Deborra-Lee Furness and Hugh Jackman split: She called it as she saw it. About bloody time


This article analyzes Deborra-Lee Furness's response to her separation from Hugh Jackman, praising her honest and strategic approach.
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Boom. No sugar-coating. Just a scathing acknowledgment of what breaking up after nearly three decades – especially when it’s not your call – actually feels like.

I’m so there for it. It’s liberating. Especially when contrasted with Jackman’s tone-deaf response –posting an Instagram clip of himself dancing to NSYNC’s Bye Bye Bye from his stage show.

Sorry, are you five? Nothing says mature divorce-handling quite like a grown man in soft shoes trying to be cute and cryptic.

Jackman could have given Furness that moment. He’s moved on with Broadway actor Sutton Foster. He’s got what he wanted and could have, should have, been classier.

Without taking sides on the ethics of a marriage I basically know nothing about, here’s why I’m applauding what Furness’ move stands for.

Back to the honesty first. She reminded us you don’t have to keep smiling when someone blows up your life.

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You don’t owe anyone a soft landing for decisions they made, or have to perform gratitude for the privilege of being abandoned.

She reminded us you don’t need to prioritise everyone else’s comfort over what you’re busting to say, even if sometimes admitting life sucks feels too risky.

There’s also the underrated fabulous power of restraint and playing the long game of revenge.

It takes discipline to choose when and how to speak or act, and Furness nailed it. She kept her powder dry. She waited until she didn’t have to play nice, and then delivered something precise and poised.

This is strategic brilliance. Biding your time means you’re not reacting – you’re responding. You’re not defending – you’re defining.

I bow down to this because it’s something I’ve never mastered.

Jennifer Aniston did, after Brad Pitt decamped with Angelina Jolie. No screaming, no shade. Just a zipped lip and a general vibe of “I’m good, thanks. I’ll just go over to Courteney’s place for a banana milkshake.” The closest she ever got to snark was to describe Jolie’s actions as “really uncool”.

And you know what? That’s cool. Especially compared to couples who go nuclear in real time – we all needed a Bex and a lie-down after the Johnny Depp-Amber Heard courtroom drama.

Furness’ move might have been about revenge. But it was also about taking back her story and her voice after being gut-punched and suffering a “profound wound that cuts deep”.

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Go lady, for not spinning your heartbreak into something palatable for public consumption to make Mr Soft Shoe Shuffle feel even better about himself. I send awe and admiration. Enjoy what comes next.

Kate Halfpenny is the founder of Bad Mother Media.

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