By Jessica Wedemeyer
8:15am PST, Feb 20, 2020
Wonderwall.com is taking a look back at the stars who found love, suffered heartbreak or experienced some other major event in their love lives in mid-February 2020, starting with one of our favorite wrestler-turned-actors… John Cena and his girlfriend of less than a year, Shay Shariatzadeh, sparked engagement rumors when fans saw her sporting a massive sparkler on her ring finger during a Feb. 17 outing in San Diego. (See a fan-captured photo here.) One onlooker told E! News that while the wrestler-actor posed for photos with fans, Shay was "right behind him with [a] huge engagement ring on her finger." Added the witness, "They were very affectionate. She was grabbing onto his arm the whole time and the ring was def on her left hand." John further fueled the engagement rumors by taking to Instagram to share a photo of a painting of what appears to be a bride and groom dancing together. He also recently posted a meme about sweethearts saying yes … purportedly to proposals. And on Feb. 18, he tweeted a quote attributed to French author Andre Maurois reading, "A happy marriage is a long conversation that always seems too short." Now keep reading for more of the week's biggest celeb love life updates…
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Jenna Dewan and Steve Kazee took to Instagram on Feb. 18 to announce that they're engaged after about a year and a half of coupledom. "A lifetime to love and grow with you…you have my heart," the dancer-actress captioned a photo of herself kissing her beau while showing off her new engagement ring, which Nikki Reed actually helped design through her socially conscious fine jewelry line, BaYou With Love by Nikki Reed. Steve, meanwhile, captioned the same shot, "When you wake in the morning I will kiss your face with a smile no one has ever seen. When you wake in the morning I will kiss your eyes and say it's you I have loved all these years." The duo are currently expecting their first child together.
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On Feb. 14, Amanda Bynes took to Instagram to announce that she got engaged to a mystery man. "Engaged to tha love of my life," she captioned a photo showing off her new engagement ring, which she also appeared to be wearing in a Feb. 7 mirror selfie. The following day, she posted a selfie with a man many assumed is her fiancé. "Lover," she wrote in the caption. Later on the 15th, E! News reported that the former child star's beau is a man named Paul Michael whom she met in rehab and started dating two or three months ago. E! also confirmed that the engagement is the real deal.
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During a February interview with Israel's LaIsha magazine, Meital Dohan confirmed that she and Al Pacino recently called it quits. "It's hard to be with a man so old, even Al Pacino," said the 43-year-old actress, who's 36 years younger than her ex. "The age gap is difficult, yes. I tried to deny it, but now he is already an elderly man, to be honest. So even with all my love, it didn't last." According to The Times of Israel, she also griped in the interview that the Oscar winner was stingy: "He only bought me flowers," she said. "How can I say politely that he didn't like to spend money?" Continued the former "Weeds" star, who was first linked to Al in the summer of 2018, "I had a fight with him and left him recently, but of course I really love and appreciate him, and I was glad to be there for him when he needed me, and to be a part of his legacy. It's an honor for me. I'm glad this relationship happened between us, and hope we remain good friends."
Us Weekly reported on Feb. 14 that, according to a source, Kylie Jenner and Travis Scott are "co-parenting and hanging out more and more [and] working on getting back together." Added the source, "Everyone around Kylie and Travis is rallying for these two." Said a second insider, "Kylie and Travis co-parent great together and those close to them are hopeful that they officially get back together, but Kylie and Travis are doing their thing and trying to keep their current relationship status low-key and to themselves at the moment." Five days later, Us Weekly added that, according to yet another source, the former couple's friends "see them getting back together at some point in the future." Said the third source, "They still spend a lot of time together as a family and have romantic feelings towards each other. Her family loves Travis and respect him as part of the family but thinks it's best for them to have some time apart as a couple and grow up a bit as adults and parents." The insider added that things are "great" between the pair, who've sparked several rounds of reconciliation rumors due to the extremely-close nature of their relationship since they called it quits in late 2019 .
