The pair, who starred together in the 2022 Broadway revival of “The Music Man,” reportedly developed romantic feelings, but those insiders kept it under wraps because the actors were known for being “nice and great people.”
Just a month earlier, Hugh Jackman’s ex-wife, Deborra-Lee Furness, seemed to confirm suspicions that the actor’s relationship with Sutton Foster “blindsided” her.
Article continues below advertisement
Source Claims Hugh Jackman’s Romance With Sutton Foster ‘Overlapped’ With His Marriage To Deborra-Lee
Speaking with US Weekly, a source claimed that Jackman’s alleged relationship with Foster was the reason his marriage to Furness ended in September 2023.
“Sutton and Hugh’s relationship is the reason Hugh and Deb got divorced,” the insider shared with the publication.
According to the source, the relationship was an open secret among Broadway insiders who knew Jackman and Foster when they starred in “The Music Man” in 2022.
They also confirmed that the romance did “overlap” with the period the “Deadpool and Wolverine” star was still married to Furness.
They added, “A lot of people on Broadway knew, and we kept it quiet because both of them are so nice and great people. Everyone respected their privacy. But there was an affair and overlap.”
Article continues below advertisement
“They are really happy now,” the source added, about the Broadway stars who have yet to confirm their relationship.
Article continues below advertisement
The Actor’s Ex-Wife Was ‘Blindsided’ By His Romance With His Broadway Co-Star
Though it’s unclear exactly when Jackman and Foster’s romantic involvement began during the run of “The Music Man,” Furness reportedly didn’t suspect her husband of cheating until much later.
“Deborra-lee was blindsided when she found out about the affair through the run of the show,” said an insider. “It was apparently Broadway’s worst-kept secret, and Deborra-lee was the last to know.”
The source also claimed that when Furness finally confronted Jackman, “he didn’t own up to it” and continued his affair with Foster despite the Australian actress wanting to save their marriage.
In September 2023, the former couple put out a statement revealing they were separating to pursue their individual growth.
Article continues below advertisement
They have since refrained from conversing about what led to their marriage breakdown. However, Furness herself seemed to have recently confirmed that Jackman’s alleged cheating caused it.
Furness was caught privately liking a post from gossip blogger Tasha Lustig that claimed Jackman had “blindsided” her by “running off with the mistress” and was preparing to “soft launch” his romance with Foster.
Article continues below advertisement
Deborah-Lee Furness Was ‘Devastated’ By The Divorce
After nearly three decades of marriage, there was bound to be a great deal of emotional pain, much of which Furness seemingly bore the brunt of.
“For a woman who’s been in a marriage for 27 years who then discovers her partner was unfaithful and isn’t trustworthy, it’s a pretty devastating life experience,” a friend of Furness told the publication.
They added, “I think many people were shocked he could do this to her, especially as she’s the mother of his children, and they’ve navigated three decades of life together. A little respect may have been in order.”
Jackman and Furness share two children, Oscar and Ava, who are now legal adults, sparing them from custody issues at the time of their split.
The Australian Actress Has ‘Leaned Into Work’ To Cope With Her Split From Hugh Jackman
An insider told the Daily Mail how Furness has been coping with the heartbreak she felt after her separation from Jackman. They noted that the actress focused more on her career as she navigated being single again.
“She’s taking things slow and steady but trying to embrace her new normal,” the source said. “Instead of romance, she has leaned into work as her saving grace as she moves forward with life without Hugh.”
They added, “She is eager and excited, along with being apprehensive, to dive into a relationship and love again. She has to find herself again, and then everything else will fall into place. It will take some time, but she is getting better every day.”
Article continues below advertisement
Hugh Jackman And Sutton Foster Are ‘Going Strong’
Last month, a different source confirmed that Jackman and Foster are going strong in their rumored relationship after “falling in love. “
The insider shared that not only had the duo’s connection blossomed deeply, but they could also see themselves walking down the aisle in the future.
“They are 100 percent together and are in love and want to spend the rest of their lives together,” the source told Page Six.
According to the source, the duo prefers to keep things under the radar for now despite their romance not really being a secret.
The insider shared further, “They are still together. They go out of their way to hide it, but it’s