Nicole Kidman Clears the Air on That Viral Tom Cruise Divorce Meme
Nicole Kidman has set the record straight about that viral image where she seemed to be celebrating her 2001 divorce from Tom Cruise.
Speaking to British GQ for her recent Men of the Year cover story, the 57-year-old star clarified that the iconic image isn't what it appears to be.
"That was not me. That was from a film. That wasn't real life. I know that image!" Kidman revealed. According to the Perfect Couple actress, the widely circulated throwback shot – where she can be seen walking with her arms raised in apparent relief after her divorce from Cruise, 62, was finalized – actually wasn't about her ex-husband at all, even though the timing made sense. (While Kidman made it clear that the moment was a scene from a movie, she didn't specify which one.)
The meme, which became widely popular of the years, made headlines again in September when actress Jenna Dewan shared it on Instagram following her divorce from Channing Tatum. (Dewan and Tatum, who share 11-year-old daughter Everly, were married from 2009 to 2019.)
Kidman and Cruise, meanwhile, were married from 1990 to 2001. During their marriage, the couple adopted two children, Isabella, 31, and Connor, 29, before their split. Cruise later married Katie Holmes –– with whom he shares 18-year-old daughter Suri Cruise –– while Kidman found love with country singer Keith Urban. The couple married in 2006 and has two daughters, Sunday, 16, and Faith, 13.
In the interview with the publication, Kidman also addressed other viral moments, including another viral video of her applauding at the 2017 Academy Awards. In the clip, she claps with only her palms due to a large, uncomfortable ring.
There's always something behind the actual images that go out there," she said with a laugh.
The Oscar winner also shared how she's now more open with her emotions , especially when dealing with the challenges of mortality, raising children, and marriage.
Kidman explained, "Life is, whew. It's definitely a journey," noting that as she gets older, she feels more connected to her feelings. She described moments of raw vulnerability, saying, "It's a wake up at 3 a.m. crying and gasping... I'm in it. Fully in it." This reflection on loss came shortly after the death of her mother, Janelle Ann Kidman, who passed away at 84 in early September, the same day as Kidman's appearance at the Venice Film Festival.
