It was legendary English poet Alfred Lord Tennyson who wrote the iconic line “'Tis better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all.”
But for some celebrities, they may feel differently after romances collapsed in spectacular style on a global stage – with former loves sticking the knife in after parting ways.
From serving custody papers in front of a live audience to online spats about new partners, some celebs really have gone to extremes to seemingly get back at their former flames.
Here are a few ways famous people have brutally got back at ex-partners following shock splits.
Jason Sudeikis v Olivia Wilde
Last month, Olivia Wilde was left “humiliated” when her ex-partner, Jason Sudeikis, informed her he was taking legal action to get custody of their children while she was on stage last week.
The actress, 38,and the Ted Lasso star, 46, were in a relationship from 2011 until 2020 when she left him and sparked up a romance with 28-year-old One Direction star Harry Styles.
While Olivia and Jason never married, they do share two children; eight-year-old son Otis and five-year-old daughter Daisy.
Olivia was left flustered on stage at the Las Vegas movie convention CinemaCon when she was reportedly handed legal papers stating Jason was seeking custody of their kids.
However, the Horrible Bosses star insisted he had no idea that was going to happen, with a spokesperson saying: “Mr Sudeikis had no prior knowledge of the time or place that the envelope would have been delivered. This would solely be up to the process service company.”
Deryck Whibley v Avril Lavigne
Punk pop singers Deryck Whibley and Avril Lavigne were pin-ups for the alt-music world when they married in 2006.
However, the 42-year-old Sum 41 frontman and the 37-year-old Sk8er Boi singer’s love was not to last – with them breaking up in 2009 and divorcing in 2010.
Hinting the break up was something of a horror show, Deryck and his now-wife Ari Cooper dressed up as Avril and her subsequent husband, Nickleback singer Chad Kroeger, 47 who she wed in 2012 but divorced in 2015, for halloween.
The stunt was met with silence from Avril, but her then-husband Chad hit out, tweeting: “We were going to dress up as you guys this year, but all the parties had celebrity themes.”
Kanye West v Kim Kardashian
Rap icon and self proclaimed genius Kanye West and reality star Kim Kardashian tied-the-knot in an extravagant ceremony complete with golden toilets back in 2014.
But the marriage broke down seven years later as they pair split in 2021 and finalised their divorce the following year.
Kim, 41 – who shares four children with Kanye, 44 – swiftly moved on with 28-year-old comedian Pete Davidson and her rapid move back into the dating world did not sit well with ‘Ye.
He lashed out at the pair online via tweets, wrote threatening lyrics about the romance in his music, and even went as far as burying an effigy of Pete in a music video – which all prompted Kim to beg him to end his sinister actions to prevent anyone getting hurt.
Justin Timberlake v Britney Spears
Pop fans were delighted when former Disney stars Justin Timberlake and Britney Spears dated back in 1999 and became the prince and princess of the music world.
But the love was not to last – with the romance coming to a crashing end in March 2002 with Justin, 41, shamefully ditching 40-year-old Britney via text.
There was more humiliation for Britney to come, however, as Justin soon after released his smash hit single Cry Me A Rive which included a Britney look-a-like in the accompanying music video.
The casting sparked speculation that Britney had cheated on Justin and that he was lashing out via his art as both stars struggled with the heartbreak of their split.
Lisa 'Left Eye' Lopes v Andre Rison
Sometimes a vengeful ex will storm into a lover’s wardrobe to cut up all his ties and destroy every piece of clothing that he owns.
But TLC star Lisa ‘Left Eye’ Lopes took things to an extreme level when she decided to burn down ex-boyfriend Andre Rison’s entire house.
The couple – who dated from 1992 – reportedly had an argument which over trainers which prompted Lisa to set fire to a pair of the 55-year-old’s prized footwear while in the bathroom, only for a fibreglass bath to catch fire and the entire property to burn to the ground.
Lisa – who tragically died in a car accident in 2002, aged 30 – also smashed up the windows of two of Andre’s cars, and was later sentenced to five years probation and a $10,000 fine.
Amber Rose v Kanye West
While Kanye might be a headline generating machine due to his vicious outbursts about ex-wife Kim, it seems he doesn’t like it when the shoe is on the other foot.
The rapper famously dated 38-year-old model Amber Rose from 2008 until 2010.
After they broke up, Amber made headlines when she made an eyebrow raising accusation about Kanye's sex life.
She sparked a furious denial from Kanye when she tweeted: "Awww @kanyewest are u mad I’m not around to play in ur a**hole anymore?,” – with Kanye insisting in a tweet of his own, writing: “I don’t do that… I stay away from that area all together."
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