If you follow celebrity hair—and honestly, who doesn't love a good Kardashian blowout?—you know Chris Appleton. He’s the guy behind the most iconic looks for Kim Kardashian and J.Lo. But for a hot minute in 2023, the spotlight shifted from his shears to his ring finger. People are still buzzing about the Chris Appleton ex husband situation, mainly because it was such a whirlwind that if you blinked, you probably missed the whole marriage.
The man in question is Lukas Gage. You’ve seen him in The White Lotus and You. He’s talented, he’s edgy, and for a brief six months, he was one half of Hollywood’s most talked-about couple.
But their story isn't just a tabloid headline. It’s a messy, human look at what happens when you move at the speed of light in the public eye.
The Whirlwind: From Mexico to the Little White Chapel
It all started with some vacation photos in Mexico. By February 2023, the internet was convinced they were a thing. One month later, Chris confirmed the relationship on The Drew Barrymore Show, looking genuinely smitten.
He didn't just say they were dating; he said he was "very much in love."
Then came April. In true celebrity fashion, they didn't just get engaged—they sprinted to the altar. They tied the knot in Las Vegas at the Little White Wedding Chapel. It wasn't your average "Elvis" wedding, though. Kim Kardashian officiated the ceremony, and Shania Twain showed up to serenade them. It was a high-octane, fur-coat-wearing, champagne-popping event that was eventually immortalized on The Kardashians.
Why the rush?
Looking back, the timeline was aggressive.
- February 2023: First public sightings.
- March 2023: Relationship confirmed on TV.
- April 2023: Marriage in Vegas.
- November 2023: Divorce papers filed.
Six months. That's basically the length of a long TV production schedule.
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The Fallout: Why Chris Appleton and Lukas Gage Split
When the news broke in November 2023 that Chris had filed for divorce, the speculation went wild. Was it cheating? Was it just "irreconcilable differences"?
Lukas Gage later went on Watch What Happens Live and gave us a bit of a reality check. He described his decision to get married that quickly as a "manic episode." He was honest about not recognizing himself during that time. It's a vulnerable thing to admit—that you got swept up in the glamour and the "yes" of it all without checking if the foundation was actually there.
Chris, on the other hand, stayed quiet for a long time. It wasn't until August 2025, during a sit-down on Jay Shetty’s On Purpose podcast, that we got his side. He talked about "private pain" and the struggle of having your personal life dissected by millions.
He admitted that "just because it's not forever doesn't mean it doesn't mean something." It’s a nuanced take. Sometimes two people can be deeply into each other but completely unaligned for the long haul.
Life Before Lukas: The Other Significant Partner
A lot of people forget that before he was a global celebrity stylist, Chris had a very different life in the UK. For nine years, he was in a relationship with Katie Katon.
They weren't married, but she is the mother of his two children, Billy and Kitty-Blu. Chris has been incredibly open about the trauma of that period—not because of Katie, whom he still speaks of with immense love, but because of his own internal struggle.
He stayed in that relationship until he was 26, "holding his breath" regarding his sexuality. When he finally came out, it was devastating for the family. He even admitted to a suicide attempt during that dark transition, feeling like he had failed his kids.
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Today, that relationship is in a much healthier place. His kids are adults now—Billy is 22 and Kitty-Blu is 20—and they are frequently seen on his Instagram. They’ve managed to rebuild a family structure that works for them, which is probably why the Lukas Gage split, while "brutal," wasn't the first time Chris had to navigate a difficult ending.
The Divorce Settlement and 2026 Status
By June 2024, the legalities were officially over. Because they had a postnuptial agreement (reportedly encouraged by Kim K herself), the split was relatively clean on paper.
- No spousal support: Both waived it.
- Separate property: They kept what they brought in.
- No kids involved: Which obviously makes things move way faster.
As of early 2026, both have moved on. Lukas is back to filming major projects and has spoken about "loving himself" post-divorce. Chris just released a memoir titled Your Roots Don’t Define You in January 2026, where he goes even deeper into his upbringing and his past relationships.
What we can learn from the "Appleton-Gage" Era
Honestly, their story is a cautionary tale about the "honeymoon phase." When you have the resources to fly anywhere and have the world's biggest stars at your wedding, it’s easy to ignore the red flags.
- Speed isn't always stability. Moving fast feels like passion, but it often skips the "do I actually like your habits?" phase.
- Public pressure is real. Once the cameras are rolling for a reality show, it’s much harder to say "wait, let's slow down."
- Growth is messy. Both men have used the split as a catalyst for therapy and self-reflection.
If you’re looking to follow Chris’s journey further, his new book is probably the best place to start. It covers the stuff the tabloids missed—the internal work it takes to survive a public breakup and come out the other side still liking yourself.
Keep an eye on his social media for the professional side, but if you want the "human" Chris, look for his recent podcast appearances where he’s finally dropped the "perfect hair" facade.