Hugh Jackman’s pals side with ex Deborra-Lee Furness as his love story with Sutton Foster unfolds

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA: Hugh Jackman, beloved for his role as 'Wolverine', is facing backlash from his Australian friends following his split from wife Deborra-Lee Furness after 27 years of marriage.

Jackman, 56, announced the separation in September 2023 amid rumors of a budding romance with Sutton Foster, 49, his co-star in Broadway’s 'The Music Man'.

Hugh Jackman faces backlash from friends over split with Deborra-Lee Furness

Insiders say Hugh Jackman’s longtime friends are standing firmly with Deborra-Lee Furness, 69, and are deeply disappointed by the actor’s behavior. “Hugh’s friends in Australia are close to Debs too, and they’re siding with her in all of this,” shared a source.

While Jackman and Foster haven’t confirmed their relationship, rumors of their romance have fueled further criticism. “Even though Hugh hasn’t gone public with Sutton, it’s an open secret they’re madly in love,” the insider added before continuing, “It’s no wonder Debs feels like she got tossed aside for the younger model.”

Jackman and Furness, who share two adopted children, Oscar, 24, and Ava, 19, were once seen as a rock-solid couple, having met on the set of the Australian drama 'Correlli' in 1995 and married the following year. However, their breakup has led to mounting disapproval from Jackman’s circle of friends, many of whom feel he’s let Furness down.

An insider revealed, "Hugh and Debs have been a couple for as long as most everyone has known them, and she was hugely popular so of course everyone is feeling terrible for her. The way Hugh has treated Debs is being seriously frowned on and he's not getting a pass from his friends over it."

In December, Jackman was seen spending time with his kids at Bondi Beach, but his return to Australia has been far from warm. According to sources, the homecoming has been marked by cold shoulders and blunt feedback from those who once supported him.

“To say it hasn’t been a very pleasant welcome home is the understatement of the year,” shared a source. “Hugh’s doing his best to focus on his kids and shake off the cold treatment, but he’s quite wounded over this. He didn’t realize how angry everyone would be with him and is feeling pretty sheepish,” they stated.

Hugh Jackman and Sutton Foster confirm romance with public display of affection

Hugh Jackman, 56, and Sutton Foster, 49, have officially confirmed their relationship, stepping out as a couple and sharing affectionate moments in public.

The pair, who formed a close bond while starring together on Broadway's 'The Music Man', was spotted on Sunday night, January 12, at an In-N-Out drive-thru in Los Angeles' San Fernando Valley. Photos and videos obtained by Daily Mail show Jackman and Foster exchanging kisses while waiting for their order and sharing a tender moment after stepping out of the car.

Their romance comes after years of friendship, with their connection deepening during the pandemic-delayed run of 'The Music Man', which premiered in December 2021 and concluded its successful run in January 2023.

Jackman announced his separation from his wife of 27 years, Deborra-Lee Furness, in September 2023. Foster, meanwhile, filed for divorce from her husband, screenwriter Ted Griffin, in October 2024 after 10 years of marriage.

Rumors of a romance between Jackman and Foster had swirled for months, with speculation initially dismissed by Foster via a family photo on social media. However, a friend of Furness later hinted that the gossip might hold truth, stating that the rumors were “on point.”

The couple went public with their relationship on January 6, 2025, during a date night in Los Angeles, where they were seen holding hands.