How to Break Up With Someone Everyone Loves

Breaking up is tough enough, but calling it quits is even harder when your friends and fam have grown super attached to the person you’ve been dating. To figure out the best way to split with a popular S.O. without breaking hearts or ruining relationships, we talked to Dr. Carmen Harra and Alexandra Harra, the authors of The Karma Queens’ Guide to Relationships: The Truth About Karma in Relationships. Scroll on for their suggestions, which might just make breaking up as pain-free as possible.

1. Break the news gently. Before you call it quits, prepare your family and close friends who love your partner. Dr. Harra says, “Sit them down and tell them that you’ve thoroughly thought it through and that you’re committed to your choice to walk away from your partner. If they begin to disagree, simply hold up your hand. All you need to say is, ‘“It’s my life, my choice and I know you love me enough to respect it.”’

2. Don’t over-explain. It’s easy to fall into the trap of making excuses or justifying your decision, but you don’t owe explanations to anyone but yourself — even if you have some that are totally valid. Dr. Harra elaborates, “Now is NOT the time to admit to your best friend that you actually caught your S.O. cheating.” Feel comfortable keeping your reason for ending things to yourself, as this will not only help you keep your cool, but will also prevent you from possibly coming off as condescending or degrading about an S.O. that people love.

Alexandra stressed another benefit, saying, “The more you explain the details to others, the more they will bombard you with their advice and suggestions. This might confuse or upset you, and chances are that with a pending breakup, you’re already going through a tough time.” Avoid making it harder on yourself by keeping it simple.

3. Let it go. Your family and friends might be shocked, upset or disapprove of your decision in the beginning, but they’ll eventually understand. There’s no reason to bring up the subject — especially if they don’t! Dr. Harra says, “Keep old memories and stories about the relationship to yourself right now. The less you speak about the relationship or the breakup, the less you will have to bear tough convos.”

4. Ask your S.O. to respect your relationships. Your popular partner might have become best buds with your brother, but that can pose a problem because it continues to guarantee him a place in your life. Alexandra says, “It will be tough for you to commit to a breakup if your new ex continues popping up at gatherings or family events — so don’t be afraid to politely ask the person to cut back on contact with your family members, at least at first.”

5. Stick to your decision. Even if your friends and fam are surprised and bummed at first, they will accept your decision. But, Dr. Harra cautions, “at that point, it becomes complete hypocrisy to get back with the partner you said isn’t right for you. If you are ready to end the relationship, stand firmly by your actions.” Your inner circle will respect you for it.

Have you broken up with an S.O. that everyone else loved? Tell us what happened on Twitter @BritandCo!

(Photos via Getty)

After almost 17 years of marriage, Jessica Alba just officially split from her husband, Cash Warren. TMZ reported that the actress and film producer have been separated for a while now, and this article seems to make everything even more official. Here's everything we know so far about the breakup — including how long it seems like the pair's actually been split up.

Here's everything we know about Jessica Alba's split from husband, Cash Warren.

On January 8, 2025, sources spilled to TMZ about Jessica Alba and Cash Warren's separation. The sources shared that the couple is allegedly "moving forward" with a divorce, so unfortunately it doesn't seem like this split is a short-term solution.

TMZreported that both Jessica and have gone in public without wedding rings recently — Jessica as recent as the Golden Globes afterparties on January 5, 2025. Apparently, one of the last times the two were spotted publicly was back in November 2024. Outside of that, the couple celebrated their son's birthday at Universal Studios together in January, but it's unclear how official the separation was at that point.

According to PEOPLE, Jessica and Cash got engaged in 2007, after meeting on the set of Fantastic Four back in 2004. They got married and stayed together for 16 years, welcoming three children to their family: Honor (16), Haven (13), and Hayes (7).

Back in 2021, Alba told PEOPLE that they tend to "over-communicate" in order to best support each other and their different needs. She said that they don't have a "secret" to making it work — they "just need to check in with each other."

Whatever happens next, we hope that Jessica, Cash, and their kids are able to find peace and happiness throughout this major transition.

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If there's one thing I love to see, it's celebrities going makeup-free. And I'll celebrate it every single time! In addition to Drew Barrymore taking her makeup off on live TV (and throwing her extensions on the ground) and Millie Bobby Brown showing off her acne in selfies, Lady Gaga loves to go makeup-free. Remember when she performed at the Oscars with no makeup and ripped jeans?! Well the actress and singer just posted another adorable selfie without a stitch of makeup.

Here's what Lady Gaga had to say about "Die With A Smile" alongside her no-makeup selfie.

Lady Gaga is "so grateful" the song is #1.

