It was the kind of wedding that defines an era. In 2004, you couldn’t turn on a TV or walk past a newsstand without seeing Star Jones and her "Prince Charming," an investment banker named Al Reynolds. They were the ultimate "it" couple—until they weren't.
Honestly, looking back at the mid-2000s, it feels like a fever dream. Star was at the height of her power on The View, and Al was the dapper, younger man who seemed to have stepped out of a storybook. But beneath the 500-guest guest list and the horse-drawn carriages, a storm was brewing. People still talk about them today, mostly because the fallout was so public and, frankly, pretty messy.
The Wedding That Changed Everything
If you were around in 2004, you remember the "Bridezilla" talk. Star didn't just have a wedding; she had a corporate-sponsored extravaganza. We’re talking 30 different sponsors. She mentioned her vendors so often on The View that it became a running joke—and eventually, a serious problem.
Barbara Walters famously noted that the audience turned on Star because of the constant "shilling." It wasn't just about the flowers or the dress. It was the feeling that a sacred moment had been turned into a 48-month-long commercial.
The backlash was swift:
- Viewers felt alienated by the excessive displays of wealth.
- ABC grew frustrated with the product placements during the show.
- The "Prince Charming" narrative started to crumble under the weight of tabloid scrutiny.
By 2006, the tension peaked. Star’s contract wasn't renewed, and her departure from The View was one of the most awkward moments in daytime TV history. She announced it live, blindsiding her co-hosts.
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Why the Star Jones and Al Reynolds Marriage Actually Ended
People love a simple "he was gay" or "she was too much" explanation. But marriages are rarely that simple. Al Reynolds has spent years trying to set the record straight about why things actually fell apart in 2008.
Basically, they grew apart. While Star was trying to launch a new show on truTV, Al moved to Florida to teach at Florida Memorial University. Long distance is a killer for any marriage, but especially one that started under a microscope.
Al eventually opened up about his identity, coming out as bisexual in 2017. He’s been very clear that he was never "in the closet" with Star. In a 2024 interview on FOX Soul, he clarified that honesty was a cornerstone of their relationship from the jump. He felt ashamed of his identity for a long time due to his religious upbringing, but he insists Star knew who he was.
"I didn't want to have to share that with the world because there was a part of me that was ashamed," Reynolds told FOX 5.
It’s interesting. For years, the internet called him "Big Gay Al" and mocked the union as a "sham." But Al has consistently maintained that he married Star for love. He was a successful banker before her, and he’s continued to be a successful academic after her.
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Where Are They Now in 2026?
A lot has changed since those 2008 divorce papers were filed. Star Jones is currently thriving as the host of Divorce Court, which is kind of poetic if you think about it. She’s also found lasting love. In 2018, she married Ricardo Lugo, an administrative law judge.
They met on a dating app (yes, really). Their usernames both had the word "lawyer" in them. They just celebrated their seven-year anniversary in March 2025, and by all accounts, it’s a much more private, stable union than her first marriage. She’s also a "bonus mom" to Ricardo’s son, Jake, who is currently at USC.
Al Reynolds hasn't faded away either. He’s a professor, an author, and a vocal advocate for the LGBTQ+ community. He’s also a regular on television panels, though his show TEA-G-I-F was recently canceled after some behind-the-scenes drama.
The Actionable Truths
If there’s a lesson in the saga of Star and Al, it’s about the cost of "inviting the media into your bedroom."
1. Privacy is a luxury. Star herself admitted that inviting the cameras in was an "error in judgment." Once you sell your privacy, you can't buy it back.
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2. Narrative isn't reality. The public saw a Bridezilla and a "sugar baby." The reality was two professionals struggling to balance fame, career shifts, and personal identity.
3. Moving on is possible. Both have rebuilt their lives. Star is a respected judge; Al is an influential academic. They’ve proven that a "failed" marriage doesn’t have to define a whole life.
If you’re following celebrity news today, keep an eye on how Star uses her platform on Divorce Court to share these hard-earned lessons. She’s not the same person who plugged wedding invitations on national TV twenty years ago. And Al isn't the "handicapped" groom the tabloids tried to portray. They’re both just people who grew up, moved on, and found their own versions of peace.
Next steps for you:
- Check out Star's recent interviews on the Divorce Court YouTube channel to see her legal mind in action.
- Look up Al Reynolds' book Bank On It if you're interested in the financial literacy work he's been doing for the last decade.
- Re-watch the 2006 clip of Star leaving The View to see a masterclass in controlled (and slightly chaotic) PR.