Hollywood families are usually a little messy. It comes with the territory. But the bombshell that dropped in early 2024 involving Dominic Purcell, Noah Cyrus, and her mother Tish Cyrus was on a whole different level. We’re talking about a story so wild it sounds like a rejected soap opera script. For months, everyone was asking the same thing: did Dominic Purcell date Noah Cyrus before he married her mother?
The short answer is yes—at least according to a mountain of reports from some very credible sources. This isn't just some random TikTok theory. Major outlets like People and Us Weekly have been digging into this for a while, and the details are pretty jarring. Basically, the Prison Break actor and the younger Cyrus sister were a thing before Tish ever entered the picture.
The Timeline: What Really Happened Between Noah and Dominic?
To understand how we got here, you have to look at the timeline. Before Tish and Dominic went public in late 2022, Noah and Dominic were reportedly seeing each other. Multiple sources close to the family have described their relationship as a "friends-with-benefits" situation. It wasn't necessarily a long-term, committed romance, but they were definitely involved.
They were seeing each other on and off. Then, it stopped.
The drama really kicked off when Tish started pursuing Dominic. According to insiders, Tish was fully aware that her daughter had a history with him. She knew. Despite that, she moved forward with the relationship. What’s even crazier is that she reportedly didn't give Noah a chance to talk about it or process it before things got serious.
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By the time the public found out Tish and Dominic were dating, the damage within the family was already done. Noah was understandably "offended" and hurt. Imagine your mom marrying someone you were just hooking up with. It's a lot.
The Wedding Snub Heard 'Round the World
The first real sign that something was wrong wasn't a headline. It was an absence. When Tish and Dominic tied the knot in August 2023 at Miley’s Malibu estate, two faces were noticeably missing: Noah Cyrus and her brother Braison.
While Miley served as maid of honor and siblings Brandi and Trace were all smiles in the wedding photos, Noah and Braison were at a local Walmart. Seriously. They posted photos of themselves shopping for groceries while the ceremony was happening. Noah even wore a Billy Ray Cyrus t-shirt, which felt like a massive middle finger to the whole event.
Later, reports surfaced that Tish actually hired security to keep Noah and Braison out of the wedding. She reportedly blocked them on Instagram, too. It wasn't just that Noah chose not to go; it was that she was actively barred from being there.
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Why Tish Claims She Pursued Him
Tish has been pretty open about her love for Dominic. On the Call Her Daddy podcast, she talked about how she had a "hall pass" crush on him for years while she was still married to Billy Ray. She claimed he DMed her back in 2016, but she didn't see it until 2022 after her divorce.
She paints it as a destiny-style romance. But she conveniently left out the part about him and Noah.
Where the Rest of the Family Stands
The Cyrus family is currently split down the middle. It’s like a civil war.
- Miley Cyrus: For a long time, Miley was reportedly "completely unaware" that Noah and Dominic had a past. When she found out through the press, she allegedly confronted Tish, calling it a "strange situation." However, she’s stayed loyal to her mom.
- Billy Ray Cyrus: Noah has stayed incredibly close to her dad. Since the divorce, the family has basically picked sides. Noah and Braison are Team Billy Ray, while Miley, Brandi, and Trace are Team Tish.
- Noah's Reaction: Noah hasn't given a formal sit-down interview about this, but she’s let her feelings be known on social media. When a commenter on Instagram asked her about "having sexy time" with the same guy as her mom, Noah told them to "choke." She’s clearly not in a mood to play nice.
Why This Matters (Beyond the Gossip)
This isn't just about celebrity hookups. It’s a case study in how fame and complex family dynamics can totally implode. There’s a massive age gap here, too—Dominic is 54, Tish is 56, and Noah is 24. When Dominic and Noah were seeing each other, she was in her early 20s. The power dynamics are, to put it lightly, complicated.
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Some sources close to Tish have tried to spin the narrative, suggesting Noah is "acting like a victim" and that she never actually dated him. But when People magazine puts their stamp on a story, it usually means they’ve seen the receipts.
Moving Forward: Can They Reconcile?
As of 2025 and heading into 2026, things haven't exactly been fixed. There have been small signs of cooling tensions—like reports that Tish has reached out to try and mend fences—but a betrayal this deep doesn't just go away.
Noah is currently engaged to fashion designer Pinkus, and she seems focused on her own life and music. But the shadow of her mother's marriage to her ex remains.
What You Should Take Away
If you've been following the "did Dominic Purcell date Noah Cyrus" saga, here is the reality:
- Trust the sources: Multiple high-tier outlets confirmed the "friends with benefits" history.
- The rift is real: The wedding snub and the security guards weren't just rumors; they were confirmed by insiders and social media activity.
- Communication failed: The biggest issue wasn't just the dating—it was the lack of a conversation between a mother and her daughter.
If you’re watching this from the outside, the best thing to do is keep an eye on their social media interactions (or lack thereof). When families stop following each other and start blocking, that’s where the real story lives. Don't expect a big family reunion photo anytime soon.