Hugh Jackman has been accused of planning a ‘soft launch’ for his blossoming relationship with co-star Sutton Foster.
He’s been embroiled in an increasingly explosive love triangle with former co-star Sutton Foster, and now his ex Deborra-Lee Furness is in the middle of the feud, RadarOnline can reveal.
Foster, 49, co-starred with Jackman in the stage production of The Music Man from December 2021 to January 2023.
She filed for divorce from her screenwriter husband of ten years Ted Griffinlate last month, after long denying any romantic ties to Jackman.
Furness appeared to confirm that the real reason for their legal separation in September 2023 stemmed from his rumored affair with his former Music man leading actress, Foster.
The Australian 68-year-old’s private Instagram account ‘liked’ an October 26 video from a gossip blogger in which he claimed he was ‘eloping with the mistress’ and planning a ‘soft launch’ of their relationship.
Adding credence to the claim was Amanda de Cadenet, a friend of Furness, who responded to the same post: “You’re right on target with this one. My beloved friend Deb is about to have her ripped off at any moment!”
It was in March 2020, just as COVID shut down the world, when the 56-year-old Australian and the Georgia-born, Michigan-raised 49-year-old first began workshopping Jerry Zaks’ Broadway revival of the musical from 1957.
Jackman and Sutton took on the roles of Harold Hill and Marian Paroo The Music Manwhich ran from February 2022 to January 2023 at the Winter Garden Theater in Manhattan.
“Sutton and Hugh’s relationship is the reason Hugh and Deb [separated]’, a source close to Foster revealed.
“A lot of people on Broadway knew, and we kept it quiet because they’re both such nice and wonderful people. Everyone respected their privacy. But there was an affair and overlap. They’re really happy now.”
They continued, “Hugh’s whole image is that he’s the nicest guy in Hollywood, so he doesn’t know what to do with this.”
Another showbiz mole added: “Deborra-Lee was blindsided when she heard about the affair on the show. It was apparently Broadway’s worst-kept secret, and Deborra-Lee was the last to know. [Worse yet,] he didn’t feel like it!
“For a woman who has been married for 27 years and then finds out that her partner is unfaithful and not trustworthy, it’s a pretty devastating life experience,” Furness’ friend said.
“I think a lot of people were shocked that he could do this to her, especially since she is the mother of his children and they lived together for three decades. A little respect might have been appropriate.”
The Deadpool action star fell in love with Furness while starring as a brain-damaged convict and prison psychologist in ABC’s 10-episode series Corelli in 1995.
Eyebrows were raised again when the two-time Tony winner filed for an uncontested divorce from her second husband, Ted Griffin, in New York County Supreme Court on October 22.
During their decade-long marriage, Sutton and the 53-year-old 9-1-1 producer-writer adopted 7-year-old daughter Emily Griffin, and she shared Fashion in 2022 that her family spent a Memorial Day with Hugh’s family.
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