Here is the full lowdown on how the two met, got together, and eventually broke millions of hopeful hearts when they decided to go on their separate ways.
At First Sight
The couple first laid eyes on each other (in person) in 2005, but it wasn’t necessarily the first time he’d seen her. After all, she was super famous from her role on NBC. She recalled that when they met, “love came, and it came big.” But instead of running away, she said it was almost as if he picked her up and “threw me over his shoulder like a caveman.”
Well, it’s no surprise with those muscles! Lisa would later disclose that his caveman-like behavior was one of the first things she fell in love with.
First Break
Lisa Bonet was trained as an actress at the Celluloid Actor’s Studio in Hollywood, although she started acting in commercials when she was just 11 years old. 1984, however, was when her world changed forever. That was the year she was cast in her breakthrough role as Denise Huxtable – and life would never be the same.
In all, she starred in more than 100 episodes of the hit show. She was such a popular character that she wound up with a show of her own.
A Show of Her Own
In 1987, four years into her run on 'The Cosby Show,' her spinoff, 'A Different World', came out. The series, which was about Denise being off at college, was short-lived after some unexpected news came out.
Bonet would find herself being written off of a show that was based on her character after filming just over 20 episodes for the series. But what could possibly have made that happen?
Let Go
When producers of 'A Different World' found out that Bonet was pregnant, they wrote her character out. She gave birth to her daughter later that year and took some time off to just be a new mother.
The actress did wind up coming back to 'The Cosby Show' the following year, in 1988. But in the early 1990s, she left the show to pursue acting in film, appearing with Will Smith in the 1998 film, 'Enemy of the State'.
Breaking into Film
A couple of years after making her film debut, Bonet appeared with John Cusack in the 2000 rom-com/drama, 'High Fidelity'. In 2002, she played Heather Lelache in the made-for-TV film, 'Lathe of Heaven', and the next year she was back on the big screen as Queenie, in 'Biker Boyz'. But after she got her taste of the differences between television and film, she made the choice to go back to where it all began: the TV screen in living rooms all across America.
But that doesn’t mean she was entirely finished in film. “I have a desire to create more film, more beauty, more art, more love,” said the actress, “but I don’t feel desperate. It’s not about creating or building a career.”
Made for TV
By 2008, Bonet had returned to her love of acting for television and taken on the role of Detective Maya Daniels in 'Life on Mars'. She would then go on to play a few parts for the historical reenactments on 'Drunk History'. In more recent years, she’s starred as Marisol Campos on Showtime’s crime drama, 'Ray Donovan'.
In 2017, she guest-starred in a short film called 'Jellywolf', which was based around Chanel’s No. 5 perfume. The film was directed by Alma Har’el, and has been described as an “ethereal, feminine coming of age story.” Bonet starred beside Kiersey Clemmons in the spiritual and empowering tale.
Coupled Up
Bonet may have taken a step back from acting since her last role, but that doesn’t mean her name doesn’t still pop up all over the place. Of course, these days it’s mainly because she’s attached to one of the biggest current stars in the world. But then again, she’s always been attracted to superstars – even long before they realize they’re going to become as big as they do!
Before she was with her current husband, she was married to rock legend Lenny Kravitz, with whom she shares a daughter.
Back in the Day
When Kravitz met Bonet, he was far from the iconic music star that everyone knows him as these days. In 1989, she co-wrote multiple songs with him on his first major album, Let Love Rule. In an article from the L.A. Times from that same year, a reporter describes how someone mistakenly referred to Lenny as “Mr. Bonet,” around that time.
Everyone seemed to think the two were meant for each other, but they would be sorely disappointed. Just a few years later, in 1993, the couple announced their breakup.
Rushing In
Bonet and Kravitz got married very quickly after they started dating. She told Ebony magazine that the time period with the star was all very “accelerated, spiritually and intellectually.” She took things a lot slower with her second husband, who she didn’t marry until after the two had been together for 12 years already.
Momoa would later express that he thought of her as “the one” from the moment they met. But Bonet may have not felt exactly the same way from the get-go.
Change of Roles
Bonet’s ex-husband speaks very highly of her whenever he’s asked about their past or current relationship. He agrees with her when she says that everything happened so quickly when they were both very young, but neither of them regrets a thing. Especially considering their relationship resulted in the birth of their beautiful daughter, Zoë Kravitz.
In an interview with People where he said that the relationship between the co-parents has become that of brother and sister.
Growing Up Famous
Perhaps the reason Zoë turned out to be such an amazing actress is thanks to her eclectic childhood. After all, it’s got to be pretty insane growing up as the daughter of a hugely popular actress and an iconic musician. When Kravitz would show up to pick Zoë up from school, it would often be in “leather pants and a netted shirt".
At one point, when the family was living in New York City, he pulled her out of school for an entire month-long trip to the Bahamas. Talk about a thrilling childhood!
Shaking Things Up
Even if you’ve got all of the money in the world and are accustomed to a certain type of lifestyle – life happens. Bonet and her daughter found themselves in crisis mode when, in 1994, an earthquake destroyed their home to a point it forced them out on the streets. Luckily, her mother was able to help them out, but it was still a turbulent time for them all.
Bonet later revealed that, “We were literally camping out!” Luckily, they were able to turn things around and get right back on their feet, with the help of friends and family.
Love and Let Go
Kravitz revealed in a 2013 Oprah Masterclass that he and Bonet were very “deeply in love,” and that their relationship was “magical.” But even so, it wasn’t enough to keep the two together through better or worse. They attribute a lot of personal growth to that relationship, however, and both agree that it was a very valuable time, both for them and because they brought Zoë into the world.
