Exes Who Attended Awards Shows: From Jen and Brad to Selena and Justin

Stars often attend the same awards shows as their famous exes — it’s an occupational hazard. Whether the run-ins go well or not is up to the former couple at hand. Jennifer Aniston and Brad Pitt, for instance, knew going into the 2020 Golden Globe Awards that they would both be in the audience. The Morning Show star was nominated for Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series — Drama, while the Once Upon a Time in Hollywood star was up for Best Actor in a Supporting Role in Any Motion Picture. As such, Aniston and Pitt were more than cordial, with the Friends alum cheering on her ex-husband when he won his category. According to an onlooker, she “stood up and clapped for Brad’s win” and “sat down before some of the other people who were sitting near her.” The actress even laughed when Pitt joked, “I wanted to bring my mom but I couldn’t because any woman I stand next to they say I’m dating.” Scroll to revisit the good — and the bad — run-ins at awards shows:

During the 2025 Oscars, an eyewitness spotted Culkin and his wife, Jazz Charton, reuniting with Stone.

The couple were spotted chatting with Stone — who produced A Real Pain, which earned Culkin his first Oscar win — for a “few moments” before returning to their seats. (Stone and Culkin previously dated from 2010 to 2011.)

After the Elvis star was interviewed by Hudgens’ red carpet cohost Ashley Graham at the 2023 Oscars, the former couple, who dated from 2011 to 2020, crossed paths outside of the Vanity Fair party. In a video obtained by Us, the High School Musical alum walked past Butler without acknowledging him as fans screamed his name from across the street.

The Power of the Dog actress attended the 94th annual Academy Awards with her costar and now-husband, Jesse Plemons, in March 2022, but her ex-boyfriend was also close by at the Dolby Theater. Dunst and Gyllenhaal dated for two years from 2002 to 2004.

The Euphoria castmates and former couple, who were briefly linked in 2020, both attended the Oscars in March 2022.

The "Betty" songstress — who dated Styles from 2012 to 2013 — supported her ex at the 2021 Grammys as he accepted the trophy for Best Pop Solo Performance. The duo reunited again at the 2023 Grammys, where Styles picked up a trophy for Best Pop Vocal Album. As he accepted his award, the "Bejeweled" songstress rose to her feet and clapped for her ex. She was also spotted dancing during his performance of "As It Was." 

Swift took the stage at the 63rd annual Grammy Awards in March 2021 for the first time in five years — and her former flame followed suit later that night, performing "The Bones" with Maren Morris.

While attending the 2014 MTV Video Music Awards, Smart walked over to Lopez's seating section during a commercial break and offered her Skittles. The entire exchange was captured by the network's cameras, according to E! News.

The pair reunited once again at an afterparty at Greystone Mansion in West Hollywood after the show.

Not only did Pitt bump into ex-wife Jennifer Aniston at the 2020 Golden Globes, but he also walked the same carpet as Paltrow, who turned heads in a sheer caramel gown. The exes got engaged after starring together in 1994's Seven but eventually ended their whirlwind romance three years later.

The Vampire Diaries costars called off their romance in 2013, but have maintained an amicable relationship through the years. After the 2016 Golden Globes, the two crossed paths at the same event, with Somerhalder's wife Nikki Reed also making an appearance. "They are happy and so am I," Dobrev said of the couple in 2019.

In February 2017, the Pirates of the Caribbean actor attended the Vanity Fair Oscars party with girlfriend Katy Perry — and narrowly avoided a run-in with the Australian model. The exes were married from 2010 to 2013 and share son Flynn, born in 2011.

The actors, who dated after meeting on the set of Case 39 in 2009, reunited at the 92nd Annual Academy Awards years after they split in 2011. The pair were spotted mingling at the Dolby Theatre during the 2020 Oscar ceremony. Zellweger was nominated for her role in Judy.

Aniston and Pitt, who split in 2005 after five years of marriage, were both nominated at the 2020 Golden Globes. They celebrated his win for Once Upon a Time in Hollywood by reconnecting at an afterparty.

The Amazing Spider-Man costars earned awards-season recognition for their work in La La Land and Hacksaw Ridge. Garfield, who remained friends with Stone after their 2015 split, gave her a standing ovation upon her win for Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy at the 2017 Golden Globes.

On the red carpet at the 2025 Golden Globes, Garfield reunited with her ex again. This time, he also got to say hi to her husband, Dave McCary.

The country music stars brought their new significant others — Brendan McLoughlin and Gwen Stefani, respectively — to the 2019 CMA Awards. According to an eyewitness, Lambert and Shelton, who were married from 2011 to 2015, avoided each other all night, with Lambert notably snubbing Shelton’s performance by not participating in the standing ovation at its conclusion.

Shelton, meanwhile, could be seen “nodding” his head in the crowd while Lambert performed earlier in the broadcast. 

The Notebook costars each worked the awards-season circuit in 2016, culminating in their joint appearances at the Oscars. McAdams was nominated for Best Supporting Actress for Spotlight, while Gosling presented. They dated from 2005 to 2007 before briefly reconciling in 2008.

Gomez and Bieber were on and off from 2011 to 2018. The 2016 Grammy Awards occurred during one of their breaks. The Wizards of Waverly Place alum presented; the Canada native performed and won for Best Dance Recording.

The season 15 Bachelorette and her runner-up shared a table at the 2019 People’s Choice Awards. “I was having a great night regardless of who was there and who wasn’t there,” Brown told Us exclusively in November 2019.

The musicians attended the 2015 Grammys together, but by the 2016 ceremony, they walked the red carpet solo.

Danes and Crudup, who dated from 2003 to 2006, were both nominated at the 2016 Screen Actors Guild Awards.

The singers had a messy breakup in 2008, but they were on good terms by the time the 2019 Billboard Music Awards rolled around. Jonas and his then-fiancée, Sophie Turner, cheered on Swift during her performance of “Me!” — hours before the actress and the Jonas Brothers member tied the knot in a surprise Las Vegas ceremony.

Lawrence was spotted talking to Hoult at the 2016 Golden Globes, during which she won Best Actress in a Motion Picture — Musical or Comedy for Joy. The on-off pair split in 2014.

West and Rose, who called it quits in 2010, attended the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards together. However, the rapper brought then-wife Kim Kardashian as his date in 2016. He did give his ex in the audience a shout-out, though.