After Nicole Kidman and Tom Cruise’s split in 2001, a picture of Kidman looking relieved circulated the internet and made its way into meme culture. Today, Kidman explains the truth behind the image, debunking the stories spread around it.
The two actors were married for twelve years after meeting on set, with two adopted kids between them, before splitting in 2001.
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The picture was thought to be a reaction to her divorce
A photographer captured the photo of Kidman with her arms up, seeming to be loudly exhaling after her divorce from Tom Cruise was finalized.
But the actress has since refuted this story and said that the image had a different context.
Kidman knows about the meme
When asked about the photo-turned-meme the actress confirmed that she knows about it, but that its context is different from what many people think.
“That’s not true… That was not me. That was from a film. That wasn’t real life. I know that image!” Kidman told British GQ.
The ex-couple had met in 1990
Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman met on the set of Days of Thunder in 1990 after being cast together in the motor-racing movie.
The Australian actress had been new to Hollywood and only 23 years old when the romance was sparked between her and Cruise.
Cruise and Kidman were married for 12 years
For a little over a decade, the two were married and had adopted two children between them, Bella, who is now 31 years old, and Connor, now 29.
It is said that in 2001, Cruise walked out of the marriage, leaving Kidman in “utter shock.”
The Top Gun: Maverick actor filed for divorce in 2001
Cruise cited “irreconcilable differences” in the divorce case filed against Kidman. Reports have since claimed that the reason was Kidman’s refusal to join the Church of Scientology.
The Australian actress has also opened up about her side of the story in 2012.
Kidman admitted the divorce was a shock
Speaking with DuJour Magazine in 2012, the actress shared, “I thought our life together was perfect. It took me a very long time to heal. It was a shock to my system.”
She added, “We were in a bubble, just the two of us. We became very dependent on one another. I was reeling with Tom.”
There was an admission of being truly in love
In her interview, the Big Little Lies star continued, “I would have gone to the ends of the earth for him…. I was totally smitten – I fell madly, passionately in love.”
She also confessed that she feels it was “naive” to have thought the marriage would last forever.
Cruise didn’t attend the Oscars last year
Although Top Gun: Maverick was nominated for six awards at the 95th rendition of the Oscars last year, it was rumored that Cruise didn’t attend to “avoid an awkward run-in” with his ex-wife.
“Tom was not there because she was there, and he did not want a run-in,” a source told the Daily Mail.
Sources close to the actor claimed otherwise
While some said he skipped the Oscars to avoid running into Kidman, sources close to Cruise have claimed that the actor had difficulties with his schedule, and that his absence was “not personal.”
It hasn’t been reported that the two were at the same event for a while now.
The two have now moved on to happier relationships
Nicole Kidman is now married to the country singer Keith Urban, with two daughters between them. And Cruise welcomed his daughter Suri in 2012 with his wife Katie Holmes.
The meme that had pushed their divorce into the public discourse has just been debunked, and the whole thing is now a closed chapter.