The couple officially got divorced in 1993, on mutually agreeable terms, so as not to hurt any of the parties involved.
Mom and Dad
Like her own daughter, Bonet was born into the world of entertainment. That’s because her father, Allen, was a successful opera singer. But she shares something else with her daughter’s childhood, and that’s that her parents divorced when she was young, as well.
After the split, Bonet mainly stayed with her mother, Arlene, in Los Angeles. Although she spent some time growing up in New York, too. But when Arlene passed away, in 1998, Lisa lived with her father full time.
Black and White
Bonet has openly spoken up about her experience growing up mixed in a different day and age. Even today, actors and actresses in Hollywood fight against typecasting and stereotypes, such as Zoë revealed in her quest to audition for 'The Dark Knight'.
Apparently, she wasn’t allowed to try out for the role because filmmakers didn’t want to go in an “urban” direction. And Bonet’s experience wasn’t much different, yet she also at points felt uneasy, even around her mother’s side of the family.
Different Times, Same Struggles
'The Cosby Show' actress revealed that she often shut down and “internalized” everything she was feeling about her mixed-race and landing roles. She said it best when she said that the world just “wasn’t ready.”
But even today, Zoë finds herself dealing with the same types of issues. The actress questioned why it seems as though “stories can only happen to white people and everyone else is a punchline.”
Seriously Crushing
But even though Bonet may have faced these issues in existing as who she was, that didn’t mean that she wasn’t still extremely popular with an enormous fan base. In fact, one of those fans in particular just so happens to be the man she ended up marrying. Her playing Denise on the show led to an 8-year old Jason Momoa discovering his future wife.
The actor knew immediately, even at such a young age, that he wanted to end up with her. He claims to have even pointed at the TV and told his mother, “I want that one.” And he wasn’t going to quit until he made his dreams into his reality – and that’s exactly what he did, once given the opportunity to connect with his dream girl.
Lilakoi
Just a couple of years after her divorce from Lenny Kravitz, in 1995, Bonet made the interesting choice to legally change her name. She went to the courthouse and signed all of the paperwork to become Lilakoi Moon. As far as the credits for her on TV, however, she continued to use her more recognizable (former) name.
When asked about why she decided to make the switch at all, she said it was because of “privacy reasons.”
Meet You in Paradise
Interestingly, the name she chose sounds Hawaiian, and not long after changing her name she would meet someone from Hawaii that would change the course of her life forever. Yes, you guessed it: the Aquaman hunk himself was born in Hawaii and lived there throughout the course of his young life.
Before becoming the actor we all know and love, he was studying to become a marine biologist, and later transferred his major to wildlife biology in school. He started out his college years in Iowa but then moved to Colorado State. In 1999, Momoa got his foot in the door of the acting world when he landed a role in 'Baywatch: Hawaii'.
Rising Star
From 2005-2009, Momoa held a regular role as Ronon the soldier in 'Stargate Atlantis'. Those who worked on the show with him all had a running joke that his character was their version of Chewbacca on 'Star Wars'. And thus, began the sort of typecasting Momoa lands of the ruggedly handsome and somewhat funny warrior type.
The next part he held was similar in such a way, too, when he was cast as Conan in 2011’s 'Conan the Barbarian'.
Game of Thrones
Later that year, he was thrown into his next major role, in HBO’s 'Game of Thrones'. Momoa found himself playing the part of Khal Drogo, another character that fell along the same lines as those he’d played previously. In fact, since the leader of the Dothraki didn’t speak English and acted like a brutish caveman, he had some problems finding any other type of role afterward for quite some time.
Luckily, his next move was to co-write the 2014 film, 'Road to Paloma', and show off a different side of himself the world hadn’t seen yet.
Initiated into the DC Universe
'Game of Thrones' is a hugely popular show, and Jason Momoa was already starting to build a nice fan base for himself at that point. But in 2016, he found himself playing in the big leagues with major motion picture stars, when he landed the role of Aquaman in 'Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice'.
And, because he turned out to be such a hit, his character’s own film came out just a couple of years later. But his career was still just getting started at that point. Little did he know just how big it would become!
Upcoming Works
Momoa's endeavors didn't stop with "Aquaman". He was later cast alongside Dave Bautista and Zendaya in the 2021 epic sci-fi film, 'Dune'. The film is an adaptation of a 1965 novel by Frank Herbert. The Aquaman star plays Duncan Idaho, the master of swords of House Atreides.
He’s also returned to the screen in another warrior role, in the Apple series, 'See', in which he plays Baba Voss, leader of a gang/tribe in a bleak futuristic world.
Wedding Bells
Momoa and Lisa Bonet were officially a couple in 2005. And just two years after the two first went public with their love story, there were rumors that the pair had tied the knot.
However, it turned out that they were just that – rumors. The stars did indeed get married, but not until they had been dating for more than 10 years already.
The Ceremony
When the couple finally did tie the knot, they tried their hardest to keep things under wraps from the media. In 2017, they had a very intimate ceremony with close friends and family at their home in California. Unfortunately, someone leaked the information and it was just a matter of time before everyone heard the news.
But since most people had assumed that they’d already been married – it wasn’t exactly shocking. Plus, Momoa had already been calling Bonet his “bride” for 10 years.
On Parenting
Lisa Bonet is big on taking the holistic approach and being one with nature. In fact, she’s so in tune with nature that a big rule for the children is no TV. She reported that “I feel strongly about remaining as media-free as we possibly can.”
She loves that being without so much TV means the children use their imaginations more, as she did in her own childhood. “I love that they can go off and play for hours making paper airplanes,” she said during one interview.
