Orlando Bloom and Katy Perry had one of 2016’s most surprising, and ultimately most high-profile, celebrity relationships. After connecting at the Golden Globes, sharing a vape pen, the two quickly became quite serious, attending Cannes together, campaigning for Hillary Clinton over the summer, and, memorably, paddleboarding in the nude (Bloom, not Perry, that is) while on vacation.
Sadly, about a year after they started dating, the pair confirmed their split in March. But the two still regularly engage on Instagram (which is the surest sign we are dealing with friendly exes), and Bloom is now explaining, for the first time, that they are, yes, say it with us now, on very good terms.
Bloom told Elle U.K., “We’re friends, it’s good. We’re all grown up. She happens to be someone who is very visible, but I don’t think anybody cares about what I’m up to. Nor should they. It’s between us. It’s better to set an example for kids and show that [breakups] don’t have to be about hate.”
They’re friends, it’s good! (Gwyneth Paltrow, who of course was the very first human to have a split on good terms, is no doubt beaming at this language.
Perry commented in a similar vein about the breakup in March, tweeting, “HOW BOUT A NEW WAY OF THINKING FOR 2017!? U can still b friends & love ur former partners! No one’s a victim or a villain, get a life y’all!”
Bloom also noted in the interview that he has a great relationship with ex-wife Miranda Kerr, who is the mother of his son, Flynn, and current fiancée to Snapchat C.E.O. Evan Speigel. “With Miranda, there was a sense that I don’t want my son to go back through the Internet where people made up lies,” Bloom said. “Miranda and I have a remarkable relationship. We coparent really well.”
And yes, we know you’re wondering, Bloom also addressed the infamous nude paddleboarding photographs, explaining that if he had known he would be caught by photographers, he would have definitely covered up.
“It was extremely surprising, I wouldn’t have put myself in that position if I’d thought it would happen,” he said. “I’ve been photographed a million times in a million different ways. I have a good radar. We’d been completely alone for five days. Nothing around us. There was no way anyone could get anything. So I had a moment of feeling free . . . What can I tell you? Note to self: you’re never free. Ha!”
Who knew the Orlando Bloom paddleboarding situation would eventually elicit a “catch phrase”—“Note to self: you’re never free”—that feels like it could be either the tagline to a horror movie or the caption to pretty much any New Yorker cartoon.
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With her latest music video for "Never Worn White," Katy Perry revealed she's expecting her first child with Orlando Bloom. News of the pregnancy comes three months after Us Weekly reported the couple had postponed their wedding.
The road leading up to their marriage and parenthood has been a long one. The pair first met in the beginning of 2016, broke up in February 2017, and stayed amicable throughout their split before rekindling their romance five months later in August. Since then, the pair has remained inseparable.
Ahead of their exciting month, here's a detailed look into the soon-to-be parent's relationship.
January 10, 2016: Perry and Bloom meet for the first time, at a party.
After the 2016 Golden Globe Awards wrapped, Perry and Bloom both headed to Harvey Weinstein's Golden Globes after party. The two began flirting at the event, where a US Weekly source reported that they were "extremely flirty and whispering to each other" at the event. The two had undeniable chemistry throughout the night, with photos from the event showing the two smiling and laughing as they interacted with each other. "He would lean in to whisper into her ear and touch the small of her back as they chatted," the source said. Later in the night, Perry and Bloom were spotted leaving the party together.
April 2016: Perry and Bloom attend Coachella together.
Perry and Bloom made the trek down to Indio, California to attend the annual Coachella Music Festival together. “They were hugging and with a group of other people,” a festival-goer told E! News. “Orlando was behind her and swaying with her to the music. They also were vaping together. They were kissing and very much a couple.”
May 20, 2016: Perry makes their relationship official on Instagram.
Perry made their relationship Instagram official by posting a cute picture of the couple lounging in robes on the steps of a building in Cannes, France.
August 4, 2016: Perry and Bloom go on a vacation together to Italy.
Perry and Bloom are spotted out and about again, this time on vacation in Italy. Paparazzi snapped the couple paddleboarding together, and Bloom was completely nude when he took his girlfriend out on the water. Naturally, the pictures caused a stir on the Internet.
That same month, a source told People that Bloom “always gushes about Katy and thinks she is amazing in a million ways,” and would not mind starting a family with the singer. “He would love to settle down with Katy and have more kids. He hasn’t been this serious about a girl since Miranda.” Bloom has had one child, a 9-year-old son named Flynn, with his ex-wife, Miranda Kerr.
October 31, 2016: Perry and Bloom couple up in costume for Halloween.