In other Jenner-romance news… Us Weekly reported on Feb. 19 that, according to a source, although they've been practically attached at the hip lately, off-and-on couple Kendall Jenner and Ben Simmons "are not officially back together." Said the source, "They both like having a no-strings-attached type of relationship with each other, for the most part. They both work and travel frequently and don't find it very realistic to be in an exclusive relationship with one another. They do really like each other though and love spending time together." Added the insider, "Her family likes him and have just advised her not to get too close or fall too hard for him because they don't want Kendall to get hurt like some of the other girls in the family have in the past."
Another week, another round of reconciliation rumors for Jenelle Evans and her allegedly estranged husband, David Eason. On Feb. 14, TMZ reported that the former "Teen Mom" stars have been "living together off and on for several weeks at their home in North Carolina." According to the webloid, the controversial couple has been "taking things slowly" but "things are going smoothly and their time apart is what they needed." (Because they're living together again, divorce is now off the table: North Carolina law dictates that a couple must be separated for a full year before they can file for divorce.) The duo, who've reportedly been splitting their time between their home in North Carolina and Jenelle's apartment in Nashville — where she moved after their alleged breakup — also recently added a baby goat to their brood. After the TMZ report hit the Internet, Jenelle denied the reconciliation report to several media outlets. "David and I are not together as of now. We are co-parenting and deciding what to do about our futures because we own a house together. We cannot sell the house until we get repairs from the housing company who built it," she told Us Weekly. "I still have my apartment in Tennessee and have been primarily residing there. We may be looking into co-parenting counseling in the future. … A lot of people are making assumptions about stuff they don't know. Like I always say, unless you hear it from my mouth, don't believe it." She told E! News, "[We're] just co-parenting. No one knows anything and I'm sick of everyone trying to guess my life. I have no privacy no matter what I do. … He lives at the North Carolina house that we own together. I still have my apartment." After that, TMZ doubled down on its initial report, adding that in spite of what Jenelle told Us Weekly and E! News, "We know they are [living together]." The mother of three insisted in January that she and David are not an item.
People magazine reported on Feb. 14 that Jason Lewis proposed to his girlfriend of four years, producer Liz Godwin, while rock climbing along the beach in Malibu in late December. "She loves me when I am amazing, and when I am not," said the former "Sex and the City" star. "She is always on my side and ever my support. She creates space for me in which I grow and I am a better man for knowing her, so the humble ask to take her as my wife, and of course her 'yes,' are absolute blessings to my life." The duo reportedly plan to tie the knot in the fall of 2021.
Us Weekly reported on Feb. 19 that Madelaine Petsch and Travis Mills recently called it quits after three years of coupledom. According to one source, the "Riverdale" star has "moved her stuff out of his Los Angeles place."
The 1975 frontman Matty Healy seemingly confirmed rumors that he and FKA Twigs are an item when he took to Instagram on Feb. 13 to share a photo of the singer-actress sitting on his lap during the NME Awards. The duo have been seen together several times since Christmas, which they reportedly spent together.
On Feb. 14, "Bachelor in Paradise" couple Krystal Nielson and Chris Randone released a joint statement to Bachelor Nation announcing that they're calling it quits after less than a year of marriage. "It hurts to announce that at this moment, we have mutually decided to separate. Never did we imagine this scenario, but we've come to a point where we both need to work on ourselves," they said, adding that they are "best friends that love and care for each other so deeply." Four days later, Krystal implied on her Instagram Story that she and Chris are simply "taking some time apart." Said the blonde beauty, who was noticeably wearing her engagement ring, "We are rooting for one another and supporting one another and what each of us needs to do. I know that may look unconventional, but it is what it is. And I think that each relationship can have its own rules and establish what works for them. But we are best friends that just have each other's back through and through." The following day, she shed some more light on the split, explaining that she and Chris are taking "a conscious separation" as he relocates to Florida to "begin an exciting adventure" while she remains in San Diego with their two dogs — "open to where our heart calls us to be next." She also noted that they "care so deeply about one another" and haven't quite "processed what this new 'chapter' actually IS." Wrote the reality star in the lengthy caption of a photo of herself and her husband, "We've realized how much we have stunted our growth [because] of the fear of disappointing and 'failing' others — and therefore neglecting what WE need to thrive. … So we are both staying present, sitting in stillness and focusing on radical self-care, as we come from a place of love and compassion on how we can BEST support each other."