On Co-Parenting
Bonet and Momoa make an excellent team as parents, and she enjoys the fact that he takes the “alpha male” role in the relationship. After Bonet’s father left her feeling vulnerable as a child from him not being around all that much, she truly appreciates how great Jason is as a father.
When asked about all of the things she loves about him, the list is endless. On it, physique, charisma, and responsibility. Just goes to show that Aquaman is a real man.
“Jason’s Got a Girlfriend!”
The stars may have only officially gotten together in 2005, but Jason knew that Lisa Bonet had his heart from a (very) young age. Yes, when he was just 8-years old, sitting at home watching TV, he laid eyes on her for the first time. There she was: Denise Huxtable in all of her gorgeous and laid-back glory – and he knew he had to have her.
He even recalls that he brought it up and made a point of telling his mom that someday, he would.
On the Hush
But even though he may have been vocal about his crush as a young boy, he decided to keep quiet about it to his future wife when the two first met. After all, had the first words out of his mouth been, “Oh. My. God, I absolutely knew I wanted to marry you the first time I saw you on The Cosby Show,” things may have not exactly gone as smoothly as they did between them.
Although admittedly, he was being creepy. He later said the thought, “I’m going to stalk you for the rest of my life and I’m going to get you,” went through his head. Well, luckily, he didn’t actually have to stalk her, because that is entirely creepy – even if it is Jason Momoa who’s doing it.
The Meet Cute
Unless Jason Momoa actually did stalk Lisa Bonet and follow her to this club – the way they met was pretty adorable. The first time they were actually in the same vicinity was when they met at a New York City jazz club in 2005.
The actor said Bonet was his “dream woman,” and he knew he couldn’t miss the opportunity. They ended up hitting it off and he reported he, “convinced her to take me home,” since he was living in a hotel at the time.
Freaking Out
According to every report Momoa’s given about the occasion on which he met his future wife, he could barely contain his excitement when she first acknowledged him. All it took was for her to simply introduce herself and he did the whole, arms waving, shrieking like a teenage girl who just got crowned prom queen thing. Of course, he did it facing away from her so he could still save face and keep his cool.
And everything worked out exactly as he’d imagined because, after that introduction, things continued to evolve between the two. And that night was far from over…
Love at First Sip
After meeting at the smooth jazz club where he was with his friends, he’d convinced Bonet to drop him off at his hotel, but not before they stopped at a café. While at the café, they sipped some Guinness and ate grits, which may sound incredibly simple, but was the moment Momoa knew they were in it for the long run.
But even though he was convinced, he still had some convincing to do. But as it turns out, all he really had to do was, “pick me up and throw me over his shoulder, caveman style,” said the Cosby Show actress.
It Came Big
Even though Bonet recalled that the moment they met wasn’t exactly “fireworks” for her, much unlike Momoa described, by actually using that exact word, doesn’t mean she wouldn’t fall just as hard in the future. In fact, over a short period of time, she remembers that “love came, and it came big.” And her reaction? She welcomed the love with open arms and the two were in a happy relationship not long after getting to know one another.
Of course, Bonet’s open mind and openness to love is what’s kept things so amazing for their entire extended family, and how she’s managed to stay best friends with her ex-husband and eldest child’s father for so long.
Dreadlocks
When it comes to their meeting, Momoa swears he just happened to be in the “right place at the right time.” And aside from the magical coincidence that they both ended up in the same NYC club at the same time, there’s the other bit that “I had dreadlocks, she had dreadlocks.”
Of course, you know it’s true love when you’re sporting the same hairstyle! Not really. But in their case, that’s exactly what it was.
Complete Opposites
Bonet has also talked about how her absent father really had an effect on her as a child, and she was impressed that Jason is an “alpha male.” And once they had their two children, the actor let her in on the secret that he’d been crushing since his own childhood.
The adorable thing is, he calls his wife “queen” quite frequently, and said that she has “always been a queen, always.” And Bonet’s Rockstar ex-husband, and friend of her current husband, Lenny Kravitz, would agree with him.
No Drama Mama
It would absolutely take a queen to lead a life that involves a beautiful blended family and being around your ex-husband on a fairly regular basis. But rather than finding the drama you’d expect to find between ex-husband and wife, Lenny and Lisa are actually very good friends still.
In fact, there are times when Bonet accompanies him to events, typically with their daughter Zoë. Such a case would be in 2015 when the family showed up together at the Met Gala.
Nothing but Love
As great as it is that Bonet has remained close friends with her daughter’s father, it may be even greater that he and her new husband are actually pretty good friends, too. Even though they may not hang out to grab drinks on the weekend (or maybe they do), they all come together for family events, like major holidays, such as Thanksgiving.
The two men even posted a photo together on Instagram featuring them wearing matching rings. As it turns out, Momoa had gifted Kravitz one like his from a store called Leroy’s Wooden Tattoos.
And Returned
The love flows pretty freely between all of the family members involved. And recently, Kravitz spoke about just how close he and Momoa are. “I love her husband, he’s like a brother to me,” said the rock legend.
He went on to acknowledge that things were tough after the initial split between him and his ex, but time heals all wounds and they were able to bounce back and come together to form a strong blended family. He added that they like to live by “let love rule.”
Hand-in-Hand
Although being together in a romantic fashion wasn’t in the cards for Kravitz and Bonet, it is obvious that they’ve got a bond that can’t be broken. When they appeared with their daughter Zoë at the 2015 Met Gala, they posted an adorable family photo of daughter and father kissing mom on the cheeks, with the caption “blood.” And they both agree that fate brought them together if for nothing more than to bring her into the world.
Kravitz said of the special relationship that it’s, “really beautiful and shows you what can be done.” Momoa has gotten close to his stepdaughter, too, so close that he’s even dubbed her “Zozobear.”
