatment for “past traumas”.
Scott, who has three children with his ex Kourtney Kardashian, is said to have moved back in with her to continue quarantining with them.
Lili Reinhart and Cole Sprouse
The Riverdale co-stars called it quits in March at the start of lockdown, their second split and this time their final one.
"What an incredible experience I had," the former Disney star wrote on his Instagram. "I wish her nothing but the utmost love and happiness." Following the break-up, Sprouse opted to quarantine with his Riverdale co-star, KJ Apa, who plays Archie in the hit show.
Megan Fox and Brian Austin Green
After a very public split and reconciliation back in 2015, the couple, who share three sons, confirmed in May that their marriage was over for good. While Fox moved onto a new romance with actor and singer, Machine Gun Kelly, Green insisted, “I will always love her, and I know she will always love me.”
However, the pair recently had an Instagram fall-out after Green posted a photo of their son, Journey, prompting Fox to comment: "I know you love your kids. But I don't know why you can't stop using them to posture via social media."
Miley Cyrus and Cody Simpson
Following her split from her actor husband Liam Hemsworth, Cyrus began dating another Australian, this time singer, Cody Simpson.
However, the couple called it quits in August with Cyrus saying of her next relationship: “I’m super into clean eating. I mean, people taking care of themselves. I knew that the place to meet my next partner was not going to be at Burger King.”
Taraji P Henson and Kelvin Hayden
Hidden Figures actress Henson had previously postponed her summer wedding to former NFL player Kelvin Hayden back in April.
But the star revealed in October that the postponement had become a cancellation, and that after two years together, they had called it quits.
Olivier Sarkozy and Mary-Kate Olsen
The businessman half-brother of former French president Nicolas Sarkozy and his actress-turned-designer wife, Olsen split dramatically back in May. Olsen lodged an emergency divorce petition in New York, which stated: “This is… an emergency because my husband expects me to move out of our home… in the middle of New York City being on pause due to Covid-19.”
However, the plea was rejected as an “emergency” due to the pandemic and she re-filed after restrictions were lifted.
Jay Cutler and Kristin Cavallari
The couple was holidaying in the Bahamas when the first lockdown came into force. But when the family returned to Nashville, The Hills star filed for divorce from her former NFL quarterback husband of seven years, announcing it on Instagram in April.
Although she called the split a “loving conclusion”, things soon went south, with the mum-of-three claiming in her petition that “he attempted to intimidate” her into a parenting plan she did not agree to.
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Name: Peter Dicce
Title: Assistant dean of students and director of athletics
Favourite sport: soccer
Favourite team: Bayern Munich
Favourite player: Franz Beckenbauer
Favourite activity in Abu Dhabi: scuba diving in the Northern Emirates
Gothia Cup 2025
4,872 matches
1,942 teams
116 pitches
76 nations
26 UAE teams
15 Lebanese teams
2 Kuwaiti teams
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
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Zayed Sustainability Prize
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League, Group B
Barcelona v Inter Milan
Camp Nou, Barcelona
Wednesday, 11pm (UAE)
The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
Specs
Engine: Duel electric motors
Power: 659hp
Torque: 1075Nm
On sale: Available for pre-order now
Price: On request
Labour dispute
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law
Most sought after workplace benefits in the UAE
- Flexible work arrangements
- Pension support
- Mental well-being assistance
- Insurance coverage for optical, dental, alternative medicine, cancer screening
- Financial well-being incentives
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
RESULTS
6.30pm: Emirates Holidays Maiden (TB) Dh 82,500 (Dirt) 1,900m
Winner: Lady Snazz, Richard Mullen (jockey), Satish Seemar (trainer).
7.05pm: Arabian Adventures Maiden (TB) Dh 82,500 (D) 1,200m
Winner: Zhou Storm, Connor Beasley, Ali Rashid Al Raihe.
7.40pm: Emirates Skywards Handicap (TB) Dh 82,500 (D) 1,200m
Winner: Rich And Famous, Royston Ffrench, Salem bin Ghadayer.
8.15pm: Emirates Airline Conditions (TB) Dh 120,000 (D) 1,400m
Winner: Rio Angie, Sam Hitchcock, Doug Watson.
8.50pm: Emirates Sky Cargo (TB) Dh 92,500 (D) 1,400m
Winner: Kinver Edge, Richard Mullen, Satish Seemar.
9.15pm: Emirates.com (TB) Dh 95,000 (D) 2,000m
Winner: Firnas, Xavier Ziani, Salem bin Ghadayer.