The couple decide to dress up for Halloween as Hillary and Bill Clinton, complete with a cartoonish Donald Trump following them.
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November 24, 2016: Bloom spends Thanksgiving with Perry's family.
Perry documented on Instagram that Bloom was over to spend the holiday with her family. The couple wore adorable matching plaid onesies and prepared meals with each other throughout the day. The following month, Bloom joined Perry's family again for Christmas.
January 13, 2017: Perry plans a massive surprise party for her boyfriend.
For Bloom's 40th birthday, Perry planned a massive party for her boyfriend in Palm Springs, California, where she surprised him with a visit from his mother, Sonia Copeland Bloom. Bloom called it the "best gift ever."
February 28, 2017: Perry and Bloom officially break up.
After 10 months of dating, Perry and Bloom decided to call off their relationship. Their reps released a joint statement explaining that they needed time apart: "Before rumors or falsifications get out of hand we can confirm that Orlando and Katy are taking respectful, loving space at this time."
A source told E! that the split was initiated by Perry, but the feeling was mutual. "Katy pulled the plug. It was a few events that happened over the past few months. They both still love each other very much, though, and getting back together could happen once they have some space." Despite the split, the pair chose to remain friendly to maintain the bond Perry had with his son. "Katy has built a really strong connection with Flynn. It's sad but it will work out how it's supposed to," the source added.
March 2, 2017: Perry shuts down rumors that she and Bloom had a nasty split.
Perry took to Twitter to clear the air, adamantly explaining to fans that things between her and her former boyfriend were just fine. "HOW BOUT A NEW WAY OF THINKING FOR 2017!? U can still b friends & love ur former partners! No one's a victim or a villain, get a life y'all!" she tweeted.
June 12, 2017: Perry ranks Bloom second best in bed in her list of ex-boyfriends.
On James Corden's "Spill Your Guts" segment, Perry was asked to list her ex-boyfriends in order of worst to best in bed, or be forced to eat a disgusting dish. "They’re all amazing lovers and I would have sex with all of them after I get out of this place," she said. She confirmed with a head nod that Orlando fells in the middle; Diplo ranked the worst, and John Mayer the best.
August 13, 2017: A fan sees Perry and Bloom together.
Perry and Bloom were spotted attending an Adele concert together, raising suspicions that they might be dating again.
March 1, 2018: Perry and Bloom go out together in Prague.
Bloom was filming TV series Carnival Row in Prague, and Perry went to visit him. This only heightened the rumors that they were dating again, but the duo were reportedly keeping things casual this time around.
“After Orlando and Katy split, they stayed in touch. It wasn’t some awful split. They were just busy with their careers and it wasn’t working,” a source told People. “In the past few months, they have spent a lot of time together. They both love traveling and are trying to share as many fun trips as possible. They are dating, but not necessarily putting a label on it. They are not girlfriend and boyfriend. They do seem very happy together though. Orlando always had the nicest things to say about Katy. He loves spending time with her.”
April 28, 2018: Perry and Bloom visit the Vatican.
While at the Vatican, Perry and Bloom met the Pope and posed for a lovely picture showing support of The Cura Foundation.
May 21, 2018: Perry confirms that she is no longer single.
On the season finale of American Idol, Perry shared a fangirl moment with Bachelorette star Becca Kufrin, and revealed that she's off the market. "I’m not single but I still like you," she told the reality TV starlet.
September 26, 2018: Perry and Bloom make their first red carpet appearance together.
The couple took the next big step in their relationship by making it red carpet official. The two attended the Gala for the Global Ocean, hosted by H.S.H. Prince Albert II of Monaco, and looked smitten with each other.
February 15, 2019: Perry announces their engagement.
Just a day after Valentine's Day, Perry took to Instagram to share an adorable snap of her and her man huddled together. The photo supplied a clear look at her flower-shaped ruby and diamond engagement ring. The ring is reportedly 4.5 karats and had a estimated retail value of a whopping $5 million.
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“Orlando had planned this for a while,” a source close to the couple told People. “He wanted it all to be special.” And to accommodate Perry's more traditional parents, Bloom made sure to ask for permission first before popping the question. “Katy’s family knew he was proposing. He talked to her parents about it before...Katy was very surprised and shaking with happiness...They both want kids together and will prioritize this."
Perry later spoke about the proposal during a Capital Breakfast with Roman Kemp interview. “It was Valentine’s Day and I had to work that day,” she said, via People. “I just remember meeting him at dinner at this place, this Italian restaurant, because when I get a pass, I just want to stuff my face with pasta. So I get there and, I mean, he’s like clean-shaven. He’s not wearing tennis shoes. I’m like, ‘Ah shit, something is going down! We were ordering everything and I was like, ‘Who is this person?!'”
