Hollywood breakups usually follow a script. There is the "mutual respect" statement, the request for privacy, and the sudden disappearance from each other's Instagram feeds. But when Sacha Baron Cohen and Isla Fisher announced they were calling it quits in April 2024, they did it while wearing matching tennis whites.
It was weird. It was very "them."
"After a long tennis match lasting over twenty years, we are finally putting our racquets down," the caption read. They looked happy in the photo. Sun-drenched. Sporty. But behind that quirky announcement was a reality that had been unraveling for a lot longer than the public realized.
The Shocking Timeline of the Sacha Baron Cohen and Isla Fisher Split
Most people think the split happened in 2024 because that's when the news hit our phones. Honestly, though? They had already been living separate lives for a while.
The couple actually jointly filed for divorce in 2023. They kept it under wraps for an entire year. Think about that for a second. While we were watching them on red carpets or seeing Isla talk about their Valentine's Day traditions on talk shows, the legal paperwork was already moving through the system.
They weren't just "taking a break."
They were done.
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Why wait so long to tell everyone? Sources close to the couple say it was all about the kids. They wanted to make sure their three children—Olive, Elula, and Montgomery—were settled into the "new normal" before the paparazzi started camping outside their house.
From Sydney to the Divorce Courts
- 2001: They meet at a "pretentious" party in Sydney. Sacha later said they bonded over making fun of the other guests.
- 2004: The engagement happens.
- 2010: A tiny, private wedding in Paris with only six guests.
- 2023: The secret filing.
- June 2025: The divorce is officially finalized.
Was Rebel Wilson the Real Reason?
You can't talk about Sacha Baron Cohen and Isla Fisher without mentioning the Rebel Wilson drama.
Just weeks before the "tennis" announcement, Rebel Wilson released her memoir, Rebel Rising. In it, she took aim at Sacha, calling him a "massive a**hole" and alleging inappropriate behavior on the set of their 2016 film The Brothers Grimsby. Sacha's team called the claims "demonstrably false," but the damage was done.
The timing was... well, it was suspicious.
Some insiders claim Rebel's book was the "catalyst" for Isla. She has her own career and her own reputation. Seeing her husband’s name dragged through the mud in such a public way might have been the final straw that pushed her to go public with the split. She wanted distance.
Rebel herself eventually weighed in, saying she didn't think she was the cause of the divorce, but she didn't exactly retract her statements about his "general treatment of women."
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Living "Grassroots" in London
By late 2025, the dust had started to settle, and Isla Fisher began opening up about her new life.
She moved into a new home in London. She described it as starting over at a "grassroots level." It wasn't just about moving furniture; it was about moving her entire identity. For twenty years, she was part of a power couple. Now, she was just Isla.
She admitted to having a "bit of a cry" when she finally moved into her own place. It’s a very human moment. You can have millions in the bank and a closet full of designer clothes, but the end of a twenty-year "match" still hurts.
The Money and the "War"
Despite the initial friendly vibes, things haven't always stayed peaceful.
There have been reports of tension over their $250 million fortune. When you have properties in Los Angeles, London, and Australia, plus residuals from massive hits like Borat and Wedding Crashers, the math gets complicated. Fast.
There were also rumors that Sacha wasn't thrilled about Isla "re-entering the thick of things" with her career. She’s been busy. Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy and the Now You See Me sequel have kept her on sets and in the spotlight.
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What Most People Get Wrong About Their Marriage
People think Isla was the "quiet one" in the shadow of Sacha’s big characters.
That’s a mistake.
Isla Fisher is a comedic powerhouse in her own right. She's the one who studied at a clown school in Paris. She’s the one who converted to Judaism after three years of intense study because she loved him that much. She wasn't a bystander in that relationship; she was the anchor.
By the time 2026 rolled around, the narrative had shifted. It wasn't about "Sacha's wife" anymore. It was about two people who realized that twenty years is a long time to play the same game.
Lessons from the Fisher-Cohen Split
If there is anything to take away from how they handled this, it's that privacy is a choice. You can be a global superstar and still keep your secrets for a year. It just takes discipline.
Also, maybe don't use a tennis theme for your breakup announcement unless you're prepared for the "love means nothing" jokes.
Moving Forward
- Prioritize the "Middle": Like Isla and Sacha, focus on the kids first. They didn't tell the world until the kids were okay.
- Find Your "Grassroots": Whether it's a new hobby or a new house, reclaiming your space after a long-term relationship is vital.
- Distance is Professional: Isla’s move to London wasn't just about the scenery; it was about building a career that wasn't tied to her ex.
The "match" is over, but for both Sacha Baron Cohen and Isla Fisher, the next set is already beginning.