Hugh Jackman and his new romantic interest, Sutton Foster, have reportedly been taken by surprise after an unexpected request from Jackman’s former spouse, Deborra-Lee Furness.
Jackman, 57, and Foster, 51, publicly acknowledged their relationship in January 2025, one year following Jackman’s announcement of his separation from Deborra-Lee. Now, Deborra-Lee is seeking to meet her ex-husband’s new partner.
Despite the surprising request, Deborra-Lee’s intentions are not to stir up conflict. Instead, she hopes to meet with them to facilitate a peaceful transition for everyone involved.
“This isn’t about Deb being upset or wanting to confront Sutton,” an insider shared with New Idea magazine this week. “It’s about finding closure.”
The source also mentioned that although Deborra-Lee initially hesitated to meet, she now wishes to do so to alleviate any perceived tension.
“For quite some time, Deborra-Lee was adamant about avoiding any encounter with Sutton,” the insider further revealed.
Hugh Jackman and his new girlfriend Sutton Foster have reportedly been left ‘blindsided’ by a shock request from his ex-wife Deborra-Lee Furness
‘But at this point it feels like something she needs to check off her list, if only to put an end to the awkwardness… also so she can speak her truth.’
They said that Hugh and Sutton had been very public about their new romance which had come as a shock to Deborra, as they were visiting all the places that she used to go to with the Wolverine actor.
‘Watching Hugh and Sutton parade around the city, openly flaunting their romance and mingling with all the same people they used to socialise with as a couple, is incredibly painful and humiliating,’ they added.
‘It might be easier to take if they weren’t constantly all over each other.’
The source said that Hugh and Sutton were surprised by Deborra’s request – but were open to the idea so they could clear the air of any perceived tension.
It comes after Hugh was slammed for attending this year’s Met Gala in New York City with Sutton.
The actor’s shock move was seen as a brutal final blow to his ex-wife when they arrived at The Metropolitan Museum of Art tenderly holding hands as they posed for photos.
The actor finalised his divorce from Furness last June, after 27 years of marriage, while his romance with Foster began in late 2024, following their starring roles in Broadway’s 2021 revival of The Music Man.
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Should ex-partners meet their former spouse’s new love, or is it asking too much after a breakup?
Hugh, 57, and Sutton, 51, publicly confirmed their romance in January 2025, a year after he announced that he and Deborra-Lee had split – and now she wants to meet her ex-husband’s new partner
However, Deb has no intention of causing trouble for the pair and wants to meet so they can all move forward
Hugh and his ex-wife previously attended multiple Met Galas, with their last joint appearance being in 2023.
The actor notably showed up to the 2024 soiree solo and skipped the event altogether last year amid their high-profile split.
And for his grand 2026 return to the Met Gala, Hugh had Sutton by his side as he trekked up the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s iconic staircase.
Their Met Gala debut as a couple comes amid rumours that a wedding between the pair is close at hand.
Back in February, the Globe claimed that Hugh rejected the idea of drawing up a prenup with the Broadway star.
The alleged wedding planning comes less than a year after Hugh and Deborra-Lee finalised their bitter divorce.
The exes, who first separated in 2023, share two adult children: son Oscar, 25, and daughter Ava, 20.
The Met Gala became a tradition for them in the latter years of their marriage, with the couple making back-to-back appearances in 2017 and 2018.
