Well, well, well, it looks like Deborra-Lee Furness might be dropping hints about what the rumor mill has been churning out for months: Hugh Jackman having a little Broadway fling with Sutton Foster. The 68-year-old Australian actress did what can only be described as the ultimate passive-aggressive move in the Instagram age—she ‘liked’ a post. And not just any post. This one came from gossip blogger Tasha Lustig, who was feeling extra spicy, claiming Jackman was “running off with the mistress” and planning a “soft launch” for their not-so-secret relationship. Just to make things even messier, Furness’s friend Amanda de Cadenet chimed in with a comment that was basically a cheer for Deb’s impending revenge glow-up. You love to see it.
The couple announced their split back in September 2023 after an impressive 27-year run, which—according to the very sincere press statements—was based on mutual honesty. So yeah, the Sutton affair rumors must hit particularly hard. Sources say Furness liked that Instagram post to make it clear without saying a word: yeah, Hugh did her dirty, as reported by Us Weekly. “She has suspected Hugh of cheating on her, and he adamantly denied it over and over,” the source shared, adding, “This is what would hurt the worst.” And honestly, after 27 years of supposed honesty, that kind of denial hits different.
But make no mistake—Deborra-Lee isn’t out here trying to write a tell-all. Oh no, she’s keeping it classy… well, mostly. “Her liking a simple post is the most subtle thing she could do that would have the greatest impact,” says the source. Translation: she’s keeping it above the belt, but she’s still throwing a punch. You gotta respect the move.
The alleged affair reportedly kicked off during Jackman’s Broadway run with Foster, who played his on-stage love interest in The Music Man from February 2022 to January 2023. The two played Harold Hill and Marian Paroo at the Winter Garden Theatre, and their chemistry wasn’t exactly confined to the stage. “Broadway’s worst-kept secret,” they called it. And poor Deborra-Lee apparently saw it all coming: “Deborra-Lee had her suspicions when Hugh started working with Sutton,” an insider revealed. That’s right, she called it—because some things are just that obvious.
Speaking of obvious, Sutton Foster also filed for divorce from her husband Ted Griffin just last month. The timing? Impeccable. As for Jackman and Foster, the two have already been spotted looking “smitten” in public. According to Lustig’s Instagram tea, they’re supposedly working on a “soft launch” of their relationship—because hey, why not ease into the public scandal?
Meanwhile, Deb and Hugh—who share two adopted kids, Oscar (24) and Ava (19)—have been keeping a lid on the actual dirty details of their split. So, no tell-all memoirs or Twitter meltdowns from Deborra-Lee anytime soon. She’s keeping it dignified, and honestly, good for her. But come on, let’s not pretend that a well-timed Instagram like isn’t telling us everything we need to know. “She wasn’t going to be the one to break anything or say anything, and she still won’t be speaking out,” says the insider. And yet, that like speaks volumes.
Sutton, for her part, has been pretty tight-lipped. However, in a conveniently resurfaced interview, she gushed about working with Jackman, calling it “a dream come true.” She even went as far as to call him “one of her best friends” and mentioned their families spending Memorial Day together. Not exactly subtle, Sutton. Fans are doing the mental gymnastics, and let’s just say the math isn’t looking great for our boy Wolverine.
Only time will tell if this rumored romance makes it to the public debut stage, but one thing’s for sure: it’s Hugh’s world and we’re all just watching the drama unfold. As for Deborra-Lee? She’s got a front-row seat, popcorn in hand.
And remember, folks, as with any speculative report, take it all with a grain of salt… or maybe a whole shaker.