Support System
When someone in the blended family lands an exciting new opportunity, they’re all very supportive of one another. Zoë opened up about it all in a recent interview, saying, “My dad will call, saying ‘I just got offered this or that,’ and my mom will do the same. We all trust each other’s opinions and we all know each other so well and what we’re capable of, so, if someone’s scared to do something, we encourage them.”
She finished her thought with the closing line, “because we believe in each other as family.” And they all tend to see a lot of each other, so it’s great they get along so well.
Family Goals
Who wouldn’t be envious of what the family has going on, with all of the love and support that flows freely from family member to family member? Every time Momoa is asked about his family, he beams and has nothing but wonderful things to say. He once referred to them as his “greatest work of art.”
With all of the amazing work he’s done on film, they’ve got some tough contenders, but we won’t disagree with the (Aqua)man! And it’s obvious that his wife, or as he calls her, his queen, feels the same way.
Social Media
Although his wife has famously stated that she’s not really into social media that much (especially Facebook), Momoa himself stays pretty active on his Instagram. He’s got to keep the fans happy, after all! And although she may not post her own pictures, he can’t contain the love he’s got for her, so he posts pics of her all the time on his page.
Case in point: the pic showed above, which he captioned, “The way you look at me. (Expletive) love you woman. My everything,” followed by a long string of red hearts.
Happy Family
In 2015, Zoë Kravitz gave an interview in which she gushed about how wonderful everything was between everyone. You know parents have succeeded in splitting perfectly when their kid is still super happy and gets to hang out with both of them on a regular basis.
“We’re a family…we all love each other,” said the future Catwoman actress. “We’ve all worked through whatever issues there have ever been. So, we all get along. Love conquers all.”
Starring Husband and Wife
In 2014, the couple shared the screen in the drama/thriller that Momoa helped write. So, how did the pair handle filming their intimate scene together? Apparently, it all went over pretty smoothly. After all, as the actor and writer put it, it was “like the first night we’d met.” It was nothing new to them, the only thing that was new was bringing it on film for the world to see.
And once they got the ball rolling, they had everything taken care of in no time at all. “We got it in 15 minutes,” he said. Although Momoa may have felt a little uneasy with the whole thing, Bonet found it to be much easier. After all, they had been together for several years already at that point.
On Love Scenes
It’s a reasonable expectation that at some point during an actor’s career, they’re going to have to do a love scene. And both Momoa and Bonet have been on the opposite end of things, behind the scenes watching as their real-life partner romances someone else on film. But Momoa wants nothing to do with seeing his wife get it on with anyone else.
He makes a point to avoid seeing them, if at all possible. Plus – he tries to keep her from seeing his steamy 'Game of Thrones' scenes.
Hot Stuff
Momoa tried to spare his wife from having to watch him tumble around in the sack with Emilia Clarke, but she couldn’t help herself. After all of the talk about how hot the scene was between the two, she checked it out anyways, sneaking behind his back to do so. The verdict? She absolutely loved it. “She stayed up all night watching it, she was obsessed!” But the scenes between Khal Drogo and the Mother of Dragons on 'Game of Thrones' couldn’t exactly be described as “love” scenes.
In fact, Momoa has gotten himself in trouble with the public (and probably with his wife, too,) when he made a comment about liking the fact his character on 'Game of Thrones' can get away with doing awful things. The actor later apologized for his remarks.
Sweet Alpha
And even though Bonet has referred to Momoa as an alpha male, and the type to “pick her up and throw her over his shoulder,” that doesn’t mean he’s nearly as rough as his character on 'Game of Thrones'. How does the former wildlife biology major feel about his forced scenes with Daenerys? “It’s one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do,” he reported.
“You have to separate yourself from it. It’s horrible, but Khal Drogo, that’s what he does.” He also noted that “I love Emilia, she’s someone I adore to this day.”
Matching Tats
Bonet’s daughter has grown incredibly close to Momoa over the years. So close, in fact, that the two have a set of matching tattoos on their arms. The ink reads, “etre toujours ivre,” or, “always be drunk,” in French. They also share the same tattoo with Momoa’s 'Game of Thrones' co-star, Jamie Sives, who plays Jory Cassel in the show’s first season. There are a few different speculations as to what their tattoos stand for.
The most popular version is that it’s a nod to the 19th-century poet, Charles Baudelaire, who has a similar line in one of his poems. The less-popular version is that it’s a nod to a Beyoncé song. Although the family does have a history with Queen Bey, so it’s not entirely impossible.
On Style
The Aquaman star and his gorgeous wife always wow when they show up together on the red carpets. But recently, it seems as though their amazing sense(s) of style have evolved even further, if that’s possible. Take for instance when the two recently went out on the town in Rome, dressed in golden God and Goddess-like outfits.
Not long before, they turned heads at the Oscars with Momoa in his pink velvet suit by Fendi and Bonet in a lovely matching gown.
Family Photos
Zoë isn’t the only one of the children within the family who’s seen their fair share of the red carpet. Sure, she’s seen more of it since she’s done acting of her own, but something tells us that Bonet and Momoa’s children may someday wind up gracing the screens with their own presence, as well.
For now, they’re happy with attending red carpet events with mom and dad, such as when they took Lola to a 'Lion King' private screening for her birthday, which was a bit more casual than your typical red carpet, but it was still there! Or, when both Lola and Nakoa-Wolf accompanied them to an early showing of 'Abominable'.
It Made Him Cry
As it turns out, Momoa is much like the rest of us when it comes to getting teary-eyed at all of the sad moments in 'The Lion King'. The family went to a private screening of the remake, which features Beyoncé, Donald Glover, and Seth Rogan, for Lola’s 12th birthday. And while everyone enjoyed the film, Momoa got a bit emotional in the theatre.