On Feb. 17, a spokesperson for Queen Elizabeth II's nephew — Princess Margaret's son, David Armstrong-Jones, 2nd Earl of Snowdon — and his wife, Serena Armstrong-Jones, Countess of Snowdon, released a statement announcing that they're calling it quits after 25 years of marriage. "The Earl and Countess of Snowdon have amicably agreed that their marriage has come to an end and that they shall be divorced," said the rep. "They ask that the press respect their privacy and that of their family."
During an interview with Zane Lowe for Apple Music's Beats 1 that hit the Internet on Feb. 15, Justin Bieber compared his relationship with Selena Gomez to his relationship with his wife, Hailey Bieber. "I think I was just hurt from my previous relationship," he said, according to Us Weekly. "In my previous relationship, I went off and just went crazy and went wild — just was being reckless. [With Hailey] I took the time to really build myself and focus on me and try to make the right decisions and all that sort of stuff. And, yeah, I got better."
Us Weekly reported on Feb. 13 that, according to a source, "there's nothing romantic going on" between Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston, and "they actually think it's hysterical that fans are so obsessed with them getting back together." Added the insider, "Jen is having the time of her life right now. She's satisfied with her work and personal life." The duo, who've spent the past few years rekindling a friendship, sparked reconciliation rumors throughout awards season with their friendly behavior toward one another.
During a Feb. 18 interview with Us Weekly, Teresa Giudice's brother, Joe Gorga, said there's "zero chance" that the reality star will reconcile with her estranged husband, Joe Giudice. "I think they should have been separated sooner. She should have moved on much sooner," he said. "They're done. That ship has sailed. … It's over. He didn't know how to act. If he acted right, maybe [they would've reconciled]. I believe if he came out and was so apologetic and showed her so much love and just was different and he wasn't that man that he was before — like, that rough man [saying], 'I don't care, I didn't want to marry you anyway,' I think she probably would have given him a second chance. Because, you know, you're keeping your family together. It's hard out there being single and you're bringing somebody else in the house. It's different. She would have done something, but he just came out wrong — completely wrong."
Denise Richards finally shot down rumors that she and her husband, Aaron Phypers, have an open marriage. After she took to Instagram on Feb. 16 to share a slideshow of photos of her "hubby shooting something really cool," a fan commented that the couple has "an open marriage." The mother of three fired back, "We actually don't have an open marriage. … Absolutely not. 💯 [percent] monogamous to my husband." The open-marriage rumors kicked off in January when a report surfaced alleging that Denise had an affair with her "The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" co-star Brandi Glanville not long after she and Aaron tied the knot.
On the Feb. 13 episode of Casey Wilson and Danielle Schneider's "Real Housewives" podcast, a guest alleged that Dorit Kemsley's husband, PK Kemsley, has been living with friends in London and that the pair are headed for a divorce. After the podcast aired, Us Weekly reported that two sources confirmed that the "The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" couple "isn't doing well" and that the music manager "is living in his friends' place in London." A rep for the duo, however, denied to Us Weekly that they've split. PK then told Page Six that he was living in Australia while his client, Boy George, appeared on the Aussie version of "The Voice." He added that reports he's living in London and has separated from Dorit "couldn't be further from the truth." The couple further shut down split rumors by posting loving tributes to each other on Instagram in honor of Valentine's Day.
