Celebrities who swapped partners with their friends: From Shania Twain to Tom Cruise

A look at 8 celebrities whose ex-partners went on to date their friends

Dating a friend's ex-partner or getting into a relationship with your spouse's new love interest could seem like a scene from a Hollywood movie. However, it appears to be a normal aspect of dating for celebrities, who seem to have no guilt or hesitation in shattering friendships in favor of swapping partners. From Tom Cruise's ex-wife Katie Holmes seeing his friend Jamie Foxx to Drake's ex-girlfriend Rihanna moving on with his collaborator A$AP Rocky, nothing is off the table.

1. Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes

Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes were one of Hollywood's most talked about couple until they got divorced in 2012, after five years of marriage. Rumors of a romance between Holmes and Cruise's 'Collateral' co-star Jamie Foxx began to circulate less than a year later. The two maintained an intermittent relationship till 2019 and apparently donned disguises to keep their liaison a secret. Holmes and Foxx even debuted as a couple at the 2019 Met Gala to a lot of fanfare. However, their romance soon fizzled out as Foxx was spotted with a different woman in April 2019, according to Daily Mail.

2. Reba McEntire and Narvel Blackstock

Country music icon Reba McEntire expressed her dismay after learning that her husband of 26 years, Narvel Blackstock wanted a divorce in 2015. Things escalated when it was discovered that Blackstock had begun dating Laura Stroud—a real estate agent who was regularly featured on McEntire's social media pages while they were together. Blackstock and Stroud carried on their romance and tied the knot in April 2024.

3. Shania Twain and Robert 'Mutt' Lange

Canadian singer Shania Twain was involved in a tragic "spouse swap" when her ex-husband Robert "Mutt" Lange had an extramarital affair with her former best friend, Marie-Anne. Marie-Anne and Twain first crossed paths while the former worked as Lange's interpreter and assistant. In a plot twist more common in fiction, Twain eventually developed feelings for Marie-Anne's ex-husband, Frederic Thiebaud, and the two also got married in 2011. 

4. TJ Holmes and Amy Robach

Former 'Good Morning America' co-hosts Amy Robach and TJ Holmes made headlines when their romance became public in 2022, while they were still married to Andrew Shue and Marilee Fiebig, respectively. A year later, it emerged that Andrew and Marilee had forged an unusual friendship after connecting over the "traumatic experience" of their highly publicized and messy splits. Individuals close to them said that the pair has grown to be "bigger than the affair" and that they feel totally "connected on their values."

5. Heather Locklear and Richie Sambora

Denise Richards and Heather Locklear became friends while the former's ex-husband, Charlie Sheen, was filming the popular sitcom 'Spin City' with the latter. Sheen and Richards' relationship ended in 2005. Less than a year later, Locklear divorced her rock star spouse Richie Sambora after 11 years of marriage. Shortly after the divorce, Sambora was pictured hand-in-hand with Richards at an airport. The actress later revealed that they started bonding after Sambora's father was diagnosed with cancer as her mother was also dealing with the illness. Richards and Sambora separated in 2008, however, her friendship with Locklear never completely healed.

6. Drake and Rihanna

Drake and Rihanna began dating in early 2016 having a brief fling in 2009. Drake confirmed his feelings for the 'Umbrella' hitmaker at the MTV Video Music Awards in August 2016, saying, "She’s someone I’ve been in love with since I was 22 years old. She’s one of my best friends in the world." However, the two parted ways just two months later. In February 2020, Rihanna started seeing another longtime friend, A$AP Rocky, with whom she had initially worked in 2011. A$AP Rocky also collaborated with Drake on the popular song 'F**kin' Problems' in 2021. Rihanna and A$AP Rocky have since welcomed two children, RZA and Riot. 

7. Blac Chyna and Tyga

Blac Chyna initially gained popularity while dating rapper Tyga between 2011 and 2014. However, the reality star found herself at the center of attention after her unexpected breakup with Tyga. Around the time the couple announced their split, rumors began to circulate that the 24-year-old 'Rack City' hitmaker had ditched her for Kylie Jenner, who was 17 at the time. In January 2016, Chyna shocked everyone by going public with Jenner's half-brother Rob Kardashian, but they eventually parted ways at the end of the same year. Meanwhile, Tyga and Jenner split in April 2017 following a highly publicized two-year relationship. 

8. Nina Dobrev and Ian Somerhalder

Nina Dobrev and Ian Somerhalder met on the set of 'The Vampire Diaries' in 2009 and went on to date from 2010 to 2013. During that period, Dobrev became friends with 'Twilight' actress Nikki Reed. Fans were shocked when Reed and Somerhalder began dating in 2014. The couple got married in 2015 and went on to welcome their daughter in 2017 and a second child in 2023. In 2019, Dobrev revealed she maintained a friendship with the couple and didn't think it was "weird" to spend time with their family.