The actor posted a photo of all of them in front of the film’s poster on his Instagram, with a caption that it “made him cry numerous times.” And boy, do fans love to see a different side of him than they’re used to. After all, Khal Drogo probably wouldn’t burst into tears upon the death of a big cat.
Joker
Momoa made waves in the fashion world when he showed up to the premiere of 'Joker' wearing a very similar outfit to that of the title character’s signature purple suit. Of course, the actor would make an appearance to support the mega-popular film, it’s a part of the DC Universe!
And, now that he and his stepdaughter have joined the ranks of the DCU, he’s turning his back on all things Marvel.
Philanthropy
The actor delivered a powerful speech to the United Nations about the effects of climate change on smaller island nations. After all, as someone who was born and raised in Hawaii, he can certainly relate to the fears that the individuals on the islands must be feeling regarding the future of their homes.
After he had spoken, he posted a photo from the event on his Instagram and included the caption, “That was a life changing moment, a true honor to represent island nations at the UN.”
Famous Fans
Jason Momoa isn’t the only person who Lisa Bonet has had a serious impact on. Queen Bey herself has paid tribute to the former Cosby Show star by dressing up as her on a social media project. In the photos, the music star donned a replica of an outfit and hat that Bonet had worn in photos when she was still with Lenny Kravitz and holding Zoë as a baby (Beyoncé held the twins instead.)
Zoë thought the photos were hilarious and responded by asking, “Is Beyoncé also my mom now, or?”
All the Love
Newer generations may not all have heard of Lisa Bonet. That is until the queen herself decided to revive her and show her off to younger people by posing as her on social media. Fans absolutely loved the tribute, pouring into the comment section to express their support with lines like, “Beyoncé as Lisa Bonet has to be one of the best things I’ve ever seen.”
Another agreed, saying they love how the superstar puts other influential black women “on the radar of new generations.”
Seeing Things Differently
Momoa’s role in Apple’s TV+ series, 'See', has changed the relationship between him and his wife, and in the best way possible. In the series, Momoa plays the part of a blind man, which is something that’s new to him. In a recent interview with People, he said that the entire experience has made him more attentive to Bonet.
He also revealed that it’s helped him “feel energies and auras,” rather than taking things in as they’re first seen. “Now I’m a little bit more attentive to my wife’s energy,” he said, “Now I’m connected.”
On Baby Names
Momoa and Bonet’s children’s names are pretty amazing, and they’re anything but conventional. This shouldn’t really come as a surprise, given the fact Bonet changed her own name to Lilakoi Moon back in the 1990s. When she gave birth to her daughter in 2007, they chose the name Lola “Lolani”, which means “royal hawk,” because there were “hawks flying around overhead during the birth.”
Their son, Nakoa-Wolf, actually has a much longer name on his birth certificate: Nakoa-Wolf Manakauapo Namakaeha. That’s a definite tongue twister!
Protecting Her King
When the couple attended the Academy Awards, there was a slightly awkward exchange on the red carpet between them and the host/model, Ashley Graham. While the model spoke to Momoa about his current work, she asked him to do the Haka dance from 'Game of Thrones' – and it did not go over very well with him or his wife.
In fact, he immediately shot a glance in Bonet’s direction, at which point they both sort of stared back at the host with expressions that said, “You cannot be serious right now,” followed by Bonet politely declining for him. After all, the man was on the red carpet in a crazy expensive suit and trying to enjoy a night with his wife. Rude.
Future Ambitions
While Momoa’s acting career is still evolving, Bonet has taken a step back from hers. She prefers to focus on her family life along with different types of art, but she doesn’t have as much of an interest in being on screen.
She reported that acting was how she “made her way,” but that it isn’t really her passion. We can respect that, Ms. Bonet. But the fans do hope to see more of you in the future! She has not completely shut down the option of acting in the future, so maybe it’s not off the table just yet.
An End or a New Beginning?
In January of 2022, through an Instagram post, Bonet and Momoa shocked the world, announcing their separation. The announcement, however, was phrased in a way that was very on-brand with the couple. As great believers of love and the mysterious ways of the universe, the two declared that their marriage is over but their love is just evolving in a different direction.
They expressed their devotion to one another and their family and politely asked to learn about this new phase of their lives away from the public eye. Our hope is that they find their way either back to each other or to a different place of peace and happiness. Knowing them, we have a feeling they will be alright.
If you know your popstar divas, you know Jessica Simpson. She hit the scene in the late ‘90s, rivaling Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera, the reigning pop queens. Like most divas, she would rake in a billion or so launching a fashion brand. And, as with all pop queens, a dish of intimate details is what everybody craves.
Recently, after years of silence, Simpson served up an all-you-can-eat buffet about her highly publicized first marriage in a new memoir. Let’s flashback to when superstar couple Jessica Simpson and Nick Lachey were all the rage.
MTV Stars
Simpson and Lachey played their love life out on MTV. The up-and-coming musicians starred on "Newlyweds: Nick and Jessica," the reality show that would be the demise of their relationship.
When Simpson announced their divorce in 2005, a media frenzy commenced. They were the darlings of the early 2000s, after all!
Behind the Scenes
While it seemed like the reality show revealed everything about Jessica and Nick, behind-the-scenes stories stayed private. That all changed in 2020 when Simpson released her tell-all memoir, "Open Book."
She does not hold back. You would think we'd get the full story on their show, but reality TV isn't always (ever) authentic. It's just surprising how much was actually left out!