RESULT
Huddersfield Town 1 Manchester City 2
Huddersfield: Otamendi (45' 1 og), van La Parra (red card 90' 6)
Man City: Agüero (47' pen), Sterling (84')
Man of the match: Christopher Schindler (Huddersfield Town)
What are NFTs?
Are non-fungible tokens a currency, asset, or a licensing instrument? Arnab Das, global market strategist EMEA at Invesco, says they are mix of all of three.
You can buy, hold and use NFTs just like US dollars and Bitcoins. “They can appreciate in value and even produce cash flows.”
However, while money is fungible, NFTs are not. “One Bitcoin, dollar, euro or dirham is largely indistinguishable from the next. Nothing ties a dollar bill to a particular owner, for example. Nor does it tie you to to any goods, services or assets you bought with that currency. In contrast, NFTs confer specific ownership,” Mr Das says.
This makes NFTs closer to a piece of intellectual property such as a work of art or licence, as you can claim royalties or profit by exchanging it at a higher value later, Mr Das says. “They could provide a sustainable income stream.”
This income will depend on future demand and use, which makes NFTs difficult to value. “However, there is a credible use case for many forms of intellectual property, notably art, songs, videos,” Mr Das says.
The National in Davos
We are bringing you the inside story from the World Economic Forum's Annual Meeting in Davos, a gathering of hundreds of world leaders, top executives and billionaires.
Other promotions
- Deliveroo will team up with Pineapple Express to offer customers near JLT a special treat: free banana caramel dessert with all orders on January 26
- Jones the Grocer will have their limited edition Australia Day menu available until the end of the month (January 31)
- Australian Vet in Abu Dhabi (with locations in Khalifa City A and Reem Island) will have a 15 per cent off all store items (excluding medications)
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Electric scooters: some rules to remember
- Riders must be 14-years-old or over
- Wear a protective helmet
- Park the electric scooter in designated parking lots (if any)
- Do not leave electric scooter in locations that obstruct traffic or pedestrians
- Solo riders only, no passengers allowed
- Do not drive outside designated lanes
The specs
Engine: 2-litre or 3-litre 4Motion all-wheel-drive Power: 250Nm (2-litre); 340 (3-litre) Torque: 450Nm Transmission: 8-speed automatic Starting price: From Dh212,000 On sale: Now
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Pharaoh's curse
British aristocrat Lord Carnarvon, who funded the expedition to find the Tutankhamun tomb, died in a Cairo hotel four months after the crypt was opened.
He had been in poor health for many years after a car crash, and a mosquito bite made worse by a shaving cut led to blood poisoning and pneumonia.
Reports at the time said Lord Carnarvon suffered from “pain as the inflammation affected the nasal passages and eyes”.
Decades later, scientists contended he had died of aspergillosis after inhaling spores of the fungus aspergillus in the tomb, which can lie dormant for months. The fact several others who entered were also found dead withiin a short time led to the myth of the curse.
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre flat-six
Torque: 450Nm at 6,100rpm
Transmission: 7-speed PDK auto or 6-speed manual
Fuel economy, combined: 13.8L/100km
On sale: Available to order now
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
The specs: 2018 BMW R nineT Scrambler
Price, base / as tested Dh57,000
Engine 1,170cc air/oil-cooled flat twin four-stroke engine
Transmission Six-speed gearbox
Power 110hp) @ 7,750rpm
Torque 116Nm @ 6,000rpm
Fuel economy, combined 5.3L / 100km
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Fight card
1. Bantamweight: Victor Nunes (BRA) v Siyovush Gulmamadov (TJK)
2. Featherweight: Hussein Salim (IRQ) v Shakhriyor Juraev (UZB)
3. Catchweight 80kg: Rashed Dawood (UAE) v Khamza Yamadaev (RUS)
4. Lightweight: Ho Taek-oh (KOR) v Ronald Girones (CUB)
5. Lightweight: Arthur Zaynukov (RUS) v Damien Lapilus (FRA)
6. Bantamweight: Vinicius de Oliveira (BRA) v Furkatbek Yokubov (RUS)
7. Featherweight: Movlid Khaybulaev (RUS) v Zaka Fatullazade (AZE)
8. Flyweight: Shannon Ross (TUR) v Donovon Freelow (USA)
9. Lightweight: Mohammad Yahya (UAE) v Dan Collins (GBR)
10. Catchweight 73kg: Islam Mamedov (RUS) v Martun Mezhulmyan (ARM)
11. Bantamweight World title: Jaures Dea (CAM) v Xavier Alaoui (MAR)
12. Flyweight World title: Manon Fiorot (FRA) v Gabriela Campo (ARG)