To celebrate "Die With A Smile" (her song with Bruno Mars) hitting number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, Lady Gaga posted a photo of her laying in the grass with a huge grin on her face — and without any makeup.

"Thank you to all of the monsters and hooligans for helping make 'Die With A Smile' #1 on the Billboard Hot 100! We love you and are so grateful," she says in the post. "Having multiple songs of mine hit #1 across three decades feels surreal, and I am overwhelmed by the love and support you have shown me from the beginning. I have so much more in store for you and can’t wait to share it."

Friends and fans flooded the comments with everyone from Noah Cyrus saying, "you’re so gorgeous," to a fan account adding, "Thank you for your art! So proud of you and Bruno. You deserve this!"

And she loved recording it with Bruno Mars!

The song was released on August 16, and in a statement to Page Six, Lady Gaga praised Bruno Mars as a collaborator. “Bruno and I have a lot of mutual respect for each other and were talking about collaborating,” she says. “I was finishing up my own album in Malibu, and one night after a long day he asked me to come to his studio to hear something he was working on...It was around midnight when I got there, and I was blown away when I heard what he had started making.”

After revealing they "stayed up all night” to finish both writing and recording it, Lady Gaga continues, “Bruno’s talent is beyond explanation. His musicianship and vision is next level. There’s no one like him." There's no one like you either Gaga!

Has "Die With A Smile" been on repeat for you? Let us know your favorite Lady Gaga song on Instagram!

The 2025 Golden Globes were filled with plenty of surprises (like the fact Demi Moore won her first ever acting award?!) but one thing I never saw coming was Zendaya showing up to the red carpet with what looked like an engagement ring on THAT finger. And on January 6, TMZ confirmed Tom Holland and Z are officially engaged!

Tom recently spilled that working with The Drama actress (and simply being in her life) is "the best thing that ever happened to me." Eek! This is one celebrity couple I want to be together forever, and if you're wondering "are Zendaya and Tom Holland engaged?" then you've come to the right place.

Here's everything you need to know about Tom Holland & Zendaya's engagement, and Zendaya's engagement ring.

Did Tom Holland and Zendaya actually get engaged?

Tom Holland and Zendaya engagement rumors have been circulating for quite awhile, and the internet freaked out when Z showed up to last night's Golden Globes with a diamond ring on her finger. TMZ reports that Tom popped the question in between Christmas and New Year's at one of Z's family homes. Their source also says the "romantic and intimate" proposal was private between the couple — which sounds exactly like something they'd do. The source also notes that the fiancés plan to get through their impressive upcoming Hollywood schedule before wedding planning.

While the ultra-private couple hadn't announced their engagement before the awards show, one recently-engaged LA Times reporter shared a moment with the actress, and the publication reported that Zendaya showed off the ring with "jazz" fingers, and when the reporter straight-up asked if she was engaged, Z "smiled coyly and shrugged her shoulders mysteriously."

Zendaya wore a custom orange Loui Vuitton dress to the awards show, as well as a gorgeous Bvlgari necklace with a blue Paraíba tourmaline at the center. However, the LA Times notes that Z's diamond ring was left out of the Bvlgari press release listing the rest of her jewelry.

Does Zendaya have a ring?

@sswagath tomdaya engaged ?? #tomdaya♬ original sound - seb💖🪩🐆⚡️

Zendaya's new ring was the star of the show at the Golden Globes, and for good reason. People reports that the recent addition to Z's jewelry box looks like a Jessica McCormack 5.02ct East-West Cushion Diamond Button Back Ring. The piece is "set in a Georgian style cut-down setting," (which, given Z's low-key and classy style would totally fit her vibe!) in a 18k white and yellow gold band.

In a viral TikTok, Zendaya can be seen showing off her new ring (reportedly to producer Amy Pascal) with a huge smile on her face.

Did Tom Holland and Zendaya get a house together?

A source recently told Life & Style that Tom Holland and Zendaya are "basically living like a husband and wife already."

“For Tom’s part, he’s seen up close how settling down, getting serious and having kids has changed [friend Robert Pattinson],” the source continues. “Tom wants that life for himself and Zendaya, sooner rather than later.”

Tom and Zendaya clearly enjoy life out of the spotlight and one of my favorite things is seeing this couple out for walks with Z's dog Noon! Here's hoping they'll be able to walk their dogs for as long as they both shall live. ;)

What do you think about the news Tom Holland and Zendaya are engaged? Check Brit + Co for the latest updates on your favorite couples — and check out Selena Gomez's beautiful engagement ring!

This post has been updated.

