Welcome to 2025: The return of Trump, toxic masculinity and a world on the edge
Welcome to 2025: The return of Trump, toxic masculinity and a world on the edge

Edaein OConnell

Ireland’s ESG agenda: how to sustainably green your business in 2025
Ireland’s ESG agenda: how to sustainably green your business in 2025

Sarah Finnan

Meet the new IMAGE Business Club coaches: who will you choose?
Meet the new IMAGE Business Club coaches: who will you choose?

IMAGE

Image / Living / Culture

Celebrity couples we definitely *didn’t* have on our 2023 bingo card


By Sarah Finnan
25th Sep 2023

@BobaFatt

Celebrity couples we definitely *didn’t* have on our 2023 bingo card

Two years ago, we declared 2021 ‘Year of the Deranged Celebrity Couple’ – something we initially put down to the lingering fumes of whatever blood-infused potion Megan Fox and Machine Gun Kelly had been drinking at the altar of their love.

However, what we thought to be a passing trend continued long into 2022 and now in 2023, it’s clear that cursed couplings definitely aren’t a fad… in fact, this year has produced even more unexpected partnerships than the previous two years combined.

We’re not even 10 months into the year and we’ve already had quite a heavy roster of head-scratching duos; from Kelis and Bill Murray to Kylie Jenner and Timothée Chalamet, Rami Malek and Emma Corrin and the alleged throuple between Una Healy, Sian Osborne and David Haye. 

Let’s delve right in…

Rami Malek and Emma Corrin

The latest in surprising celebrity pairings? Bohemian Rhapsody‘s Rami Malek and The Crown’s Emma Corrin. Undeterred by the 15-year age gap between them (Malek is 42 while Corrin is 27), the two seemingly confirmed their romance last week when they were spotted kissing as they walked a dog in London on Thursday. Whispers that there could be more to the friendship first started circulating this summer after the two were seen at a Bruce Springsteen concert, sitting rather close to one another. A couple of months later, they publicly attended the US Open together and last week, they all but confirmed it with some PDA.

Kelis and Bill Murray 

Something something milkshake, something something yard. 

Rumours about Kelis (43) and Bill Murray (72) started circulating this summer after suggestions that the two have allegedly been “growing close for some time”. According to reports, Murray has been spotted attending several of Kelis’ concerts overseas with claims that the two bonded over shared experiences of grief (Kelis lost her husband to stomach cancer last year while both Murray’s older brother and his second wife passed away in 2021). Responding to a fan’s comment about the rumoured romance, Kelis simply wrote that she “wouldn’t bother at all”, leaving us all guessing as to what exactly she means by that. Seriously, who had this on their 2023 bingo card!?

Kylie Jenner and Timothée Chalamet

Yes, Kylie Jenner and Timothée Chalamet are really a thing. Back in June, Page Six obtained photos of the two hanging out at a low-key family BBQ with both Kendall Jenner and Timmy’s sister, Pauline, also present. I don’t think any of us actually believed they were a couple until they took their romance public though – first at Beyoncé’s Los Angeles show and later at the Men’s Singles Final match at the US Open in New York. No question Kris Jenner is responsible for the absolute PR superstorm that followed… that woman needs a day off!

Taylor Swift and Matty Healy 

Fresh off her breakup with Joe Alwyn, a newly single Taylor Swift was repeatedly linked to The 1975 frontman, Matty Healy. “She and Matty are madly in love,” a source reportedly told The Sun. “It’s super-early days, but it feels right. They first dated, very briefly, almost 10 years ago but timings just didn’t work out. Both Matty and Taylor have been touring over the past few weeks, so it’s been a lot of FaceTiming and texting, but she cannot wait to see him again.” Healy was later spotted at two of Swift’s concerts  – there with Phoebe Bridgers one night, Gigi Hadid the next. All of that was short-lived though and  two have since ended things after just one month of dating.“She had fun with him, but it was always casual,” a source told People. I’m paraphrasing a Taylor song here but, we knew this was trouble as soon as it started.

Tyga and Avril Lavigne

Clearly both subscribing to the celebrity date night handbook, Tyga and Avril Lavigne soft launched their relationship to the public in February in Nobu Malibu – the place to be for A-listers. “They’re very into each other,” a source told People, adding that they “don’t plan on rushing into a relationship”… seems their caution was well-advised as the two parted ways not long after. According to TMZ, their breakup was “a mutual decision” and there are “no hard feelings” between them. “The romance just ran its course.”

