It was the photo heard 'round the world—or at least across every tabloid desk from London to New York. In October 2020, Dominic West and Lily James were spotted in Rome. They weren’t exactly hiding. They were on an electric scooter. They were at an outdoor cafe.
Basically, they looked like two people very much enjoying each other's company.
The problem? Dominic West has been married to Catherine FitzGerald since 2010. They have four kids. They live in a literal castle in Ireland. So, when those photos of West nuzzling James’s neck hit the Daily Mail, the internet didn't just break; it imploded.
The Rome Incident Explained (Simply)
People still talk about those 48 hours in Italy because they were so surreal. Dominic West and Lily James were in town to film The Pursuit of Love, a BBC miniseries where—ironically—he played her father.
But the paparazzi shots didn't look very fatherly.
The duo was seen sharing a suite at the Hotel De La Ville. They were caught kissing at the airport. It was a mess. Honestly, the most shocking part wasn't even the affection; it was the lack of a wedding ring on West’s finger.
Then came the "Show of Unity."
Just one day after the scandal broke, Dominic West flew back to his home in the Cotswolds. He didn't hide. Instead, he and Catherine FitzGerald stepped outside their front gate. They kissed for the cameras. They handed out a handwritten note that read: “Our marriage is strong and we're very much still together.”
It was the most awkward press call in celebrity history. You've probably seen the memes. It looked like a scene out of a dark comedy, yet there they were, standing by their statement.
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Why the Dominic West Scandal Still Matters in 2026
You might think we’d all have moved on by now. We haven't. Mostly because Dominic West himself keeps bringing it up in interviews.
In a 2024 chat with The Times, West admitted the whole thing was "deeply stressful" for his wife and children. But then he said something that surprised people: they joke about it now. They actually call their public outings "shows of unity" as a bit of a gag.
It’s a weird way to heal, but it seems to have worked for them.
What about Lily James?
Lily has been much more guarded. For a long time, she just wouldn't talk about it. She cancelled TV appearances for her movie Rebecca right after the photos leaked.
Eventually, she told The Guardian there was "a lot to say" but she wasn't ready to say it. Later, she hinted that being a woman in the public eye means your private life gets chewed up and spat out by tabloids, calling it a "story as old as time."
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She never confirmed a "fling." She never apologized publicly. She just kept working.
Misconceptions and the "Open Marriage" Rumors
When the news first broke, Twitter was convinced the Wests had an open marriage. People pointed to an old interview where Dominic said women should be "more indulgent" of affairs.
"It's daft to kick someone out over a fling," he had said years prior.
However, sources close to Catherine FitzGerald told the press she was "devastated." If there was an agreement, she certainly didn't seem to be in on it at the time. The "open marriage" theory mostly died out when it became clear how much work they had to do to save the relationship.
The Career Impact: Did It Hurt Them?
Usually, a scandal like this is a career-killer. Not here.
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- Dominic West went on to play Prince Charles in The Crown. He even said the "horror" of seeing his own face in the tabloids helped him understand Charles better.
- Lily James stayed booked and busy. From Pam & Tommy to big-budget features, her talent seemed to outrun the gossip.
It’s a classic example of "scandal-driven interest." Sometimes, being the talk of the town—even for the wrong reasons—keeps your name at the top of the casting list.
Navigating the Fallout: Insights for the Future
If you're looking for a takeaway from the Dominic West and Lily James saga, it's that "cancel culture" is rarely as permanent as it feels in the moment.
Privacy is a myth for A-listers. If you’re riding a scooter in a public piazza in Rome, someone is watching.
What to watch for next:
Keep an eye on upcoming press cycles for both actors. West is increasingly open about his family life, while James remains one of the most private stars in Hollywood. Their diverging paths show two very different ways of handling a PR nightmare: one leans into the absurdity, while the other lets the work speak for itself.
If you want to understand the nuance of modern celebrity, look at how the Wests turned a public betrayal into a private joke. It’s not a blueprint most people would follow, but in the weird world of high-society marriages, it’s apparently a survival tactic.
To stay updated on the latest developments, you can follow official casting news for their respective upcoming projects, as both have leaned heavily into prestige drama since the incident.