Many people look for the new year to bring new opportunities and, in some cases, a fresh start altogether. But for me? As a longtime entertainment reporter, there is one thing I can’t help but get excited about when another year rolls around: the upcoming movie releases and, of course, the most anticipated television shows. While I'm looking forward to see what happens to Eleven and the rest of the Hawkins crew in Stranger Things 5 on Netflix, there are a bunch of new TV shows that have been at the top of my watch list from the moment they were first announced, including Suits: LA and It: Welcome to Derry.

Here are the 2025 television shows that should be on your radar (if they aren’t already!).

Severance Season 2 — On Apple TV+ January, 17 2025

Apple TV+

After Mark Scout, Helly, and Irving learn the truth about the “severance” experiment and manage to break free from its clutches in the Severance season 1 finale, the three coworkers (along with the rest of the Lumon Industries employees) are forced to return to work in the second installment of the series. Now that Mark and some of his peers know what the company was really doing to the Lumon staff, one could only wonder: What are Lumon Industries's hidden objectives? (And what’s with all the GOATS?!)

Severance season 2 premieres on Apple TV+ on January 17, 2024 and stars Adam Scott, Britt Lower, John Turturro, Dichen Lachman, Dichen Lachman and Patricia Arquette.

The White Lotus Season 3 — On HBO and Max February 16, 2025

Mario Perez/HBO

Pack your bags, White Lotus fans, because our favorite hotel residents are catching a first-class flight to…Thailand! While there are a bunch of new guests checking into a luxury hotel, there’s one returning guest who needs no introduction. Natasha Rothwell, who made her debut at Belinda Lindsey in The White Lotus season 1, is the only returning cast making a brief cameo in season 3. Four Seasons Resort Koh Samui, here we come!

The White Lotus season 3 is coming in February and will star Leslie Bibb, Jason Isaacs, Michelle Monaghan, Carrie Coon, Parker Posey, Patrick Schwarzenegger and Blackpink’s Lisa Manobal.

The Last of Us Season 2 — On HBO and Max in April 2025

Liane Hentscher/HBO

I can’t be the only one still thinking about that bombshell season one finale of HBO’s The Last of Us! And apparently, I’m not the only one who’s eager to see the continuation of Joel and Ellie’s story in season 2. Fans of the video game adaptation have been keeping their eyes peeled for a new update about season 2. And one teaser later, we might have just gotten the news we’ve been looking for. Following the 2024 Emmy Awards, Chairman and CEO of HBO and Max Content Casey Bloys toldDeadline that The Last of Us season 2 will premiere around “generally first half of the year [2025], I expect them to be in the Emmy window.”

The Last of Us season 2 will star Pedro Pascal, Bella Ramsey, Gabriel Luna, Rutina Wesley, Kaitlyn Dever, Isabela Merced, Young Mazino, Spencer Lord, Danny Ramirez, Catherine O'Hara, Jeffrey Wright, Tati Gabrielle and Ariela Barer.

The Summer I Turned Pretty Season 3 — On Prime Video in 2025

Erika Doss/Prime Video

It's almost time to return to Cousins Beach, and I have missed all the hydrangeas, fair rides, and ocean sunrises. We haven't heard for sure whether season 3 will be the end of the road for this series, but if it follows even a few chapters in the third book in The Summer I Turned Pretty series, We'll Always Have Summer, then we will absolutely be getting some drama.

The Summer I Turned Pretty season 3 premieres in 2025 and stars Lola Tung, Christopher Briney, Gavin Casalegno, Sean Kaufman, Rain Spencer, Jackie Chung, and Rachel Blanchard.

It: Welcome to Derry — On Max in 2025

Warner Bros. Entertainment

Bill, Richie, Beverly and the rest of the Losers Club members might have been able to defeat Pennywise in It: Chapter Two, but that doesn’t mean we've seen the last of Derry, Maine. Serving as a prequel series to the It movie franchise directed by Andres Muschietti, Welcome to Derry will delve into Pennywise’s origin story and how the child-preying clown arrived in Derry. But that’s not even the best part: Bill Skarsgård, who starred in It and It: Chapter Two, will reprise his role as the killer clown in the upcoming HBO series, which will be released in 2025. So until then, no accepting red balloons from creepy clowns, okay?

It: Welcome to Derry will star Jovan Adepo, Chris Chalk, Taylour Paige, James Remar, Stephen Rider, Madeleine Stowe, Alixandra Fuchs, Kimberly Guerrero, Joshua Odjick and Morningstar Angeline.

