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Marriage can be a beautiful journey, but sometimes it doesn’t go as planned. For the average person, divorce tends to remain a private matter, but for celebrities, the end of a relationship can quickly turn into breaking news. If you've been wondering who holds the record for the shortest marriages ever, brace yourself for some surprising stories.
Now, let’s explore the top ten marriages that ended in the shortest time, possibly making you reconsider your own walk down the aisle.
10. Chad Johnson & Evelyn Lozada – 41 Days
Our list begins with a rough start—although, let's be real, no divorce is ever sweet. When Evelyn Lozada married Chad 'Ochocinco' Johnson, she imagined a life in the spotlight. They even had a reality show planned with VH-1, where they were set to star together as a couple.
Tragically, the couple got into a heated argument one night, leading to Johnson allegedly ‘head-butting’ his wife. Lozada, who was hospitalized following the altercation, filed for divorce just three days later. Her primary reason for ending the marriage was the undeniable truth that she couldn’t live with domestic violence. She hoped her bravery would inspire other women to speak out.
As is typical with any public scandal, the controversy surrounding the domestic violence incident led VH-1 to pull the plug on their planned reality show. The fallout continued when Ocho was dropped by his NFL team, the Miami Dolphins.
9. Drew Barrymore & Jeremy Thomas – 29 Days
Sometimes, true love can strike unexpectedly in the most unlikely places. That’s exactly what happened to Charlie’s Angels star Drew Barrymore when she met Jeremy Thomas at a bar.
Barrymore crossed paths with Thomas, a bar owner from LA, in 1994. Just six weeks later, Thomas, smitten by Barrymore, asked her to marry him. Instead of a carefully planned proposal, Thomas went down on one knee and popped the question in an alley at 2 am. Barrymore said yes, and within three hours, they were married in a spontaneous ceremony.
The couple sealed their impromptu romance by 5:30 am on the same day, after paying the officiant $20 extra on top of the usual fee. Unfortunately, things started unraveling after their wedding, and although they had planned a honeymoon in Hawaii, Barrymore ended up going alone.
Thomas discovered Barrymore was in Hawaii only when she called him later! She would later mention 'irreconcilable differences'—not her movie, but their mismatched personalities—as the main reason behind their divorce.
8. Sinead O'Connor & Barry Herridge – 16 Days
What could prompt someone to call it quits on a Las Vegas wedding? A wild pursuit of marijuana on their wedding night certainly played a major role in the collapse of Sinead O'Connor's marriage to Barry Herridge.
Sinead O'Connor, the Irish singer-songwriter, made a spontaneous decision to marry Herridge in Las Vegas. According to O'Connor, the problems began just three hours after the ceremony. They embarked on a quest to find marijuana, since Sinead didn’t drink, but this unusual adventure didn’t sit well with the new husband.
As a professional psychotherapist, Herridge dedicated his career to helping people struggling with substance abuse. Perhaps the search for drugs conflicted with his core values. Sinead later revealed that Herridge’s friends had disapproved of their relationship from the start. They came from different worlds, which was a recipe for disaster. Sinead admitted that she ended the marriage because she loved him too much and felt the need to 'set him free.'
7. Tracey Edmonds & Eddie Murphy – 14 Days
Celebrities are notorious for their often short-lived relationships, and sometimes, the most famous stars become part of the conversation. Eddie Murphy, with his five baby mamas in the entertainment world, married Tracey Edmonds, and many wondered how long it would last. It turns out, 14 days was the record.
Fortunately, the marriage didn’t end on a sour note since the marriage certificates were never signed. Eddie Murphy and Tracey Edmonds exchanged vows in the Bora Bora region of French Polynesia. While a beautiful wedding on a private island is a popular industry choice, it turns out they still needed to finalize the union with a formal ceremony in the U.S.
After an eventful two-week honeymoon, the couple decided together to forgo the formal ceremony that would legally bind their marriage. In a statement, they explained that the Bora Bora ceremony was a reflection of their friendship, deep love, and respect. They chose to remain friends, which might have been the best decision, considering how long marriages tend to last in Hollywood.
6. Pamela Anderson & Jon Peters – 12 Days
Couples often tie the knot after a brief romance, but sometimes, love takes its time. Pamela Anderson and Jon Peters first dated back in the 1980s, yet it wasn’t until 35 years later that they decided to marry. Though many details of their short-lived marriage are shrouded in controversy, it is known that their marriage lasted only 12 days.
Jon Peters, a renowned film producer, and Pamela Anderson, the Baywatch icon, had a complicated relationship. Their quick union was the latest twist in their long connection. However, in a surprising turn of events, the two parted ways before finalizing their marriage. Peters, sharing his perspective, stated that he wanted 'a simple life, not an international love affair,' explaining why the marriage didn’t work for him.