A Match Seemingly Made in Heaven
The budding musicians were introduced at the Hollywood Christmas Parade in 1998. They happened to have the same manager, and he paired the two. Lachey was part of a pop boy band called 98 Degrees that didn’t really take off, and Simpson was a pop diva on the rise.
Still, neither Simpson nor Lachey were anywhere near the levels of fame that they were about to reach. The two were from very different backgrounds, but still, sparks flew.
She Said Yes
The couple had an on-again, off-again relationship. After they met in 1998, they went their separate ways until meeting again at a Teen People event. Finally, in 2002, Jessica announced the news on her website. “Nick Lachey asked me to marry him in a very romantic way, and I said yeeeeeeeeeeeeessss!!!
Fans were absolutely hooked, and with that amount of love, a fairytale marriage was expected to follow. Unfortunately, rather early on in the relationship, there were some rough patches. Ones that should have already indicated its doom.
Wedding Bells
The couple married that same year. Lachey said marrying Simpson was the “right thing to do.” A lavish Cinderella wedding spared no expense. They celebrated their matrimony with 350 guests. The fairy tale wedding aired on VH1 and aired in its entirety on "Newlyweds."
It was a big deal. The two pop-stars definitely felt that it was the perfect moment for them, and clearly so did their fans. It was aired on TV, after all. That's quite a lot of pressure.
On Top of the World
The sky was the limit. Once they were married, Jessica released her third studio album, " In This Skin ." The couple signed with MTV to star on " Newlyweds ." The reality show launched in the midst of Simpson’s success. Her third album, however, was the first to barely hit the number 10 spot.
It contained the song “Sweetest Sin,” a tune about her first real love. Jessica had been very open about intimacy after exchanging "I do," in large part because her father, a Christian minister, gave her a chastity ring when she became a teen.
Chicken of the Sea
Is it chicken or tuna? Though Jessica says she was in on the dumb blonde joke she personified on "Newlyweds," she made a couple of really ditzy comments that seemed to seal it. Living on in infamy is her obvious bewilderment with Chicken of the Sea tuna.
It is one of the show’s most momentous episodes. She really doesn’t seem to know if it’s chicken or tuna. In 2003 Simpson spoke more about this to Rolling Stone and tried to set the record straight on the whole tuna/chicken debacle.
Journalism at its Finest
Simpson tried explaining her confusion to "Rolling Stone." In 2003 Simpson sat down with the iconic rock magazine and tried to clear things up. She said, “My confusion there was that I hate fish. But I love tuna, and there was a half of a second there where I thought maybe it could be chicken. ‘Cause I liked it, and I don’t like fish.”
All clear?? She doesn’t care. The comment drove album sales through the roof. Simpson had the reality thing wired way before the Kardashians.
Playing in the Big Leagues
"Rolling Stone," asked Simpson about being lumped in with Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera. She said it was difficult to live up to those singers. Simpson talked about how record companies pressured her to be more like the reigning pop stars, to reveal more skin, to deliver a sexier performance.
Later, in her memoir, she said that the pressure is unnecessary, that there is plenty of room at the top, and she doesn’t mind sharing the spotlight.
The Forever Couple
“I believe Nick and I are going to last forever,” Simpson told RS. In the interview, Jessica shared the reality TV view of her marriage. She talked about candlelit dinners, and romantic horse-drawn carriage rides through Central Park.
Simpson said they would last forever, but she ended it with a cliffhanger. If it doesn’t last, she mused, “It’ll make a good reality show.”
Guess What Happened Next
Spoiler alert: It didn’t last forever. The marriage lasted three years. In 2005, Simpson announced the dissolution, portraying it as a mutual decision. Her statement included words of respect and understanding and a plea to fans and media to respect privacy during their difficult time.
Naturally, the media obliged and gave them space to deal with the split. Just kidding. The very opposite ensued, and once again, a media and fan frenzy was ignited.
Digging Up Dirt
When has the media ever honored privacy pleas by pop divas? Pretty much, never, and it was the same with the reality TV couple’s split. People was one of the first. They dug up backstory dirt from an unnamed source.
The source said that there was no single reason for the divorce but that it was a gradual growing apart, as do most marriages.
Age Differences
The source divulged that Lachey deserved most of the blame. The source told "People" that Lachey went out partying with his buddies while she was left at home to hang out with the dog. Adding that Jessica doesn’t like the club scene.
Lachey was 32, and Simpson was 25 at the time of the split. Simpson cited the age difference as part of it in "Open Book."
Coming to Terms With Reality
Nick Lachey spoke to "Rolling Stone" also. Lachey opened up about why he thought the couple’s marriage failed. He focused most of the blame on the reality show. He said that "Newlyweds" blurred the line of who they really are.
Clearly, there was a difference between that and who they are portraying for audiences. Even at home, he explained, they would slip into their reality show personas. It was confusing.
Not So Mutual
Lachey dropped a bombshell. It came out in the interview that Jessica and Nick’s divorce was far from mutual. He said he was blindsided by her request. He begged Jessica to stay married. Finally, convincing her to at least sleep on it.
When they woke up the next morning, she was just as sure she wanted out of the marriage. The boy band star thought all was well with them.
No Amount of Professional Help Mattered
“I had the best marriage counselor in town,” Lachey said. He hoped they could work it out in therapy. He told "Rolling Stone," “I thought we owed it to ourselves to try with a third party.” Jessica wanted none of it.
On the day she filed for divorce, he drove her to her parents’ house and tried to persuade her to try counseling.
Feeling Like a Failure
Clearly, Lachey was crushed by the divorce. He said he only wanted to make her happy but had failed. He talked about how he wanted her to look at him lovingly, like she had at the beginning, making him feel like the most wonderful man alive.
