19 Lesbian Icons Whose Breakups Fueled Tabloid Queer-Bait Accusations

Public breakups are tough for anyone in the spotlight, but lesbian and bisexual women often face extra criticism. The media frequently questions the validity of their relationships, suggesting they were just for attention or never serious. These accusations often appear when the women start dating men again or choose to be single. Here’s a look at some well-known figures whose breakups led to intense debate about their identities and relationships.

Miley Cyrus

After splitting from Liam Hemsworth, the actress quickly began a very public relationship with Kaitlynn Carter. The romance grabbed headlines for a short time before ending just as suddenly. Many in the media doubted the relationship was genuine, calling it a brief, attention-seeking fling. This sparked a larger conversation about how the public often dismisses relationships between female celebrities as just for show.

Kaitlynn Carter

When Carter briefly dated Miley Cyrus, the media went into a frenzy. Many people wondered if the relationship was just a publicity stunt, especially since Carter had recently broken up with Brody Jenner. Some believed it was simply a rebound for both of them, and not a real connection. Carter later publicly shared that the relationship was actually very meaningful, pushing back against those who dismissed it.

Bella Thorne

Bella Thorne received a lot of criticism and disbelief about her relationship with Tana Mongeau, a popular YouTuber. Because they openly shared personal details online, many people thought their romance was fake and created for attention. After they broke up, rumors that their relationship was just for publicity reappeared. Thorne has repeatedly had to explain that her feelings are genuine and push back against these rumors about her sexuality.

Tana Mongeau

This online personality often mixes her personal life with her content, making it hard to tell what’s real. People suspected her relationship and split with Bella Thorne were more about promoting their careers than genuine romance. Doubts grew even stronger when she had a publicized, but ultimately fake, marriage with Jake Paul. Because of this pattern, many now question whether her past relationships with women were also for show.

Cara Delevingne

Cara Delevingne is well-known for her support of the LGBTQ+ community, but the media frequently focuses on her relationships with a critical eye. After her split with Ashley Benson, rumors spread that their two-year romance was partly for publicity. The press often portrays her quick succession of partners as a sign of instability or a desire for attention. Despite this constant scrutiny, Delevingne remains a vocal advocate for embracing all forms of love and identity.

Ashley Benson

After her breakup with Cara Delevingne, Benson received a lot of backlash when she was quickly seen with G-Eazy. Many people accused her of only dating Delevingne for attention and then returning to relationships with men. The quick move to a new partner reinforced the damaging idea that bisexuality is just a temporary phase. Benson chose not to respond publicly, prioritizing her own privacy while others questioned her sincerity online.

Lindsay Lohan

The actress faced a lot of public scrutiny during her complicated relationship with Samantha Ronson. The media constantly followed them, framing their love story as a rebellious phase instead of a real connection. After the breakup, the press quickly portrayed Lohan as heterosexual again. This period perfectly illustrates how female celebrities are often seen as outsiders when exploring relationships with people of the same sex.

Demi Lovato

Demi Lovato has openly discussed their evolving sexuality, but they’ve received criticism, especially during and after breakups. Some people accuse the singer of using their identity as LGBTQ+ to gain attention when promoting new music. These high-profile splits often lead to speculation that the relationships were created for publicity. However, this kind of thinking overlooks how challenging it can be to figure out who you are while living in the public spotlight.

Jojo Siwa

As a critic, I’ve been following the whirlwind surrounding this young star and her very public relationship with Avery Cyrus. Honestly, the whole thing—and especially the breakup—felt… staged. A lot of viewers, myself included, suspected it was all for clicks on TikTok and YouTube. The way the split played out online felt less like a real emotional event and more like a performance, which really rubbed some older viewers the wrong way. It’s sparked a bigger conversation, though – where do genuine feelings end and the need to create content begin for this generation of celebrities? It’s a tricky line, and this situation definitely blurred it.