Bloom then took her onto a helicopter after dinner. “I got on a helicopter and he asked me to marry him, and then we landed on this building and then went downstairs and my family and friends were there and the most flowers you’ve ever seen. It’s like when Kanye does that for Kim, you’re like, ‘Oh my God!' And I was like, ‘Oh my God!'”
March 26, 2019: A source gives insight to the couple's wedding.
About a month post-proposal, a source opened up to People about the vibe of Perry and Bloom's wedding. The insider said that the pair is “slowly planning their wedding,” but “they don’t have a date yet.”
“Their past weddings [Perry's to ex-husband Russell Brand and Bloom's to ex-wife Miranda Kerr] were, of course, very different,” adds the Bloom source. “They are trying to find a middle ground now.” The source also noted, “Orlando always shied away from anything flashy. He doesn’t want a huge, celebrity wedding. But they also have many friends that are important to them. They are still figuring out the details. Katy will work with a planner.”
June 6, 2019: Perry says she's in no rush to plan her wedding.
The singer made it clear during an interview on KISS Breakfast with Tom & Daisy that she was in no rush to race down the aisle. "Well yeah, one step at a time," Perry said when asked about a date. "Definitely trying to, like, lay the good emotional foundation for the lifetime of commitment, which is, like, a big deal, you know?"
June 29, 2019: Bloom and Perry attend Karlie Kloss and Jared Kushner's nuptials.
Although the couple was in no rush to plan themselves, they did take time to attend Kloss and Kushner's western-themed wedding in summer 2019. Bloom later shared a sunset photo from the event captioned, "wonderful weekend of being love and celebrating love, congrats to a beautiful union @karliekloss @joshuakushner ❤️"
In September, they made an appearance at designer Misha Nonoo's wedding, which was also attended by Kloss and the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.
August 22, 2019: Bloom opens up about his future marriage to Perry.
During an appearance on Today, Bloom spoke about their future, emphasizing a need to connect prior to walking down the aisle. “It’s important to me that we are aligned—I’ve been married and divorced and I don’t want to do it again,” Bloom shared. “And we’re both fully aware of that. She’s remarkable and so I’m always so impressed with that and I’m encouraged.”
November 19, 2019: The couple shares a sweet Instagram.
In what is their most recent couple Instagram post, Perry shared a screenshot of the pair on FaceTime with their dogs. "together our initials are O.K. and that’s what it’s gonna be ♥️," she captioned the photo.
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December 4, 2019: Perry and Bloom postpone their wedding.
Us Weekly reported that the couple, who had previously been planning a December wedding, postponed the nuptials. A source told the outlet, "they changed the timing due to the location they want."
In fact, the couple is reportedly planning two ceremonies in two different locations. "They’re going have one local wedding party, and the other will be a destination wedding party," a source told Us. Concerns about what the date change may mean for the couple should be kept at bay, the source adding, "They’re beyond in love."
E! also spoke to a source about why Perry and Bloom are postponing their wedding to 2020. "They wanted to get married quickly but scheduling and pulling everything together has proven to be difficult, the source said. "The wedding was supposed to be in September, then December and now early next year. They have had to move things around because Katy has grand ideas of where and how she wants things to be."
"They have the guest list figured out and many of the details," the source continued. "They hope to have everything finalized soon because they are very excited about getting married."
January 1, 2020: The couple rings in the new year together.
On New Year's Eve, Perry shared a photo of herself and Bloom in 2020 glasses while snuggling with their dogs. "when you’re in bed before midnight is when you know you’re starting the new year right #2020," she captioned the post.
The following day, Perry's January 2020 Vogue India cover dropped. During the interview, she opened up about how Bloom was "an anchor" for her. “He’s not the No. 1 fan of Katy Perry, but he’s the No. 1 fan of Katheryn Hudson,” she explained, referring to her birth name. She continued, “When we first met, he said we would pull the poison out of each other, and we really do. It’s exhausting, but we really hold each other accountable.”
February 15, 2020: They celebrate a year of engagement.
Perry honored both Valentine's Day and the one-year anniversary of her engagement to Bloom with a sweet IG post. She shared a series of black-and-white photos from the couple's engagement party, writing, "one year ago I said yes to a life of love and evolution... and definitely never a dull moment 😜." Bloom responded, "We don’t do dull doe ❤️."
March 4, 2020: Rumors of a June wedding in Japan circulate.
About three months after Bloom and Perry's wedding was postponed, Page Six reports that new plans for the nuptials have ben made. According to the outlet, the pair had been eyeing an intimate June ceremony in Japan.
