Betrayals Exposed in Celebrity Relationships
“I went into that surgery early in the morning, and I went in after I found out that my marriage was essentially over, that my husband had been carrying on an affair for two years,” the late actor Shannen Doherty shared on her podcast, Let’s Be Clear With Shannen Doherty. Relationships require vulnerability and trust, but some celebrities have opened up about the worst betrayals they’ve experienced.
Anne Hathaway and the Raffaello Follieri Vatican Ruse
In 2004, Anne Hathaway began a relationship with Italian man Raffaello Follieri, who founded the Follieri Group with the stated aim of helping the Catholic Church sell off real estate properties following child sex abuse scandals. Follieri maintained an elaborate facade, placing an altar and ceremonial robes in his office and hiring a nun to work reception to convince people of his personal connections to the Vatican. His lavish lifestyle—including a $107,000 jet trip to an Oscar de la Renta NYE party in the Dominican Republic and $37,000 a month on his Olympic Tower apartment—was funded by investor money.
Follieri secured wealthy backers by cultivating ties with high-profile figures such as Bill Clinton, Doug Band, Ron Burkle, and Carlos Slim. In 2007, Burkle sued Follieri for misappropriating $1.3 million in funds. Hathaway ended the relationship in 2008, and the FBI arrested Follieri ten days later. He was sentenced to four and a half years behind bars before being deported to Italy.
Doherty Disputed Timeline After Filing for Divorce
Shannen Doherty married Kurt Iswarienko in 2011, but discovered his two-year affair shortly before undergoing surgery to remove a brain tumor. Her mother, brother, and best friends supported her through the operation. Doherty stated that she initially struggled to leave the marriage due to confusion and post-surgery steroid treatments, though she eventually filed for divorce. A source told TMZ that the couple had been separated for two years prior to the surgery and that Iswarienko had informed her of his new relationship, a timeline Doherty disputed as an absolute lie. Their divorce was finalized in 2024, one day before Doherty died of cancer.
Khloé Kardashian and Tristan Thompson Paternity Scandal
Khloé Kardashian and Tristan Thompson began an on-and-off relationship in 2016 and welcomed their first child in 2018. They were quietly engaged the month before he cheated and were reportedly still engaged until December 2021, when his paternity scandal came to light. Kardashian learned of the affair through tabloids. At the time, she and Thompson were planning to have another child through surrogacy, and their surrogate’s embryo transfer was done a few days before Kardashian learned he had another child on the way. Their son was born in 2022.
Shlesinger Channeled Deceit into Netflix Film
Iliza Shlesinger discovered that a former partner had fabricated his finances, educational background, and claims about ill family members. She told People, “The last time I spoke to this person was probably 2015.” She channeled the experience into her Netflix film, Good on Paper.
Smith Uncovered Infidelity During Apartment Visit
Charlie’s Angels actor Jaclyn Smith met Roger Davis at a commercial casting call in 1968, and within months they were married. Two years later, on her way to view an apartment in New York City, Smith ran into Warren Beatty, who invited her to audition for a movie. Davis interrupted to claim Smith only did commercials. Smith later heard what Davis had been up to during her conversation with Beatty—allegedly, he had been in the apartment having sex with their real estate agent.
Orrantia Confronted Partner over Financial Theft
The Goldbergs actor Hayley Orrantia met former Marine Brandon Pelletier in 2015 when he toured her sitcom set, leading to a year-and-a-half long-distance relationship. Orrantia discovered that Pelletier had stolen $9,000 from her through bank withdrawals and fraudulent credit card charges. After being alerted by her bank, she confronted Pelletier and filed a police report. He was arrested in 2017, released on bond, and sentenced to four years of deferred probation.
Frequently Asked Questions About Celebrity Relationship Betrayals
What led to the arrest of Anne Hathaway’s ex-boyfriend Raffaello Follieri?
In 2007, Ron Burkle sued Follieri for misappropriating $1.3 million in funds. Hathaway ended the relationship in 2008, and the FBI arrested Follieri ten days later.
How did Shannen Doherty discover her husband’s affair?
Doherty learned that Kurt Iswarienko had been carrying on a two-year affair shortly before undergoing surgery to remove a brain tumor. She later spoke directly with the woman involved. A source told TMZ that the couple had already been separated for two years prior to the procedure.
What legal consequences did Brandon Pelletier face after stealing from Hayley Orrantia?
Following a police report filed by Orrantia, Pelletier was arrested in 2017, released on bond, and sentenced to four years of deferred probation.
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