Rita Ora

Okay, so when Ora dropped ‘Girls,’ there was a lot of backlash. A lot of us felt like the song just didn’t really understand or respect queer relationships, and it felt…off. Then, because she hadn’t really talked about dating women publicly before, people started accusing her of just using the imagery to make a hit song. It felt like she was trying to benefit from a community she wasn’t genuinely a part of. She did apologize later and tried to explain her past relationships to clear things up, but honestly, the whole thing really showed how much pressure there is on female pop stars to prove their sexuality to everyone. It’s a really unfair double standard, and this whole situation just brought it to light.

Halsey

Halsey has consistently spoken out against the dismissal of bisexuality throughout her career. The media often ignores her attraction to women when she dates men, but intensely focuses on her relationships with women, sometimes suggesting they’re just for show in her music videos. Halsey regularly uses her voice to challenge these misinterpretations and affirm the experiences of bisexual people.

Paris Jackson

Jackson has been romantically connected to people like Cara Delevingne, but she generally avoids confirming details about her relationships. This lack of clarity fuels tabloid rumors suggesting she cultivates playful connections for publicity. Her unwillingness to define her sexual orientation annoys the media, which prefers simple labels. The press frequently attributes her flexible approach to dating to the influence of growing up famous.

Michelle Rodriguez

For years, actress Rodriguez has been the subject of speculation about her personal life because she doesn’t follow typical Hollywood norms. When she briefly dated Cara Delevingne, some people assumed it was just for publicity, connected to their movie projects. The relationship ended quickly, and many reacted with skepticism, questioning how genuine it had been. Rodriguez has consistently chosen to protect her privacy rather than cater to public interest.

Amber Heard

Before Tasya van Ree married Johnny Depp, she was in a long-term relationship with Heard. Their breakup didn’t receive much attention until later, when Heard’s legal issues brought van Ree’s bisexuality to light. During Heard’s divorce, some people unfairly used van Ree’s past relationships with women to suggest Heard was dishonest or controlling. This was a prejudiced attempt to discredit both Heard’s past and current relationships.

Kristen Stewart

When Kristen Stewart started dating women after her time with ‘Twilight,’ the media was often doubtful and critical. Photos of her relationship with singer Soko seemed suspiciously arranged to some. After the breakup, many wondered if the relationship had been a way for Stewart to break away from her previous public persona. Now, she’s become a celebrated LGBTQ+ figure, living openly and honestly despite the initial negativity.

Soko

Soko, a French musician, gained widespread attention internationally when she dated Kristen Stewart. Some tabloids claimed she used the relationship to become more famous in the United States. After they broke up, people began to speculate that their connection was more about career advancement than genuine romance. Soko went back to working in Europe, and the American media quickly shifted its focus to Stewart’s next relationship.

St. Vincent

Musician Annie Clark has been linked to several well-known women, including Cara Delevingne and Kristen Stewart. The media frequently dissects her breakups, often suggesting she’s simply a stepping stone for actresses figuring out their sexuality. This framing minimizes her own agency and experience within those relationships. Clark generally keeps her personal life private, which allows tabloids to fill the gap with rumors and conjecture.

Chrishell Stause

Fans were surprised when the reality star started dating musician G Flip following her divorce. Some people dismissed the relationship as a mid-life crisis or a publicity stunt to boost her show’s ratings. When the couple faced difficulties, critics were quick to point them out, anticipating the relationship wouldn’t last. Stause has consistently defended her genuine connection with G Flip, despite their age difference and different ways of life.

Julianne Hough

After her divorce, Hough hinted that she wasn’t exclusively attracted to men, but she hasn’t publicly dated a woman since. Because of this, and the fact she hasn’t been seen in a same-sex relationship, some people have accused her of simply following a trend. The media tends to be skeptical of these kinds of announcements unless there’s visible proof of a romantic connection. Her experience shows how difficult it can be for celebrities to be accepted as LGBTQ+ when they come out later in life, and how others try to control who is ‘allowed’ to identify as such.

Please share your thoughts on how the media handles celebrity breakups in the comments.

2025-12-04 20:16