Chris Appleton Finally Opens Up on Divorce from Lukas Gage

After a quick marriage to actor Lukas Gage just two years ago, Chris Appleton, a celebrity hairstylist, is finally sharing more about the relationship that took the internet by storm — and why it didn't last.

In a frank interview on Jay Shetty’s “On Purpose” podcast, Appleton made his first public comments regarding the marriage and divorce, with personal reflections that offered more transparency than any article ever did.

A Love Story That Moved Too Fast

Between Chris Appleton and Lukas Gage, the romance began in early 2023 and the worldwide adoration followed almost immediately. Then almost it's seemed that Chris and Lukas were inseparable — they posted cutesy pics of themselves together on social media, started to appear on the red carpets, they were promoted to couple status on social media

And just a few months into dating, in April 2023, they went ahead and got married in a surprise ceremony in Las Vegas, officiated by Kim Kardashian who happened to be a long time client and friend of Appleton. It was national news.

At that moment, it appeared to be a fairy-tale union. But, on the sly, it was moving too fast. By November, Appleton filed for divorce. By the time formal dissolution happened in June, the two had been together approximately a year, six months of which included formal proceedings. 

Neither spoke much during the separation or afterwards but now Appleton has gone on record that provides the clearest insight into what really happened, and how deep it affected him personally.

“You Can Love Someone and Still Walk Away” 

While chatting on the podcast, Appleton didn't want to blame anybody. He wanted to think about the emotional complexity of what the relationship was — real, meaningful, but not sustainable. 

"There is nothing wrong with loving someone and it not being a forever happy ending," he said. "It was a powerful experience, but a painful one." 

He acknowledged the backlash they received for marrying quickly and said that although it looked irresponsible from the outside, it came from a place of hopefulness and real feeling. 

"Sometimes when people rush, that's not because they're being irresponsible. It's because they're hopeful," he said.

The Emotional Impact: Counseling, Silence and Recovery

For the first time, Appleton spoke about the emotional impact of the divorce. He acknowledged that he was not in a good mental/emotional space after the break-up and needed time to work through everything, both personally and professionally. 

“I went through a time when I wasn't okay,” he said, “I needed to step back and look after myself.” 

During the time after the divorce, Appleton went into counseling and self-examination. He identified how important it was for him to reconnect with his own identity and what he wanted not only in love, but in life. 

He explained it was not easy to be quiet for so long but necessary. As a public person who is always in the public eye, he made a conscious choice to not discuss something so personal because keeping that space clear was important for his emotional integrity.

Protecting His Children from the Spotlight

One of the more personal parts of the interview was when Appleton talked about being a father of two. He stated that during the entire breakup process, his biggest worry was how it may affect his kids.

"As a dad, I really wanted to protect my kids more than anything," he expressed.

Appleton explained that when making some of the decisions during the process of his divorce and thereafter, most of his choices were derived from his worry regarding the children. Whether it be to keep certain elements confidential or speaking in a certain way, he constantly acted in consideration of his family.

Along with mentioning that he discovered a level of inner alignment - meaning where his personal life met how he felt within - he expressed this as important in terms of moving on. He stressed that true strength does not come from projecting an image, rather you are better off being true to yourself.

"There's no power in pretending. There is power in peace inside."

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Chris Appleton (@chrisappleton1)

Where Is Lukas Gage Now?

While Appleton has now gone public about their breakup, Lukas Gage addressed the breakup briefly earlier this year. Gage explained that he was focusing attention on self-care and self-discovery in a May 2025 interview with People.

He explained that he was spending time journaling, meditating, going to spas, and just learning how to be alone, or simply enjoy his own company.

"I'm loving myself right now," he said at the time.

While he did not get into details about the divorce reasons, Gage's comments indicated to me that he was able to use the breakup as an opportunity to reflect, heal, and gain focus on self-growth.

Currently, Gage and Appleton are not in the spotlight for publicly dating anyone.

Why This Story Resonates

More than the people involved, this story is of a very human experience.

• It's a story of two public figures trying to navigate the waters of love in the spotlight.
• It's a story of paying the price for being impulsive and finding consequences that are hard to face.
• It's a story of parenting, healing, and finding peace - not only in relationships, but with yourself.

At a time when everyone is looking for the perfect Instagram moment, Appleton's interview is a moment of raw and constructive honesty. He's not selling us anything, he's not blaming anyone, he's simply showing us what it looks like to fall in love, fall apart, and begin again.

Conclusion

Chris Appleton’s insights on his marriage to Lukas Gage that did not work out, are more than a celebrity update, but rather a reminder to us all that there is still value in being vulnerable and being aware of how we feel, even in a world that is fast and forgetful.

His choice to speak up now, almost two years after the fact, demonstrates that he has grown emotionally and wants to share insights that people may relate to. It resonates for anyone who has ever had their heart broken, rushed into newness too soon, or been in years of trauma and struggle to find peace.

The love did not last, but the lessons remain. And that may be the biggest lesson learned.

Source(Image / Thumbnail): eonline.com