Twenty years is a lifetime in Hollywood. For Sacha Baron Cohen and Isla Fisher, it was a literal era. When the news broke in April 2024 that they were calling it quits, they didn't go for the standard black-and-white "we ask for privacy" post. Instead, they shared a photo of themselves in matching white tennis gear.
"After a long tennis match lasting over twenty years, we are finally putting our racquets down," the caption read.
It was quirky. It was classic them. But as the dust settled, the reality was a lot less playful. By the time that Instagram Story hit your phone, the marriage had been over for months. They had actually filed to end things back in 2023. By June 2025, the ink was dry on the final paperwork. Their $75 million divorce was officially a wrap.
The Sydney Party Where It All Started
They weren't always a power couple. They met in 2001 at a "pretentious party" in Sydney. Sacha wasn't the global superstar he is now, and Isla was still finding her footing after her soap opera days.
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Sacha later told the New York Times that he knew instantly. He loved that she was the only one there willing to "take the mick" out of the other guests. Basically, they bonded over being the funniest people in the room. They spent the next twenty-odd years doing exactly that.
The Rebel Wilson Factor: Catalyst or Coincidence?
You can't talk about Sacha Baron Cohen and Isla Fisher without mentioning the elephant in the room. Just days before they announced their split, Rebel Wilson dropped a metaphorical bomb. In her memoir, Rebel Rising, she accused Sacha of "bullying" and "disrespectful" behavior on the set of the 2016 film The Brothers Grimsby.
Rebel didn't hold back. She alleged that Sacha pressured her to film unscripted nude scenes and made "lewd" requests. Sacha’s team called the claims "demonstrably false," citing footage and eyewitnesses.
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Honestly, the timing was brutal. People immediately assumed Rebel was the reason for the divorce. But insiders say that’s not quite right. While the allegations didn't cause the breakup—remember, they filed in 2023—they likely forced the couple's hand. Isla, who has always guarded her reputation like a hawk, reportedly didn't want her name dragged through the mud of a public scandal. Making the split public was a way to create distance.
Why the Split Actually Happened
If it wasn't Rebel Wilson, what was it? Relationships are complicated. Especially when you have three kids and two massive careers.
- The Australia vs. UK/US Tug of War: They moved to Australia in 2020 during the pandemic. Isla loved it. She’s often talked about how she feels like herself there. But work usually pulled them back to the States or London.
- Living "Separate Lives": Sources close to the couple told US Weekly that they had been drifting apart for some time. They were focused on the kids, but the romantic spark had reportedly faded into a friendship.
- The Privacy Obsession: They were so private that Isla often hid her wedding ring in photos for months leading up to the announcement.
Raising Three Kids in the Shadows
The one thing they never wavered on was their children: Olive, Elula, and Montgomery. You won't find their faces on Instagram. You won't see them on a red carpet.
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Isla once told Lorraine that it’s simply "unfair" to put kids in the spotlight. She wanted them to have a normal childhood, playing outside and being messy without paparazzi around. Even in their final divorce statement in 2025, the focus remained the same: "We remain friends and committed to co-parenting our wonderful children."
Navigating Life After the "Racket"
Divorce is rarely easy, even when you're worth millions. Isla has been candid about the process, calling it "the most difficult thing" she's ever been through. It’s a total shift in identity. You go from being half of a legendary comedy duo to finding your own rhythm.
What You Can Learn from Their Split
Even if you aren't an A-list actor, there are a few takeaways from how they handled the end:
- Prioritize the "Us" vs. "Them": They chose to handle the initial pain privately before telling the world. This gave their kids time to adjust without the internet weighing in.
- Reputation Matters: If your partner's actions (or alleged actions) start affecting your career, it's okay to set boundaries.
- Co-Parenting is a Business Deal: They’ve kept their public statements respectful. By treating the transition like a partnership, they’ve minimized the "messy" headlines that plague other celebrity splits.
The Sacha Baron Cohen and Isla Fisher era is over, but they’ve set a new standard for how to end a long-term Hollywood marriage with a bit of wit and a lot of privacy. Moving forward, Isla continues her work on series like Wolf Like Me, while Sacha remains a polarizing but undeniable force in comedy and drama.
To stay informed on how they’re navigating their new normal, keep an eye on official project announcements rather than tabloid rumors, as both have doubled down on their "privacy first" policy for 2026.