One of the last times we discussed Julianne Hough and her husband Brooks Laich, she announced in a magazine that she told Brooks one day “you know I’m not straight, right?” And thus, Julianne came out as bisexual, which was a surprise to me, and she made it sound like it was a surprise to her husband too. Before then, both Brooks and Julianne were pretty open about disagreements and fights within their marriage and I often said that Brooks struck me as shockingly non-toxic about some sensitive issues. Well, over the past week or so, Brooks has put out a few messages on Instagram about the new year and his goals for 2020. He said he wants to explore more about “intimacy” and his “sexuality” in 2020, and he also wrote this:
… I feel like a lot of my life has been “bound” to certain identities that have come through the sport I spent my life playing. Canadian, male, hockey player, disciplined, competitive, etc… and though I am all of those things, they do not define me, and I am not bound by them.
In 2020 I look forward to releasing old identities, and stepping into a new chapter in my life. I find myself wanting to officially say the words “I retire” from professional hockey, instead of vehemently resisting it as I have been for the last 2 years. I feel a new stage of life calling me, and though I don’t exactly know what it is yet, it feels right, and exciting!
Some people were like *side-eye emoji* and “are you trying to tell us something?” It’s more than possible he’s just at a crossroads with his career… and possibly his marriage too. Apparently, Julianne and Brooks have not been seen with their wedding rings and according to People Mag, they’ve hit a “rough patch.”
Julianne Hough and Brooks Laich have hit a rough patch in their marriage, multiple sources confirm to PEOPLE.
“They’ve been having problems for months,” one source says. “She’s very independent and a free spirit, and that’s been tough for Brooks and their marriage.” But a second insider says the couple, who have been married for two years, haven’t given up hope on their relationship. “It seems they are not giving up, but also not talking about it. They want to do this their way. They don’t want to discuss their marriage. They have been having problems, but many people do,” the insider explains.
Many fans noticed Hough, 31, was without her wedding ring as she celebrated the New Year with Carson Daly while co-hosting NBC’s New Year’s Eve. She was also ringless in a Dec. 24 Instagram video, but it is unclear if she has completely stopped wearing her wedding band. Laich, 36, did wear his ring in a Jan. 2 workout video.
“Maybe it’s a just a phase, maybe not,” the insider adds. “But either way they are not going to address it publicly right now.”
Judging from his IG messages, Julianne isn’t the only free spirit in the marriage. I think he’s exploring different things too, although that might be a reaction to Julianne’s vibe, or a reaction to his marriage troubles. I don’t know… I sort of liked them together, and I’m saying that as someone who finds her sort of annoying. I wish them the best, but I doubt they’ll make it through the year.
Photos courtesy of WENN.
They make one good-looking couple, but possibly best to end the marriage. It’s only been two years and no kids. Maybe marriage wasn’t the best option for either. Sad to say that sometimes relationships just run their course and inevitably end. Don’t know if any of these issues were ever brought up before they decided to tie the knot, but wishing both parties the best in whatever path they take.
Or maybe he’s into her enough that he wants a piece of that free spirit lifestyle. Maybe he wants to retire from hockey and just kind of see where life takes him. I’m sure he’s had a lot of expectations on him for years – maybe being with Julianne has made him realize there’s more to life. Who knows.
Or maybe they’re truly headed for divorce. I really don’t have a horse in this race haha.
Isn’t she bi or something? She made that comment some months ago.
Did you have a lot of instances in school where you tried to join in the class discussion and, in the process, revealed that you hadn’t done the reading assignment before arriving?
Being bisexual is not the same thing as being a person who wants to be in a non-monogamous relationship.
They are a very attractive couple.
@Yup, Me lol
Yeah, I read that as “threesome?”
He was in DC with the Caps for years. Truly a wonderful guy on & off the Ice. She was seen at games a lot & was really sweet to the fans who approached her. I was a bit shocked about the “I chose to be with him” comment & how that must have been hard to hear.
I wish the best for him. He did so much for charity & the Community while in DC & NoVA
+1
That’s nice to hear, sounds like a good guy.
If their marriage doesn’t work, hopefully they can agree to part ways and be friends.
