Building a friendship after ending a romantic relationship is never easy, but deciding to save the good parts left behind after a breakup is more common than we think. It seems that many people want to stay on good terms with their exes. Studies show that the majority of participants (about 65%) remained friends with their exes after the breakup.
We made a list of 6 famous ex-couples who prove that the end of a romance often means the beginning of a lasting friendship.
Gwyneth Paltrow and Brad Pitt
Although Gwyneth Paltrow and Brad Pitt dated for several years and even got engaged at one point, they never married. But in a recent interview for the actress’s lifestyle brand Goop, the two exes revealed that they still love each other as friends.
Over the years, there have been no hard feelings between the exes, with Paltrow even jokingly saying, “I finally found the Brad I should marry. It took me 20 years,” referring to her husband, Brad Falachuk.
Andrew Garfield and Emma Stone
Although they have been separated since 2015, the actors remain good friends. Andrew Garfield even said in 2016 that Emma Stone is the only actress he would take with him on a desert island, while Stone described her ex-boyfriend as “someone I still love very much.”
Naomi Watts and Liev Schreiber
Although they are never married, Naomi Watts and Liev Schreiber have amicably separated after spending 11 years together and having 2 children.
But that doesn’t mean they exclude each other from their lives. In fact, they are currently parents to their children and spend time together as friends. In 2018, the former couple returned to live with their son and daughter.
Drew Barrymore and Justin Long
Although Justin and Drew only dated for 2 years, they kept in touch, showing their appreciation for each other over the years. More than a decade after their split, Drew Barrymore praised her ex in the comments section of a “Justin Long Thank You Post,” writing, “You’re not wrong. He’s great.”
Michael Sheen and Kate Beckinsale
Although co-parenting was more difficult for the estranged couple because they lived in different countries, Michael Sheen and Kate Beckinsale remained friends after their breakup.
The actress said in a 2016 interview that she and her former partner have “a very similar sense of humor. I believe that humor can save many things and help many things”.
Demi Lovato and Wilmer Valderrama
Despite dating for 6 years, Demi Lovato and Wilmer Valderrama didn’t let their relationship go bad. The former Disney actress even shared a photo of the two after their split, saying they were still “best friends no matter what.”
Have you become friends with any of your exes? Do you think it is possible to build a friendship after a breakup?
Preview photo credit Ron Davis / Archive Photos / Getty Images