Kendall Jenner and Bad Bunny

Kylie isn’t the only Kardashian-Jenner sibling to be tailed by rumours of a new love interest and sister Kendall has repeatedly been linked to singer Bad Bunny since February of this year. Seen attending various events together – including a Met Gala after-party and an NBA game where they sat courtside – a source told Entertainment Tonight that things are definitely “getting more serious” between them. “He is not only spending more time with Kendall, but with the rest of the family as well,” they noted, later adding, “They’re both always laughing and smiling together and have similar family values.” She did crop him out of an Instagram post though so I wouldn’t expect wedding bells *just* yet. 

Emily Ratajkowski and Eric Andre 

https://twitter.com/PopCrave/status/1625549709933785088?lang=en

Eric Andre did what Kim K endeavoured to do back in 2014 and broke the internet with his Valentine’s Day Instagram post this year – which comprised two nude photos of him on the couch, with a half-dressed Emily Ratajkowski visible in the mirror behind him. Though they only dated for a few weeks, the memory of that photo lives on. As does the video of EmRata kissing one Mr Harry Styles which surfaced not long after. Leaked video footage of the two quickly went viral online and unsurprisingly, people had a lot to say. Ratajkowski thinks it’s all “very bizarre” though. “I’m just a person who’s gone from a three-year relationship to a four-year relationship, so this is the first time in a long time that I’ve been in a dating stage. The interest in that particular area [of my life] is very strange. Not that I’m surprised, but it’s a tiny slice of my life. Most of my life is focused on my son and my work. But I guess these issues don’t inspire the same flashy headlines. The invasion of private aspects is very hard for me,” she told Spanish Vogue

Phoebe Bridgers and Bo Burnham

Phoebe Bridgers saying that her best Christmas ever was spent in Maynooth was certainly a 2022 wildcard. “Last year, I stayed with my boyfriend’s [Paul Mescal] family in Ireland. It was a full rom-com,” the singer told Vogue last December. Two months later it was reported that the couple had called an end to their relationship with rumours swirling that Bridgers was romantically linked to American comedian Bo Burnham. All of that seemed to die down… until this summer when Keith Urban unwittingly posted a video of himself and wife Nicole Kidman at a Taylor Swift gig. Zoom in and you’ll see Burnham and Bridgers kissing in the background. Probably not Urban’s finest moment.

Anna Wintour and Bill Nighy

After years of dating rumours, Anna Wintour and Bill Nighy appeared to confirm their relationship when they walked the red carpet together at the 2023 Met Gala. Nighy, however, maintains that the two are just “great friends” and have been for over two decades. That might be so, but they’d make quite the power couple, wouldn’t they!? Wintour’s team declined to comment – but a source close to the US Vogue editor-in-chief told Page Six: “We think last night speaks for itself.” If you know what that means, please let me know…

Shakira and Lewis Hamilton 

Shakira set the petty precedent after she parted ways with Spanish footballer Gerard Piqué, whom she split with after more than a decade together. Initially seeming to take the high road for the sake of their two children, that decision was short-lived and it wasn’t long before the singer had put a lifesize witch doll on her balcony, aiming it in the direction of her former mother-in-law’s house. A cryptic message to her ex? Well, that’s how many read it. The drama between her and Pique might be over though as Shakira reportedly has a new beau in the form of F1 driver Lewis Hamilton. He may have some competition, however, as actor Tom Cruise is apparently “extremely interested” in pursuing Shakira too. She’s a woman with options by the sounds of it.

Una Healy and David Haye 

And finally, I couldn’t possibly do a roundup of unexpected celebrity pairings without including the one the entire country was completely consumed with for months. In a nutshell, rumours began circulating earlier this year that former Saturdays singer Una Healy was in a throuple with ex-professional boxer David Haye and model Sian Osborne after photos of the trio on holidays together appeared online. That was never the case according to Una, who joined Joanne McNally and Vogue Williams on their podcast to clear things up once and for all. “Dating him is the right term, because that’s how it was – it wasn’t a throuple,” Healy explained. “This throuple was existing in print, but in reality, I’m actually at home in Thurles looking after my kids. I was trolled to death.” 

Feature image via @BobaFatt on Twitter.