Hugh Jackman and his ex-wife, Deborra-Lee Furness, split years ago, but tensions between them continue to linger. Ongoing disagreements have even begun to impact Jackman’s new relationship with Sutton Foster.
In mid-May 2026, Foster spoke at a Women’s Health Lab panel called “The Science of Staying Strong: Longevity, Movement & Resilience,” where she discussed the importance of resilience, strength, and strategies for managing stress.
During the discussion, Foster candidly admitted that she often feels “really alone.”
“I reached out to a lot of my contemporaries last year, and a lot of the women on Broadway, and we all are usually on our own,” she explained. “Everyone shared the commonality of loneliness.”
Elsewhere at the event, Foster indirectly referenced the situation involving Jackman’s ex-wife, emphasizing the importance of women supporting one another. “Women of power can actually support each other, and we don’t have to be pitted against each other,” she added. “There’s room for more than just one of us.”
This comes just before a May 27 report by Rob Shuter, in which the Hollywood insider claimed Foster and Jackman are going through a rough patch. According to Shuter, Foster is feeling “exhausted” by the emotional demands of her romance with the Deadpool & Wolverine star.
“Hugh wants a mommy, not a girlfriend,” one source told Naughty But Nice. “He needs constant validation, nonstop reassurance, and someone shielding him from conflict while he keeps playing the golden boy.”
Sources alleged that, throughout their decades-long marriage, Deb shielded Jackman from anything negative, specifically “criticism, confrontation, and emotional fallout.” Now, Jackman is reportedly hoping Foster will take on that role, but she had no interest in doing so.
“Sutton is ambitious, independent, and emotionally intelligent,” a source explained. “She didn’t sign up to become Hugh’s full-time emotional support system. The deeper this relationship gets, the more she feels responsible for managing his feelings, his image, and the chaos surrounding him.”
A second insider noted, “Hugh desperately needs everyone to love him. He avoids uncomfortable situations at all costs and expects Sutton to absorb the emotional fallout so he can remain the nice guy.”
“Sutton thought she was getting a partner,” another said. “What she’s discovering is a man who still needs parenting.”
‘ The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties ’
‘ Some details of this article were extracted from the following source stylecaster.com ’