Oof, he was a Capitol? Theres goes my goodwill towards the guy …
#gopens
This makes me oddly sad. I found them really endearing when they talked about their fertility struggles. Also I live near DC and the word via local media when he played for the caps was that he was a really really nice guy. Very well respected and liked by everyone. So I had always wanted things to work out for them.
Girl what is you doing?!
His blah blah sounds like a reaction to her blah blah. He seems like he’s really in love with her and is twisting himself like a pretzel to try and fit her views/choices/life.
I hope they both find happiness, but she’s an idiot.
I’d kind of agree with you on that.
That’s my thinking, too.
Nice people get divorced too you guys. I am, however, hoping this works out. I liked them together.
Saw this coming as soon as she made that statement.
Yeah I have to agree, her phrasing made it seem like she knew and kept it from him somehow too. That may not be true but her phrasing sounds like she’s trying to one up him, ‘you know I’m not straight right?’ It lacks sensitivity which he seems to have shown her tons of
I look at their IG feeds every so often. He’s still wearing his ring but she’s clearly not. And in his posts he definitely seems a little off/down from his usual persona. She’s ringless and off on her Kinergy/Oprah WW tour. He is still in their house but noticed in the last update he was traveling while it seemed like she was back in LA. Have read they were going through IVF, and seems losing the two dogs might have also have something to do with it.
Another clue, they’ve usually been very supportive posting when one or the other is doing a new project, but nothing about the Christmas special J and Derek did, wishing her well on the WW/Oprah tour or her plugging his app or podcast.
As others have said, he is a genuinely nice man, generous with his time, seems to be trying to figure out his place post hockey. Julianne Hough kind of makes my eyes roll at times and her announcements, at times, seem disingenuous to get attention more than anything.
What an obnoxious and backward thing to say? That her speaking up about bisexuality is for attention. Grow up and evolve. It’s really nice to see a once Mormon -daughter of the divorced man who leads the Republican party in Utah- come into her own happiness. Utah is becoming the suicide capital of this country because of suppression. Kudos to her!!!
Eye roll….she has had multiple instances where she has dropped some sort of news topic of the day type revelation when she is promoting a project, it’s been a frequent comment by the writers and commenters on this very site when covering her. I could care less what her sexuality is.
I’d be ‘exploring’ too if the person I married wasn’t who they said they were when we dated.
He’s super hot. That’s all I got.
Every (male) hockey player I know- and Ive known many in my life as my older brothers all played- and some of my oldest brother’s friends went on to play professionally (and now some have sons in college playing for top tier schools) presents himself the way Brooks has.
“I feel like a lot of my life has been “bound” to certain identities that have come through the sport I spent my life playing. Canadian, male, hockey player, disciplined, competitive, etc… and though I am all of those things, they do not define me, and I am not bound by them.”
This quote reads two ways to me: 1) he has never “failed” or faltered and this marriage may be his first real identity crisis bc he is failing and faltering in it or 2) he wants to live an unconventional life and for the first time in his life is exploring what life outside of the hyper masculine hyper disciplined life of pro hockey player is…
Maybe he will go on dancing with the stars or try his hand at acting? Maybe HE is bi? I am loathe to s[peculate about his sexuality tho. He just seems like a kind guy who is entering a new phase in his life –
Yeah, it sounds like his mind is opening a bit, whether or not the marriage survives. Good for him.
Was wondering if they were going to announce a split. She was in the U.K. with Maude Hirst for Christmas and it didn’t seem like he was with them. Kept seeing IG stories about their trip.
I feel bad for him. it’s not cool when the person you’re with turns out to be something totally different from what you thought they were.
I read a “I’m bisexual/queer too” subtext in his post.
Anyways, every time I see her I remember her in blackface as Crazy-Eyes.
Member when Brad Pitt said he was in the mood to dance and now it feels like we’re getting articles every day about her getting a divorce all of the sudden. I’m suspicious
Perhaps far reaching conspiracy
Perhaps not.
They’re both oversharers. She more so than he, obviously, but still both of them have been unnecessarily public about the intricacies of their relationship. When she implied that her own husband didn’t know she was bi until after they got married, I kind of saw the writing on the wall. Silly woman to embarrass her husband like that so publicly (reminds me of Miley’s ‘’woke” but actually hurtful and insulting statements about Liam just before they separated). I swear, celebrities couldn’t be any dumber if they tried.