'Friends' star Courteney Cox and Snow Patrol's Johnny McDaid end decade-long romance

Courteney Cox and Johnny McDaid reportedly decided to part ways after navigating an engagement, reconciliation, and more than a decade together
Courteney Cox and Johnny McDaid reportedly ended their relationship after more than 10 years together (Getty Images)
Courteney Cox and Johnny McDaid reportedly ended their relationship after more than 10 years together (Getty Images)

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Actress Courteney Cox and singer-songwriter Johnny McDaid have ended their relationship after more than 10 years together.

The former couple first met and began dating in 2013 after being introduced by mutual friend and musician Ed Sheeran at a star-studded house party hosted by Cox at her Los Angeles home. They got engaged in June 2014 before later calling off the engagement, reconciling, and remaining together for years.

LOS ANGELES, CA - MARCH 21:  Actress Courteney Cox and boyfriend Johnny McDaid attend an Evening of
Courteney Cox and Johnny McDaid attended an Evening of Environmental Excellence presented by The UCLA Institute Of The Environment And Sustainability at a private residence in Los Angeles, California, on March 21, 2014 (Jason Merritt/Getty Images for UCLA)

Courteney Cox and Johnny McDaid's relationship journey

The Daily Mail first reported the couple's split on Saturday, June 27.

Cox and McDaid were last seen together publicly when they attended the US Open in September 2025. Before that, in July, the actress celebrated the musician's 48th birthday with a heartfelt Instagram tribute, sharing photos of him performing onstage, flying a plane, and smiling beside her with a fish he had caught.

Alongside the pictures, she wrote, "Happy birthday to the man who can do most anything. I love you always J."

The couple got engaged nine months after they began dating but called off their engagement in late 2015 before reconciling the following year. They never became engaged again.

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 22:    Courteney Cox attends the The Last Ship Opening Night Perfo
Courteney Cox attended 'The Last Ship' opening night performance in Los Angeles, California, on January 22, 2020 (Jean Baptiste Lacroix/Getty Images)

In April 2024, Cox revealed on the 'Minnie Questions with Minnie Driver' podcast that the couple had previously split during a couples therapy session.

“Three years in, we broke up, and it was really intense. We broke up in therapy. I didn't know it was coming, whether I should have or not,” she said.

She continued, “He just broke up within the first minute. And I was like, what? We were engaged, and I was so shocked. I was in so much pain,” and later explained what led to the breakup, saying, “He wasn't trying to surprise me."

Cox further emphasized, "He was in that much pain in the relationship. There was that much that needed to be dealt with that he had to protect himself around his heart.”

BEVERLY HILLS, CALIFORNIA - NOVEMBER 07: (L-R) Courteney Cox, winner of the 'Artists Inspiration Awa
Courteney Cox attended the SAG-AFTRA Foundation's 4th Annual Patron of the Artists Awards alongside Jennifer Aniston and Lisa Kudrow in Beverly Hills, California, on November 7, 2019 (Gregg DeGuire/Getty Images for SAG-AFTRA Foundation)

Courteney Cox reflects on lessons from her relationship with Johnny McDaid

Although the split was painful, Cox said it ultimately reshaped the relationship after they reunited the following year. She explained that the experience helped her reclaim her voice and establish healthier boundaries.

“It really taught me how I operated in the world,” she said on the podcast.

She continued, “What were the things from my childhood that I needed? Like, whether it was to be adored by men or things that I didn't know how to let go to be in a relationship. To not take things personally, my boundaries. I just went into myself and I had a great therapist.”

In an earlier interview with PEOPLE, Cox reflected on the lessons she had learned over the years.

“I've learned you can't take a lot personally,” adding, “I used to think, 'Oh well, if you loved me...' It's not really about you. People do things because of their own history and their own past. I had to learn that lesson for sure.”

LOS ANGELES, CA - MARCH 21:  Actress Courteney Cox and boyfriend Johnny McDaid attend an Evening of
Courteney Cox and Johnny McDaid attended an Evening of Environmental Excellence presented by The UCLA Institute Of The Environment And Sustainability at a private residence in Los Angeles, California, on March 21, 2014 (Jason Merritt/Getty Images for UCLA)

Cox, who launched her home-care product line Homecourt, also spoke about how spending time apart from McDaid during the first part of the COVID-19 pandemic made her value their relationship even more.

“I've learned that love is precious,” she said adding, “As I've gotten older, I've realized that.”

When she was not working, the actress said she enjoyed spending time at home with her daughter Coco, whom she shares with ex-husband David Arquette, their two dogs Bear and Lily, and McDaid.

She said, “I like to putter, I like to get things done during the day. And then around 6 o'clock, it's time to relax, whether it's with my close friends who come over or with Johnny. I cook a lot.”

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