It was a wild week for Kehlani and YG. On Feb. 14, the off-and-on couple dropped the romantic collaboration "Konclusions." Three days later, the singer dropped another new song — a deeply personal solo track titled "Valentine's Day (Shameful)" — in which she seemingly accuses YG of cheating on her and of using her for status, fame and recognition. "Wish I didn't check your text when you was drunk 'sleep / I've seen everything that I ain't wanna see / That I needed to see, that I needed to be / Hope you live happily ever after with the b—- / Fly to France, wine and crackers, honeymoonin' with the b—- / Hope you f— around and have the son you wanted with the b—-," she sings, adding that her ex and his sidechick "might be soulmates after all of this." When a fan asked on Twitter why the song wasn't available for streaming across platforms yet, Kehlani tweeted, "I made a song & dropped it while I was still at the studio in under 3 hours." The timeline seems to confirm that the song is, in fact, about YG. Later, another fan tweeted, "Yg & Kehlani released a song together on valentines day all lovey dovey, and then tonight she released 'valentines day' dissin the f— outta him." Kehlani reportedly replied in a since-deleted tweet, "I'm single luv." Meanwhile, on "Konclusions," YG seemingly addresses the late-2019 rumors that he cheated on Kehlani — he was reportedly seen kissing a mystery woman at a Hollywood nightclub. "I had us lookin' crazy in front of the club / That cameraman got me f—– up / Even though it wasn't what they said it was," he raps.
During a Feb. 18 interview with Chicago's 107.5 WGCI, Shannon Brown called his ex-wife, Monica, his "forever valentine." Said the former basketball star, "She's just a huge part of how I think about love, I guess. She show love, I try to show it back." When the hosts asked if they might reconcile, he replied, "I think it's a little pavement that I can get into." Interestingly, both the singer and her ex could be seen wearing their wedding rings in a video she posted on her Instagram Story earlier this month. (A fan recorded and re-posted the video here.) In the clip, Monica can also be heard calling her ex "baby."
On the Feb. 5 episode of her "Good For You" podcast, Whitney Cummings revealed that she and Miles Skinner are no longer engaged. "I am not wearing an engagement ring. I am no longer engaged," she said, adding that "nothing nasty" happened and that there was "no drama" between her and her former fiancé. "It just wasn't — I feel like nobody will believe me — I truly just was not ready to plan a wedding, the whole thing really overwhelmed me," she said. She went on to say that after her mother suffered a stroke, "the idea of planning was just really overwhelming and kind of sad." Concluded the comedian, who complained back in November that wedding planning is stressful and expensive, "I feel like planning a wedding should be fun and not a complete bummer."
On the Feb. 15 episode of Alexis Texas's "Private Talk" podcast, Ne-Yo confirmed recent reports that he and Crystal Renay Smith are calling it quits after four years of marriage. "It's slowly but surely becoming public knowledge that myself and my wife have decided to go ahead and get a divorce," he said, insisting that the breakup is "not a sad thing." Continued the singer, "I'm never gonna talk bad about her. I'm not that person. There's nothing bad to say about her. She's a fantastic woman. She's the mother of my children and she's always gonna be that and I will always respect her. … She's got demons just like everybody else — just like me. We realize that our demons don't mesh and until both of us get a hold of our personal demons, it's gonna be just difficult for us to stay married." Concluded the "Miss Independent" crooner, "That's the end of that chapter — not the end of the book. Like I said, that's the mother of my kids and I love her to death. We're going to be family forever."
E! News reported on Feb. 18 that, according to a source, Dean Unglert and Caelynn Miller-Keyes are "not legally married" but had some sort of "commitment ceremony" while traveling abroad recently that "really brought their relationship to a new level." Said a second source, "Close friends of Caelynn and Dean still don't even know if they are legally married. Some think something special happened. … They're very happy and very serious and enjoy the speculation from fans." The Bachelor Nation duo sparked marriage rumors on Feb. 14 when Caelynn took to Instagram to share a photo of herself and her beau in honor of Valentine's Day. A fan wrote in the comments section, "Get married!" The former pageant queen raised eyebrows when she replied, "We already did." In December, Dean insisted that marriage wasn't in the cards for him and his girlfriend of less than a year: "That's never going to happen," he said. "She does joke around about us getting married all the time, and I always say, 'Sorry, it's not going to happen.'"
"The Kissing Booth" actor Joel Courtney took to Instagram on Feb. 18 to announce that he's engaged to Mia Scholink. "I like it, so I just had to go and put a ring on it #valentinesday #proposal #shesnotmygirlfriend #shesmyfiancé #engaged #overthemoon #cloud9 #beyondblessed and #sothankful," he captioned a photo of himself popping the question to Mia on bended knee.
