Hugh Jackman is going into business with longtime pal Ryan Reynolds amid his divorce drama with estranged wife Deborra-Lee Furness.
The Deadpool & Wolverine stars have become the new co-owners of Australia’s SailGP Team — now known as the Bonds Flying Roos SailGP Team. They share their ownership stake with Flying Roos driver and CEO Tom Slingsby, with the Bonds underwear brand coming on board as an official sponsor.
“We’re incredibly excited to set sail together in this new adventure,” Reynolds and Jackman said in a joint statement on Wednesday, June 4. “Hugh brings a deep love for and pride in his home country as well as being an avid fan of sailing. He will also be bringing his overly clingy emotional support human along for the ride. Apologies in advance to Australia. No comment on whether we’re writing this in our Bonds. No further questions.”
SailGP is an international sailing competition founded by Olympic gold medalist Russell Coutts and Oracle cofounder Larry Ellison. The group aims to increase global interest in competitive sailing with Grand Prix races in some of the world’s most exotic ports. All 12 national teams competing in SailGP race 50-foot catamarans that can reach speeds up to 100km per hour.
Reynolds and Jackman’s rebranded Flying Roos will defend their placement on top of the current SailGP leaderboard at the Mubadala New York Sail Grand Prix, taking place from June 7 to 8. The Flying Roos’ driver Slingsby holds the record for most championships in SailGP’s history with three victories in four seasons.
Reynolds, 48, is no stranger to going into business with famous friends. He previously teamed up with It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia star Rob McElhenney to purchase an ownership stake in the Welsh soccer team Wrexham Association Football Club in 2020.
Their efforts to transform the team were showcased in the FX docuseries Welcome to Wrexham, which has won eight Emmy Awards. McElhenney and Reynolds’ investment in Wrexham has paid off, as the squad were recently promoted to the Sky Bet Championship for the first time in more than 40 years.
Meanwhile, Jackman, 56, is going through a divorce from Furness after 29 years of marriage. Us Weekly confirmed that Furness filed for divorce from Jackman on May 23, more than a year after they announced their separation.
Furness broke her silence on her divorce filing with a surprising statement in which she referenced potential “betrayal” in her marriage. (Jackman was linked to his Music Man costar Sutton Foster before Furness filed for divorce.)
“My heart and compassion goes out to everyone who has traversed the traumatic journey of betrayal,” Furness, 69, told the Daily Mail on May 27. “It’s a profound wound that cuts deep, however, I believe in a higher power and that God/the universe, whatever you relate to as your guidance, is always working FOR us.”
She went on, “This belief has helped me navigate the breakdown of an almost three-decade marriage. I have gained much knowledge and wisdom through this experience. Even when we are presented with apparent adversity, it is leading us to our greatest good, our true purpose. It can hurt, but in the long run, returning to yourself and living within your own integrity, values and boundaries is liberation and freedom.”
A source close to Jackman exclusively told Us that the Greatest Showman actor was caught off guard by Furness’ comments.
“Her statement took Hugh and mutual friends by surprise because she wasn’t very direct with who she was speaking about but was alluding to Hugh, and that added emotional weight to it,” an insider told Us. “Hugh loves and respects Deborra-Lee. He will always love her and won’t allow it to get ugly.”
