Laura Dern recalls how fiancé secretly left her for Angelina Jolie

In 1999, the surprise marriage of Billy Bob Thornton and Angelina Jolie grabbed headlines, leaving many astonished.

Not only did the couple share a significant 20-year age gap, but they were also both involved with other partners at the time, adding to the intrigue.

Among those blindsided was actress Laura Dern, Billy Bob’s fiancée. According to Laura, she learned about her partner’s wedding to Angelina at the same time as the public did, throwing a curveball into her relationship plans.

Billy Bob and Laura’s relationship began in 1997, shortly after Laura’s split from Jeff Goldblum and Billy Bob’s ongoing divorce from his fourth wife, Pietra Dawn Cherniak, per E! Online. After two years together they were engaged and preparing for a wedding when Billy Bob crossed paths with Angelina on the set of Pushing Tin in 1999.

Their whirlwind romance culminated in a spontaneous wedding in Las Vegas in May 2000, catching Laura off guard. Reflecting on the abrupt turn of events, Laura shared (via InStyle): “I left our home to work on a movie, and while I was away, my boyfriend got married, and I’ve never heard from him again.” The situation left her feeling a sense of sudden loss and confusion, with no closure in sight.

While Billy Bob has never explicitly acknowledged any wrongdoing, he did express regret in a 2001 interview, stating, per the Mirror: “Others may say that you left our girl and married someone else. But it made me happy and somebody else happy. I’m sorry it caused pain.”

Adding an odd twist to the narrative, Laura and Angelina had a prior connection, with Laura having babysat Angelina when they were children, Yahoo detailed.

Laura’s father, Bruce Dern, recalled that time. “Jon Voight’s a friend of mine, so I remember Laura babysat one night for Angelina when Angelina was 2 and Laura about 8 … because Jon and I were doing Coming Home,” Bruce said referring to the 1978 movie. “They were staying over at [director] Hal Ashby’s house, so they asked [Laura] to come over [to watch Angie].”

Following the breakup, Laura received support from her friend Melissa Etheridge, who recounted helping Laura move out of her shared home with Billy Bob.

Speaking with Andy Cohen on his SiriusFM radio show, Melissa said (via the Sun): “I was around when Angelina was not doing nice things with Billy Bob to Laura Dern. I went through that on a personal level, and then to know the side of Jennifer and Brad. I helped Laura move out of her house with Billy Bob — I like broke into their home to get their stuff out because it was so nasty.”

In the aftermath, everyone involved moved forward with their lives. Laura eventually married Ben Harper, with whom she shares two children, and has since been linked to former NBA player Baron Davis.

Billy Bob and Angelina divorced in 2002, prompting Billy Bob to retreat from dating celebrities due to privacy concerns. He later married a puppeteer in 2014, trying to seek a quieter life away from the spotlight.

What do you think of this situation? Let us know in the comments!

Related Posts

Hillary Clinton Smears Christians After Charlie Kirk Tragedy

Hillary Clinton is under fire after remarks on Morning Joe where she linked Christian conservatism to efforts to “turn back the clock” to a pas t dominated…

Mom Breastfeeds 5-Year-Old Daughter

Emma Shardlow Hudson, a 29-year-old mother, practices extended breastfeeding with her two children — 5-year-old Alex and 2-year-old Ollie. She says that Alex nurses once in the…

Pictures That Need A Second Look

Cuoco has always been admired for her sense of humor, talent, and authenticity. This recent incident serves as a reminder that even celebrities have unplanned, human moments—ones…

Richard Gere’s touching 3-word tribute to Diane Keaton says it all

Diane Keaton worked with some of the most major stars in Hollywood. After her death, tributes have poured in from friends, former co-stars, and others she has…

101-year-old woman who still works 6 days a week shares four key things she does every day

To get old is a part of life. Many might be longing for retirement, envisioning themselves not in an office but perhaps at the beach with a…

Trump reveals what he and Melania did on their first night in the White House

Donald and Melania Trump have lived at the White House twice. The couple moved in for the first time in 2017, and one can only imagine how…