Before there was Scandal, before Olivia Pope became a household name, and long before Kerry Washington was part of one of Hollywood’s most notoriously private power couples, she was half of a very different duo. If you followed celebrity news in the mid-2000s, you probably saw her on the red carpet with actor David Moscow.
They weren't just dating. They were engaged. It was a serious, five-year commitment that culminated in a 2005 cover story for InStyle Weddings. And then? It just... ended.
Most people assume there was some massive drama or a secret scandal that tore them apart. Honestly, the reality is much more relatable—and a lot more interesting for anyone who’s ever tried to force a relationship to work when the "spark" was replaced by "emotional gymnastics."
The Tsunami That Changed Everything
In December 2004, Washington and Moscow were vacationing in Thailand. It was supposed to be a romantic getaway for the engaged couple. While staying in Bangkok with Kerry’s extended family, they were persuaded to stay one more night instead of heading to their planned beachfront hotel.
The next morning, the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami hit.
The hotel they were supposed to be in was completely leveled. Wiped off the map. Kerry later described waking up to realize that if she hadn't listened to her family—and her own gut instinct to stay—they might not have survived.
✨ Don't miss: The Billy Bob Tattoo: What Angelina Jolie Taught Us About Inking Your Ex
Events like that tend to shake your foundation. For Kerry, it was a "guiding light" moment. It forced her to start questioning everything. She realized she had been making choices based on what would make other people happy—what would make "him" happy or what "they" expected—rather than following her own intuition.
Why Kerry Washington and David Moscow Didn't Make it to the Altar
You’ve probably heard the rumors. People at the time tried to blame their breakup on race, since it was an interracial relationship. Others thought the pressure of Kerry’s rising fame after Ray and The Last King of Scotland was too much.
Neither is true.
Kerry eventually opened up to Essence, admitting the split was mutual and amicable. Basically, they were exhausted. They were doing "emotional gymnastics" to keep the relationship afloat even though deep down, they both knew it wasn't right anymore.
"When we were planning the wedding, I didn't even feel like picking out a dress," Washington confessed.
🔗 Read more: Birth Date of Pope Francis: Why Dec 17 Still Matters for the Church
That’s a heavy realization to have when you’re already on the cover of bridal magazines. They broke up in February 2007. It wasn't about a villain or a betrayal; it was two people realizing that love, on its own, isn't always enough to build a lifetime on.
Life After the Engagement: Two Very Different Paths
Since the split, both have thrived in ways that suggest the breakup was the best thing for them.
Kerry Washington took the lessons from that very public relationship and pulled a total 180. She decided that from then on, her personal life would belong to her. This is why her 2013 marriage to Nnamdi Asomugha was such a shock—they had been married for weeks before the public even knew they were dating.
David Moscow hasn’t been sitting around either. While many remember him as the young Josh Baskin in Big (the kid who turns into Tom Hanks), he’s shifted into a fascinating second act.
- He’s a serious producer, involved in indie hits like Under the Silver Lake.
- He’s a sustainable developer, building green housing in Harlem.
- Most notably, as of early 2026, his food-systems show From Scratch has moved to Peacock.
On the show, David isn't playing a character. He’s out there harvesting, foraging, and actually making meals from the ground up. He’s married now, too, living in Los Angeles with his wife and kids.
💡 You might also like: Kanye West Black Head Mask: Why Ye Stopped Showing His Face
The Legacy of "BN" (Before Nnamdi)
Kerry often refers to the era of her life with Moscow as "BN"—Before Nnamdi. It wasn't a "failed" relationship so much as a necessary one. It taught her how to set boundaries.
The "wild years" she had after the breakup were her chance to find herself outside of a partnership. She spent that time focusing on her career and her activism, eventually landing the role in Race on Broadway where she met Asomugha in 2009.
Looking back, the story of Kerry Washington and David Moscow is a masterclass in knowing when to walk away. It’s easy to stay because you’ve already spent five years together. It’s easy to stay because you’re already on the cover of a magazine. It’s much harder to admit that you’re just "working too hard" at being happy.
If you find yourself in a situation where you're "doing emotional gymnastics" just to get through the week with a partner, take a page out of Kerry’s book. Trust your intuition. It might just lead you to something—or someone—much better.
What to do next
If you’re interested in the deeper psychological side of how Kerry handled this transition, her 2023 memoir Thicker than Water is the place to go. It offers a raw look at her "wild years" and the health struggles she faced during that era of her life. For those who want to see what David is up to today, his series From Scratch is currently streaming its sixth season on Peacock, featuring an incredible look at global food systems that feels miles away from the Hollywood red carpets of 2005.