About a week earlier, Perry had this to say to Australia's Stellar magazine about wedding planning: "I call myself a 'bridechilla' as opposed to a bridezilla. Orlando and I are united with our approach. It’s not about the party, it’s about the coming together of people who will hold us accountable when things get really hard. Because it’s really great and then it’s really hard. Those are just the facts when you’re with someone who challenges you to be your best self."
March 5, 2020: Perry announces she's pregnant.
Hours after the singer teased her new music video and sparked pregnancy rumors, she confirmed she's expecting in the video for "Never Worn White." In addition to cradling her pregnant stomach in the video, Perry shared a snippet of the song on Instagram, writing, "Let’s just say it’s gonna be a jam packed summer... 🎶♥️🙂 #NeverWornWhite is out now."
She also divulged details of her pregnancy to fans on her Instagram Story and Twitter. “I’m excited, we’re excited, and happy," Perry said on her IG story. "It’s probably the longest secret I’ve ever had to keep. I thought I would tell you guys in the best way through a piece of music.” She also tweeted her excitement for not having to hide the bump any longer.
April 3, 2020: Perry and Bloom announce they're having a girl.
Perry posted a photo of her fiancé with pink icing all over his face. "💕 it’s a girl 💕," she wrote in the caption. The couple is reportedly overjoyed to welcome their daughter into their family and consider her birth something happy to look forward to during the coronavirus global pandemic.
"They are both so excited about having a baby. They are also ecstatic that it's a girl," a source told People. "They love that they have this amazing, positive thing to focus on right now. It’s such a happy distraction for them. Katy really hopes everything has calmed down with the virus by the time the baby will be born this summer."
April 23, 2020: The couple prepares for their new arrival.
On the heels of Perry and Bloom's gender reveal, a source told People that the couple is preparing to be parents during quarantine. "It’s a stressful time for them like for most people," the insider told People. "They're also spending every day together. They are used to having their separate careers and not being on top of each other every day." The source said that while they "have disagreements and conflicts like all couples," they are "not a big deal," adding, "Katy, of course, has concerns about giving birth for the first time—especially since things are so uncertain right now. [But] they are very excited."
May 16, 2020: Perry gives a quarantine couple update.
While on SiriusXM Hits 1's The Morning Mash Up to promote her new single, "Daisies," Perry spoke about staying at home with Bloom during the pandemic. "What I have actually learned, some of the positive…because he's seen it all, and God bless him, he's still here," she said. "It's amazing and commendable. I have definitely tested him, like…'oh yeah, you think you can handle me?'"
She also touched on the activities they're doing while homebound. "We have a LEGO room in our house. It was a TV room," she said. "He gets these Legos that are super hard to do… and he'll make those in two days and then he displays them on the wall, like a championship Lego wall. I was like 'oh, you’re a lot handier than I thought you were. Can you hang this thing for me, please?'"
June 22, 2020: Bloom and Perry support each other's new work.
While prepping for their new arrival, both Bloom and Perry have kept working. On June 22, Perry plugged Bloom's new movie Retaliation, urging her 103 million Instagram followers to check it out. "babycat and I love daddy @orlandobloom for his heart but of course always very proud of him and his incredibly talented contributions, many rolling out this summer... #Retaliation is a powerful one coming July 24th! Mark your calendars (I’ll remind you tho 😛) p.s. anyone else drooling at the shot of him shirtless with the tattoos 🤤#getaroom #okfinewewill," she wrote on the 'gram.
That same week, Bloom praised Perry's ability to release a new album and judge on American Idol while expecting. "Aside from the giant belly, you wouldn't know [she's pregnant]," he told the Associated Press. "She's a force of nature, obviously, as we all know, as everyone knows. But it's been really impressive. There's no complaining. She's just all about it. It's pretty awe-inspiring to see the way she handles herself at this time. It's just business as usual."
June 29, 2020: Perry recalls her struggles following a past breakup from Bloom.
During an interview with radio show Q on CBC, Perry got candid about her mental health following a split from Bloom in 2017. Perry told Power, via Daily Mail and CNN, that "my career was on this trajectory when it was going up, up and up and then I had the smallest shift, not that huge from an outside perspective, but for me, it was seismic," she said. "They say if a ship is one degree off from their navigation, they'll land on a different continent." Perry added, "I had given so much out, and it literally broke me in half. I had broken up with my boyfriend, who is now my baby daddy-to-be. And then I was excited about flying high off the next record. But the validation did not make me high, and so I just crashed."