Before everything unraveled, Anderson had expressed that Peters had always supported her, saying, 'I’m ready now, and he’s ready too.' But that’s the unpredictable nature of marriages—you can prepare all you want, but you can never control how things ultimately unfold.
5. Carmen Electra & Dennis Rodman – 9 Days
Dennis Rodman, renowned for his exceptional defensive and rebounding skills, is considered one of the greats in basketball. His name also makes this list due to his brief marriage to Carmen Electra, which only lasted nine days.
Before tying the knot, Electra and Rodman shared a strong connection. Their relationship sparked when they first met in Los Angeles in 1998. The couple enjoyed spontaneous dates and constant phone calls as Rodman charmed a captivated Electra. By November 1998, they took a trip to Las Vegas, which culminated in a visit to the famed Chapel of the Flowers.
At the chapel, the couple got married in a ceremony that made headlines worldwide. However, just nine days later, Rodman sought an annulment, claiming he wasn’t in a clear state of mind when they wed. Perhaps their brief marriage serves as a cautionary tale—don’t rush into a Vegas wedding.
4. Nigerian Couple – 7 Days
Marriage usually follows courtship, but for some couples, their wedding night holds unexpected revelations. In Nigeria, a couple split just days after tying the knot when the wife discovered that her husband’s… member was too large for her to handle.
Although larger is often considered better, Aisha Dannupawa found that her husband’s size was simply too much for her to handle. Speaking at the Islamic court in Zamfara, Aisha explained that being intimate with her partner was excruciatingly painful. Even after trying various herbs suggested by her mother, she could not find relief from the discomfort.
When asked if he objected to the divorce request, the groom remained silent. He didn’t dispute the claims, and we can likely understand why—his success had become a burden. Marriage is meant to be a safe and comfortable place for both partners, and if she didn’t feel at ease, there was no reason to continue the relationship.
3. Kuwaiti Couple – 3 Minutes
The title of the shortest marriage in history surprisingly goes to a non-celebrity couple. In an event that stunned the internet, a Kuwaiti couple ended their marriage in less than three minutes after the ceremony.
Marriage is intended to last a lifetime, with mutual respect at its core. For this Kuwaiti couple, the first three minutes of their marriage revealed that they were not suited for each other. According to reports, they had tied the knot in front of a judge, but after exiting the ceremony, an unfortunate incident occurred—the bride tripped and fell onto the cold, hard floor.
Any new groom would have rushed to rescue his princess, but in this scenario, the knight in shining armor called her “stupid.” A single ridiculous and cruel moment after the wedding bells is not something a bride welcomes. Right after, the bride rushed back to demand a divorce. While we’re definitely stunned by this short marriage, you can imagine how the judge reacted to the fast and furious bridal take-back.
2. Britney Spears & Jason Alexander – 55 Hours
We all have the idea that weddings should be all about pomp and flair. Britney Spears is a pretty famous person who once did the unthinkable: She showed up to a wedding in blue jeans, a bare midriff, and a baseball cap. Of course, she’s not here because she was arrested by the fashion police—she’s on the list because she asked for an annulment just 55 hours later!
Spears and Alexander exchanged vows in a little white wedding chapel in the best nightlife city… Las Vegas, of course! And this is one story that the tabloids gobbled up like Thanksgiving dinner. Sharing his side of the story, Alexander revealed that Spears flew him out to Vegas, and when he landed, he was hoping for a good time. As it turns out, things were better than good—they were Vegas crazy.
In an ironic twist, what happened in Vegas didn’t stay in Vegas… at least not once the couple shared the news with her family. After Spears phoned home to say that she was now married, her mother and managers were shocked. The wedding had no prenup, and Spears asked Alexander to sign the annulment papers after intense pressure.
Britney Spears later described her brief marriage to Jason Alexander as a period when she was simply being 'silly' and 'rebellious.'
1. Nicolas Cage & Erika Koike – 4 Days
Nicolas Cage, a global superstar, often keeps his relationships out of the limelight. However, his brief marriage to make-up artist Erika Koike was anything but private. Their surprise Vegas wedding made headlines, and the low-key ceremony was the result of a whirlwind romance.
Nicolas Cage later explained that there were a number of factors leading to the annulment of the marriage after just four days. He confessed that both he and Koike had been heavily intoxicated before tying the knot. Furthermore, he was unaware of her prior romantic entanglements with another individual.
Despite the annulment, Cage admitted that he was 'upset' by how everything turned out, considering it was his fourth marriage.
