Ex is the love of his life.

[Treesandsheepeverywhere]

Read an article where Guy Pearce said his Ex-wife was the love of his life.

He has a partner now and they live together with their child.

Got me wondering if I could be mature/understanding enough to be ok in such a relationship.

If DH said this and the Ex was still alive, it would feel like he was settling or wishing to go back.

Have you ever been or would you be ok with being in a marriage or long term relationship where you knew his Ex was the love of his life?

YABU - It's totally fine.
YANBU - I'd always wonder if he would go back if there was a chance.

That just weird, where did you read that.

You've misquoted him.

He said his ex wife WAS the love of his life but he's moved on now.! Thats very different to your post!

Surely if she was the love of his life he would be with her - also how disrespectful to his current partner to say that to the media.

BTW didn't he leave his long term partner (who I presume he is referring to) for a younger woman, and have a baby with new partner despite saying for years he didn't want children? He sounds like a tool.

I would feel second best and under-loved. I couldn’t stay in a relationship like that.

I wouldn't have been okay with it when I was younger but I'd have a more nuanced view now I'm in my 40s, it depends how he means it. If he meant his feelings for her were the strongest he'dn had for anyone but they couldn't make it work day to day I wouldn't have a problem with that. If he still felt that way and wasn't over her that's obviously a different matter.

He must have been with his ex for many years so if anything I'd find it worse if he slagged her off or said the whole thing was a lie.

It was in the Guardian, yesterday maybe?

I don't think I could do it, especially if he's going round announcing it to all and sundry - imagine knowing the entire world had been told you were second best.

What was the broader context op?
On the surface that seems hugely disrespectful to his current partner and any kids involved.

https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2025/jan/18/guy-pearce-my-ex-wife-was-the-greatest-love-of-my-life-but-ive-moved-on-now

A quick Google has just revealed that he says he once considered her the greatest love of his life - surely what anyone would say with a current spouse if there weren't major problems...

My ex-wife, Kate, was the greatest love of my life, but I’ve moved on from her now and the greatest love of my life is my child, Monte.

No mention at all of his partner. I’d be offended. Wouldn’t be happy at all.

I would hate it like, but what’s refreshing is that his ex wife doesn’t fit the typical stereotypical western Beaty standard. She’s quite ordinary looking so just goes to show that looks aren’t always as important as we’re led to believe!

A university ex of mine got in touch to tell me I was the one that got away before he died. His wife then contacted me to tell me had died cos she knew I should know before everyone else cos he ‘loved me very much’. We weren’t even together long. I raised an eyebrow at both how calm she was with this information and who would say that to their partner?!

I wouldn't be happy and would straight up leave

I'm alone now, and i can do it, so there'd be no hesitation

I'd rather be alone than be someone's second option

I read the article and wondered the same thing. I'd be devastated if my partner said this about his ex-wife. I would think, what am I then?

I read that and I assumed he was single! I think it is very disrespectful to his current partner. If my husband said this about an ex, I'd think he'd just "settled" for me and would go back if the ex asked.

I mean we don’t know the dynamic of his and his current partners relationship. Chances are he found his divorce extremely traumatic and when he was ready to date again, openly said this about his ex wife. His partner won’t just have found out by reading the article. I have a long term partner (25 years) and likely wouldn’t feel quite the same about someone else in the future, if I found myself in that situation. I think it’s okay to be honest about that with a new prospective partner and it would actually be wrong not to be. My 20 something self wouldn’t have felt comfortable with what he said but now I’m in my 40’s, I wouldn’t see it as a personal slight.

Two very mature and nice people? He loved you, but also loved his new partner. Doesn't really matter how long you were together.

I read this yesterday and thought exactly the same, OP. I felt sorry for his current partner!

My ex still, 30 years after I left him,tells everyone I was the love of his life. It's so disrespectful to me I feel. Like he's yearning urgh!. It makes me feel uncomfortable.

It was one of the reasons his second wife left too.

I'm hoping he's been misquoted/context is missing. It kind of comes across that he cheated, knocked his mistress up, left his wife and is regretful rather than his marriage ended, he was upset about that, met someone else, has a child and is now happy.....

What a tool he is.

I love him as an actor (and in Neighbours ) but clearly a wanker. Many good actors are wankers of course. At least so far he's not a #MeToo candidate like so many. My bar for famous men is too low to limbo under.

Yes but the article says my son is my love now.. no mention of current partner!

I read that and wondered if he was in a relationship or not as it's quite a shocking thing to say publicly if he has. I'd be gutted.

Is it really that bad for him to say his child is the love of his life now? Most mothers would say that without anyone batting an eyelid surely.

Looking at the dates on Wikipedia, I think that is exactly what happened. He announced his divorce from his wife in Oct 2015 and 9 months later announces that his new girlfriend has had a baby.

Ouch for his new girlfriend though, doesn’t sound like he is happy to be with her.