"Southern Charm" star Eliza Limehouse took to Instagram on Feb. 14 to announce that she and Struthers McBride are engaged after less than a year of dating. "We are engaged!!!!! Happy Valentines y'all!" she captioned a photo of herself and her new fiancé, whom she's known since she was a child but didn't start dating until April 2019. "We've always crushed on one another, but neither of us were ever single at the same time," the blonde beauty told People magazine, adding that her beau "wants to get married yesterday" so their wedding will "probably be sooner rather than later."
Football star Johnny Manziel's estranged wife, model Bre Tiesi, took to her Instagram Story on Feb. 14 to reveal that she's dating Jennifer Lopez's former off-and-on love of several years, dancer-actor Casper Smart. "Mines," she wrote across a photo of herself pecking her beau on the cheek. Casper has made several appearances on Bre's Instagram since Halloween, though it was unclear at the time that they were anything more than friends.
"Bachelor in Paradise" star Kristian Haggerty — who memorably comprised one half of Bachelor Nation's first same-sex couple — took to Instagram on Feb. 14 to reveal that she and YouTube personality Taylor Blake are an item. "Will you be my valentine?" she captioned a mirror selfie showing herself and her girlfriend going in for a kiss. Kristian first expressed her affection for Taylor on Instagram on Jan. 16, though it was unclear at the time that they were more than friends. Taylor, meanwhile, started posting about Kristian on Instagram in mid-October — around the time that the music video producer and Demi Burnett announced that they were calling it quits. The YouTube personality rang in Valentine's Day by posting a photo of herself and Kristian kissing. "When I was 13 I wanted you to be my Valentine, but I was closeted and too scared to ask you- So, I asked your cousin Luke to be my Valentine instead. Here we are at 27, and I finally made you mine🥰 You were worth the wait," she wrote in the caption.
In other Bachelor Nation romance news… According to Us Weekly, "Bachelor in Paradise" star Chris Bukowski spent Valentine's Day with Katrina Badowski — who didn't make it past the first week while competing for Peter Weber's heart on Season 24 of "The Bachelor" earlier this year. The duo reportedly "flirted" — but avoided any PDA — during dinner at Chicago's Bandit restaurant. (So much for those Katie Morton reconciliation rumors!)
During an interview with People magazine that hit the Internet on Feb. 14, Gina Kirschenheiter opened up about moving in with her boyfriend of just six months, Travis Mullen. "It's kind of major," said the mother of three. "I know it's nuts, but we've been together half a year. And when I think about that, I'm like, 'That's not a long time.' But I honestly feel like I've known him forever. It seems so much longer. … We're just so comfortable. It's the weirdest thing. I'm not the type of girl who has to be with a guy or in a relationship. Even throughout drama with my ex, I was perfectly fine on my own and doing my own thing. But from the moment I started talking to Travis, I knew I had very sharp feelings for him. … He's just a kind-hearted human, he's adorable, and he has such a good heart. And he loves me for all of me; my imperfections, my craziness, my past — he loves me in spite of it all. And for me, the biggest shift was being in a relationship with someone who just cares about what's going on in my day. Even the boring stuff. He just genuinely cares what's going on and he listens. Things that may seem not important, he thinks they are. Because if it matters to me, it matters to him. We just have a very good, respectful bond." The reality star went on to say that she and her beau, who also has three children from a previous relationship, aren't planning to tie the knot just yet: "I've learned a lot from my previous relationship, about getting married so young and stuff," she said. "I kind of truly feel like if you're in a relationship and you're kind of always looking for that next thing, it's because you're not really content in the relationship. And then once you get to that next thing, it's not going to make you content. So for me, I'm enjoying having a partner in life so much that marriage doesn't really matter to me. … Who knows, maybe one day. But it's way too early now. Plus, I don't want to plan a wedding. But I'll go to everybody else's! At least I have a date now!"