Perry said she even contemplated taking her own life during this period. "Gratitude is probably the thing that saved my life, because if I didn’t find that I would have wallowed in my own sadness and probably just jumped," she said. "But I found the ways to be grateful. If it gets really, really hard I walk around and say, 'I am grateful, I am grateful!’ even though I am in a shitty mood."
July 19, 2020: Perry denies Jennifer Aniston will be the baby's godmother.
Rumors swirled after the The Mirror reported Perry and Bloom had chosen close friend Jennifer Aniston to be their unborn child's godmother. But while on the Australian radio show "Kyle and Jackie O," Perry put the speculation to rest. “She texted us because we are friendly with her and Orlando is one of her good friends,” Perry recalled. “And we were like, ‘Wow this is a wild rumor!’” She added, "I guess this is a fun rumor but no, we have no idea where it came from."
July 21, 2020: Perry confirms she won't wed Bloom in 2020.
Perry spoke about her relationship with Bloom during a wide-ranging interview with Howard Stern. "He's the only one that could handle it and that's why we're in this position," she explained about her personality and dynamic with Bloom, via E!. "I showed him all of it. And I still test him and he still shows up and he still is not fazed by it and that's why he is perfect for me—because I'm a lot!"
She also confirmed that after the coronavirus pandemic cancelled wedding plans around the world, she and Bloom would not marry this year. "We cannot plan anymore in 2020, because those plans are always canceled," she admitted, dispelling rumors of two ceremonies. "I honestly, never heard of the other wedding, I only knew of one wedding. Of course, that will come in the future, but for now, we want to deliver a healthy child. And that's what's coming up."
July 22, 2020: The couple loses their beloved pet.
The following day, Bloom revealed on Instagram that their dog Mighty had passed away after being lost for over a week. Perry re-posted his message, complete with a video of Bloom getting a tattoo in the dog's honor, and wrote, "We’ll miss our little buddy boy, Nugget’s brother so much. Forever a paw shaped hole in our hearts 💔 #ripmighty."
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In a later interview with the Mirror, Bloom said he believed the loss would have a positive impact on his relationship with Perry. "It was probably good for Katy to see me go to the lengths that I went to, to try and find him," Bloom said. "Mighty was the physical, outward representation of my heart." He added, "He was a gift to me from Katy and he traveled everywhere with me and it's going to make me cry, so I don't want to talk about it too much because I miss him very, very much." Bloom also said Mighty's departure could be making way for he and Perry's new arrival. "Funnily enough, [Mighty has] probably made way for this little girl who is coming into my life soon," he said.
August 4, 2020: Perry praises about Bloom's parenting abilities.
When asked about starting a family of her own with Bloom, who is already father to 9-year-old son Flynn with ex Miranda Kerr, Perry told The Sunday Times, "It was planned. We went to Egypt in October for my birthday and just decided. I've always been so fond of the way he [Orlando] is with Flynn that I think my primal nature is like, 'Yes, go.'"
August 5, 2020: Perry speaks about she and Bloom's rocky journey to parenthood.
For the latest issue of People, Perry got candid about her relationship with Bloom, including past breakups and their excitement for a new baby. "It's really about an individual journey that makes the whole thing better. We both had to decide to go on that journey separately because it's not my half and your half that makes a whole," Perry told the outlet. "It's my wholeness and your wholeness that makes this whole thing happen."
According to the outlet, the track "Champagne Problems," off Perry's upcoming Smile album addresses their challenges as a couple. "It's a song that really talks about how intense it's gotten and how many things we have had to go through. Yes, we have problems. Everybody has challenges in a relationship," she explained. "If it's a real relationship, it's going to challenge you into your best self. I really understand what Justin Timberlake said about, 'You're my mirror,' because it's true. They bring up all this stuff you can't really see about yourself."
She continued, "It's a never-ending evolution, so it's not peachy-keen jelly bean all the time, but it's nice to have been able to show each other all the good, bad and everything in between, and really fight for our best selves. Now, we just joke, like yeah, we still have things to work out—but champagne problems! We've gotten through a lot of hell."
As for becoming a parent, Perry told People there are several qualities she hopes her daughter will inherit from Bloom. "Of course you admire someone that usually has traits you want more of. I want to be more spiritual and more centered, and that's him," she explained. "He wants to be more organized and good with thinking about big picture stuff. Those are traits that we really aspire to learn about each other."
As for their elusive wedding, Perry told the outlet, "I tried to do it this year and it poo poo-ed on me so ask me again in another year! I went through the whole freakin' process. Right now, we're just so focused on this [pregnancy], which is exciting. Let's hope [2021] is different than '20."