When that stopped, the pop star admitted that he took the news extremely hard. Living in a completely different reality, Nick confided that it was the “worst feeling in the world.”
Not the Bad Guy
He even defended her. With the media happy to cast Jessica as the bad guy, as a cheater, Lachey attempted to set things straight. He said the marriage is a really difficult thing and that blaming her is not right.
He said she didn’t do anything overly dramatic, like throwing plates at his head. That kind of drama wasn’t there. He claimed there was no other man involved that he knew of.
The Music Video That Changed His Life
Lachey was left with a heartache, and a song he wrote about it called “What’s Left of Me.” He recorded it on a solo album of the same title. It was about the split, and it was his biggest hit. While that sounds heartbreaking and all, things were about to turn around.
A new special someone happened to be starring in the video. That was actress Vanessa Minnillo. Within no time, the two hit it off in 2006 when they met. They married in 2011.
No Longer In Touch
The media whirlwind subsided, and the former reality star steered clear of the spotlight. Jessica didn’t offer any more views about the marriage. In 2009, several years after the split, "Vanity Fair" asked her about it.
She replied, saying she had not spoken with him in years. But she also opened up on a whole lot more. Reflecting on the marriage, Simpson revealed a surprising fact about her relationship on the show.
Fond Memories
When pressed, Simpson answered a question about " Newlyweds." The publication wanted to know if it had affected the marriage. She said no. At that time, she stated, “In all honesty, I believe it did not affect our marriage.”
She went on to say, “We enjoyed watching those episodes, and that will always be a time I cherish. It made me understand what marriage is, what love is, what commitment is."
New Love
Nick Lachey wasn't the only one who got his heart on the mend. After the relationship, Simpson dated around, but in 2010 she met former NFL player Eric Johnson. The couple engaged and then the knot in Montecito in 2014.
They have three children. Their first child was born in 2012, a daughter. They welcomed a son in 2013 and a second daughter in 2019.
The Businesswoman
By 2014, Jessica Simpson had created a lucrative brand of her name. Her fashion line was gaining great success. As somewhat of a financial maven, CNBC invited her on their "Closing Bell" program. The interviewer quizzed her about how she built her fortune and about her worst financial mistake.
To the latter, Simpson took a breath and said, “My biggest money mistake,” and after a pause, “I don’t know, for some reason, I thought of my first marriage.”
A Real Tell-All
The tell-all hit bookshelves in February of 2020. Simpson’s "Open Book" was a major success, topping "The New York Times" Best Seller list. She dished all the details left unanswered since "Newlyweds" ended, and then some.
The autobiographical book gets into her controversial relationship with John Mayer as well as childhood issues.
A Total Performance
In her book, she admitted that "Newlyweds" complicated their relationship. Though she previously denied the show affected them as a couple, in the book, she talks openly about how they portrayed a better TV marriage than real life. The truth was, they weren’t really a perfect couple.
She wrote, “Nowadays, I see so many people performing their identities on social media, but I feel like I was a guinea pig for that.” She talked about that, saying they worked well as a reality show couple, but “when it came time to being alone, we weren’t great at it anymore.”
Standing Up For Herself
Simpson writes about the time she asked Lachey for a divorce. She says she was genuinely surprised to find out that Nick not only talked to the media but told them that he was blindsided when he found out she wanted out.
She couldn’t understand how he could say that when they were not even on speaking terms. She muses that maybe he was surprised that she stood up for herself.
The John Mayer Saga
When Jessica met musical artist John Mayer, she was still married. Soon after her divorce, the two began secretly dating. Simpson found what she missed with Nick. Mayer doted on her every move, and she loved it.
She wrote, “I would go up to go to the bathroom, and John would ask, ‘Where are you going?’ While I was married, my ex-husband couldn’t even be bothered to figure out what city I was in.”
A Rocky Relationship
Simpson’s relationship with Mayer was tumultuous. He broke up with her nine times, each split announced by email. Jessica was intimidated by John as he made her feel insecure and inadequate. Simpson soon began spiraling into substance abuse and drinking.
One time, he broke up with her because she failed him in the recording studio. He wanted to be the producer of one of her songs, but she was overcome by anxiety and couldn’t sing.
The Final Straw
After courting her at her parents’ house, getting in tight with her father, who was her manager, Mayer humiliated her for the last time, or so she thought. She had just broken up with Tony Romo because he discovered emails between Jessica and John, and John invited her to his place.
When she arrived, anticipating an “epic, sweeping love story,” instead, she found he only wanted one thing. He insisted that she sit and listen to him perform his new songs. She said, “I almost puked.” She was over him.
A Little Too Open
Mayer’s parting dig was brutal. The singer-songwriter met up with "Playboy" and gave intimate descriptions of their love-life. He told the magazine sordid details about their intimate relationship, using incredibly crass language.
Simpson was dumbfounded and embarrassed. She said it was shocking that her grandma might actually have to read about that.
A Duke of Hazzard
It’s fair to say she dropped a bombshell in the chapter about Johnny Knoxville. Who’s he? He’s a famous actor who was her costar on "Dukes of Hazard," and she confided that she had fallen for him during the shoot.
Not only was she married to her Newlywed costar hubby, but Knoxville was also married to Melanie Clapp. It was some bad timing on their part, though the connection was undeniable.
A Very Emotional Connection
Still, no matter what the two shared, they tried their hardest to keep it friendly. They were filming together after all, so things had to remain strictly professional.
Of the relationship, Simpson said it was an emotional attachment that was never consummated. In fact, even by the time he left his wife in 2008, she had given up on him.
"Only Rumors"
Johnny Knoxville talked to the media about the affair. They asked him about it in 2005. The year before, rumors had circled around them while "Dukes of Hazzard" was being filmed. He flatly denied everything.