In other co-habitation news… Corinne Olympios revealed on Instagram on Feb. 16 that she and her boyfriend of just a few months, Vincent Fratantoni, moved in together. "Honey, I'm home," she captioned a photo of them posing together in front of their new home. She also took to her Instagram Story to give a tour of their new pad.
Jana Kramer took to Instagram on Feb. 19 to reveal that she and her husband, Mike Caussin, took "2 days away to connect, laugh, unplug and redo our New Years." (They spent the real week of New Year's Eve dealing with major drama after the former professional football player crossed a boundary in their relationship.) "There's nothing wrong with a redo and there's no better time to rebuild than now," the mother of two captioned a photo of herself and her hubby — who's publicly battled sex addiction for years — adding that they "even watched the ball drop." She then tacked on a hashtag noting that they are "rebuilding together."
Us Weekly reported on Feb. 14 that, according to a source, Amber Heard is "fine and happier than ever" with her new girlfriend, Bianca Butti. "Bianca has been very supportive of her, and Amber feels like she can trust her and be comfortable around her, especially since they were friends first," said the source, adding that the actress is "enjoying spending time" with the cinematographer and "really loves her."
Hannah Brown revealed on her Instagram Story on Feb. 16 that she's been on the waiting list to join Raya — an uber-exclusive dating app for the rich and famous — for months. "I don't know if you know this, but I was the Bachelorette. And I can't get on Raya," she said. "I've been on the waiting list for months now. … I'm done. Christian Mingle, here I come. I might not be allowed on Christian Mingle at this point. … But Jesus still loves me." (Hannah famously told Luke Parker — one of her suitors on season 15 of "The Bachelorette" — that she "had sex … and Jesus still loves me" after he implied that she wasn't a good Christian because she engaged in physical intimacy out of wedlock.) The Raya revelation is the first indication that Hannah is ready to date again following her split from Jed Wyatt.
Us Weekly reported on Feb. 18 that, according to a source, Ronnie Ortiz-Magro "isn't dating anyone at the moment" in the wake of his ongoing legal drama with his ex-girlfriend, Jen Harley. "Ron is fine. He's just staying busy with work and making sure he's good for his daughter and himself. He's focused on his daughter and his CBD company," said a second source.
On the Feb. 13 episode of "Very Cavallari," Kristin Cavallari revealed that while she and Brody Jenner were being portrayed as a couple on "The Hills," she was really dating a cameraman named Miguel who worked on the hit MTV reality show. "[Brody and I] dated when I was 18, and then when I came on 'The Hills,' we didn't actually date," she said, adding that she and Miguel "dated for a few months and nobody knew." Continued the reality star, "[Miguel and I] went to Canada and paparazzi got us at the airport a week before we wrapped the show. That's how we got caught. I was like, 'We have one more week! You wouldn't even know!' We were so professional." She later added during a confessional, "Nobody knew because I'm a professional and we kept it under wraps. But it was fun." K.Cav reportedly romanced Miguel Medina in 2010.
During a Feb. 14 interview with "Entertainment Tonight," Nick Cannon called himself "a hopeless romantic" but said he doesn't "believe in marriage anymore." Said the actor, who was married to Mariah Carey from 2008 to 2016, "My mindset has changed. I have done that. I don't like doing things that I am not good at. … If you jumped out of a plane one time and it did not work out — you would not do it again, would you? … I barely survived. Why would I jump out of the plane again? … I mean, I am still working. I am growing. I was a broken soul, but now I am back out on the scene. I'm trying to fix myself. I'm trying to be the best me I can be, the best dad I can be, the best entrepreneur and young media mogul that I can be. So I'm really just focused on me and being the best, because for some reason I haven't gotten this relationship thing right. I'm not good at it. I don't like doing stuff that I'm not good at." The father of three went on to say that his kids call him a player: "I was like, 'Who taught you that word? Who's been talking to you?' And [my oldest son was] like, 'Dad you can't be a player forever.' I'm like, 'This is the worst.'" He concluded by saying that if he does date again, he'd like to be with an "authentic woman." Explained the multi-hyphenate, "That's rare these days to find someone who's comfortable with being themselves and is not bombarded with society's perception of what a woman should be."
