Natalie Portman Broke Her Silence on Her Divorce & It Turns Out Rihanna Played a Role in Her Healing

Natalie Portman has championed through her divorce from Benjamin Millepied by stepping on red carpets and making dazzling award show appearances, but things aren’t always what they seem. The 43-year-old actress admitted on the Monday, July 15 episode of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon that she’s been feeling vulnerable in the wake of her split, and a chance encounter with Rihanna made a huge difference.

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The A-list meetup happened at Paris Fashion Week in January, and their sweet conversation was captured by the paparazzi. Calling it “an amazing experience for me,” Portman explained why the seemingly random exchange meant so much to her. “I think every woman going through a divorce should get to have Rihanna say to her that she’s a bad bitch,” she shared. “It was exactly what I needed.” Fallon stood up and applauded, but when he rolled the clip of the viral moment, Portman was downright emotional.

After a warm embrace, the “Umbrella” singer exclaimed, “I am a f***ing fan. You are one of the hottest bitches in Hollywood forever.”

Portman replied in disbelief, “Excuse me? I’m gonna faint.”

Rihanna added, “Yo, I don’t get excited about anybody, but, like, I f***ing love you.”

As the video faded out, the cameras zoomed in on Portman’s face as she choked back tears and told Fallon, “It was a formative moment in my life.” Viewers could feel how hard things probably were for the Oscar winner behind the scenes as Millepied’s alleged affair played out in the tabloids.

The choreographer reportedly had an entanglement with 26-year-old climate activist Camille Ètienne. In June 2023, a People source confirmed their marital troubles . “He is doing all he can to get Natalie to forgive him and keep their family together,” they said. “Natalie is incredibly private and has no intention of playing this out in the media. Her biggest priority is protecting her children and their privacy.”

While plenty of insiders were talking, Portman quietly filed for divorce in July 2023 and confirmed that their marriage was over in February. The only comment fans have heard from Portman was a brief mention in Vanity Fair that same month, describing the public discussion about her and Millepied as “terrible.” She added, “I have no desire to contribute to it.” It’s no wonder Rihanna’s seemingly low-key moment made a huge impact on Portman.

Before you go, click here to see all the celebrity couples who have stayed together after cheating scandals.