He said that it is hurtful to the families for the media to ask those things, and he categorized it as “just friends.”
Total Pen Pals
Simpson categorized it a bit differently in her tell-all. She said the relationship was like “prison pen-pals.” They wanted to be with each other desperately but were kept apart by family and the media.
She said she and Johnny would text each other all the time, sending love letters and listening to music together, even when Lachey was asleep next to her.
Absent Nick
Meanwhile, Nick was barely present, and she grew to distrust him. She said he would go out to clubs and hang out with his single bros all the time. Or at least this is what she read in the tabloids.
She didn’t know where he went. She said she got tired of staying home like “Betty Crocker.”
He Had No Part In It
When the 2020 memoir became a bestseller, the media wasted no time visiting Lachey. They wanted to know what he thought of the litany of behind-the-scenes stories. His first response was quoted by US Weekly .
He told the magazine that he had not read the book and said that she had not approached him about publishing it.
Keeping the Peace
A couple of days later, Lachey reached out with a message of mutual respect. He told Today that he is happy for her, but he has not read the book. “I don’t know what she said or what she revealed there. But I’m certainly happy for her and her life.”
We're happy that a huge lawsuit and feud didn't follow after that. It looks like that the two may have never made a good pair, but at least they're there's no bad blood.
No Disrespect
Whether he read it or not, her message was also very positive. In the book, she wrote, “I want to be very respectful because I married him for a reason, and we were together for several years for a reason."
The former pop star continued by saying, "he has a family now, and I would never say anything to disrespect that.”
Seeking Privacy
One reason she didn’t want to go to counseling with Nick was that she was terrified of being spied on by paparazzi. When news of the divorce hit the fan, the paparazzi was flying over to her parents’ house where she was staying in order to get a picture of her.
She said tabloids “made up the dumbest things,” but sometimes they were correct. The stress of fame and being on the reality show made them paranoid. The couple would go outside to speak privately.
The Arguments
Eventually, their disagreements grew so intense they overcame the fear of surveillance. In one fight, the fight that ended it for Simpson, he screamed at her in a drunken fit, “Your friends don’t exist. You just pay them to be around you.”
This was after a dinner party she hosted. Then he said, “Your parents are only around because they are on the payroll.” The marriage was over for Simpson at that point.
Her Dad Tried to Intervene
Jessica’s dad tried to stop her from marrying Nick at the very last minute. It was no secret that Joe Simpson did not want his daughter to marry Nick. He said she was too young. Nick knew that because her dad told him to his face.
On the day of the wedding, as Joe was getting ready to walk Jessica down the aisle, he pleaded with her one last time, “We don’t have to do this.” Looking back to that 2002 wedding, Simpson laments about her not being ready.
Goodbye, Father
Simpson fired her dad in 2012. Joe Simpson had always been her manager because her music career took off at such an early age. Since she was 13, she depended on and trusted her dad. But when Nick entered her life, she looked to him for validation.
Jessica said she let her dad go because he had made bad deals in the backroom without consulting her. He slighted people left and right, and they thought it was her. “Bridges were burned, and I didn’t know how many until I tried to cross them,” Simpson wrote.
A Blasphemous Proposal
It was Lachey who wanted a prenup. Ironically, the reason there was no prenuptial agreement in Jessica and Nick’s marriage is because Jessica was virulently opposed. In 2002, Jessica Simpson was just breaking into the music industry while Lachey’s 98 Degrees boy band was topping out.
When Lachey and his financial advisors suggested the idea, Jessica said, “I exploded.” Marriage is supposed to be forever; it felt like blasphemy.
A Pricey Settlement
When the marriage ended after three years, Lachey cashed out big time. Simpson noted, “We were both blessed by God, but Nick had a better lawyer.” Her father tried to fight Lachey’s settlement requests, but Simpson paid him what he wanted. $12 million later, the divorce was final.
When her dad scoffed at the amount, she told him not to worry, that she would earn it back. And she did, many times over.
The Empire
Jessica Simpson is a business maven. The multi-billion-dollar fashion empire called the Jessica Simpson Collection sells women's and girls' clothing and accessories.
It rakes in a billion dollars annually. Simpson’s brand earns her $30 million per year.
Cashing it In
Simpson also managed to bag a $120 million licensing deal. She told Closing Bell that she has great financial management. Her business manager David Levin has handled all her finances from the start.
According to the pop star, he has made her a ton of money and made very few mistakes. That's the way to go!
The Man Behind the Show
It was Simpson’s father who pitched "Newlyweds" to MTV. MTV thought it was a great idea to make a reality show based on new couples. In fact, they had that type of show in production with Michael Jackson and Lisa Marie Presley, who walk off the project after pre-production.
Joe approached MTV as a manager, hoping to tone down the not so PG media image of his daughter and bring audiences to her slumping record sales. It worked. The show made her music go platinum.
Almost a Christian Pop- Star
Simpson, whose father is a Baptist minister, is also staunchly religious. In "Open Book," she writes that her faith is what defines her. She says that we all go through trials, but “not one thing has ever made me question God.”
She sang at church and in Christian choirs as a child and would have been a Christian music star if the faith-based music industry hadn’t deemed her too sensual to sing praises of Jesus.
Big Changes
Simpson got sober in 2017. She had to. According to her book, she was on a very destructive path. She said ditching the bottle was the easy part because it made her “complacent and numb” to life. It was at home, Halloween 2017, when she crashed to her bottom.
She told her friend she knew she had to stop, then and there. She hopes this story in "Open Book" helps others find the path she did. She says that honesty is rewarding and “getting to the other side of fear is beautiful.”