Stranger Things Season 5 — On Netflix in 2025

Netflix

I’ve been a fan of Stranger Things since it premiered on Netflix back in 2016, and come next year, longtime fans like myself will finally get to see how the story ends. Last time we saw Eleven, Mike, Will and the rest of the Hellfire Club crew, they were facing an impending apocalypse after Vecna’s devious plan came to full fruition. So, will the group of friends defeat Vecna and save their home? Guess we’ll just have to wait and see because Stranger Things 5 likely won’t premiere until late 2025. Now, all we need is that release date, Netflix…

Stranger Things 5 is coming to Netflix soon and stars Millie Bobby Brown, Noah Schnapp, Finn Wolfhard, Caleb McLaughlin, Gaten Matarazzo, Natalia Dyer, Charlie Heaton, Sadie Sink, Maya Hawke, Joe Keery, David Harbour, Winona Ryder, Amybeth McNulty, and Priah Ferguson.

Suits: L.A. — On NBC in 2025

David Astorga/NBC

Court is back in session! Only this time, our favorite lawyers from the OG Pearson Hardman firm are not on the case. Thanks to Netflix, the original Suits (which starred the Duchess of Sussex Meghan Markle) experienced a renaissance of sorts upon its arrival to the streaming service in June 2023. And as a result, NBCUniversal ordered a spinoff series earlier this year. But instead of the bustling streets of New York City, a new group of lawyers are setting up shop in the Golden State in Suits L.A.

The new spinoff will center around an entertainment and criminal lawler named Ted Black, who launches his own law firm in California after moving from the East Coast. Originally, Suits L.A was slated to be a part of NBCUniversal’s 2024-2025 lineup. However, according to Deadline, there was a slight change in the production location, making a Fall 2025 release more likely. So, who’s up for a Suits marathon?

Suits L.A. is speculated to premiere sometime in 2025 and is set to star Ted Black, Josh McDermitt, Rachelle Goulding, Victoria Justice, Troy Wingush, Bryan Greenberg, Lex Scott Davis, John Amos, Kevin Weistman and Alice Lee.

Wednesday Season 2 — On Netflix in 2025

Netflix

Looks like Jenna Ortega won’t be giving us another macabre number anytime soon because Wednesday season 2 won’t arrive on Netflix until 2025. In a new interview with Vanity Fair, Ortega teases the upcoming installment will be much “darker” this time around. “I think the feel that we’re going for is a little bit more horror-inspired,” the Beetlejuice Beetlejuicestar adds. “Not to say that suddenly we’re the goriest show of all time. I mean, there’s six-year-olds watching.”

“This season is going to be bigger and more twisted than you can ever imagine," Catherine Zeta-Jones says in the new Wednesday season 2 first look.

“If we showed you any more, your eyes would bleed,” Ortega says. “And I'm not that generous.”

What TV show are you most excited to see in 2025? Personally, I can’t wait for Sweet Magnolias season 4 to drop! (Margarita, anyone?) Make sure to follow us on TikTok and Facebook for more TV exclusives and latest news updates!

This post has been updated.

Kate Middleton has been top of mind for a lot of people over the last year after the princess announced in March 2024 she was battling cancer. "The last nine months have been incredibly tough for us as a family. Life as you know it can change in an instant and we have had to find a way to navigate the stormy waters and road unknown," she shared in a video update. "This time has above all reminded William and me to reflect and be grateful for the simple yet important things in life, which so many of us often take for granted. Of simply loving and being loved." And in honor of Kate's 43rd birthday, Prince William posted the sweetest tribute honoring her strength and perseverance.

Here's what Prince William had to say in Kate Middleton's birthday tribute.

Prince William celebrates "incredible" Kate Middleton's "strength."

Kate Middleton turned 43 on January 9, 2025. In honor of the big day, Prince William took to Instagram to celebrate, praising his "incredible" wife.

"To the most incredible wife and mother. The strength you’ve shown over the last year has been remarkable," he says in the post. "George, Charlotte, Louis and I are so proud of you. Happy Birthday, Catherine. We love you. W."

And well wishers flooded the comments. "Happy Birthday Catherine, wishing you a wonderful year ahead surrounded by family and loved ones," one user says, while another adds, "Happy Birthday Princess of Wales! What a gorgeous photo. Wishing you a wonderful year 😍 xx"

And the tribute comes after revealing Kate was doing "amazing" following her cancer battle.

The birthday celebration comes after the prince shared an update on Kate in early November that had us all breathing a sigh of relief. “She's doing really well thanks. And hopefully, she is watching tonight. So cheering me on," he said before the Earthshot Prize awards (via People). “She's been amazing this whole this whole year. I know she will be really keen to see tonight be a success."

"From what I understand, Catherine is doing very well," royal author Robert Jobson added in an interview withHello!that same week. "She is back training at the gym and doing all the things she wanted to do."

We're sending Kate Middleton so much birthday love! For more about your favorite members of the Royal Family, check out Meghan Markle’s New Netflix Cooking Show Will Feature Some Of Your Fave Celebs.