Podcast Summary: Happy Wife, Happy Life
Episode 88: Can We Forgive These Cheaters?
Hosts: Kendahl Landreth & Jordan Myrick
Release Date: November 10, 2025
Episode Overview
Kendahl and Jordan dive into the endlessly juicy world of celebrity cheating scandals, using recent events as a jumping-off point for a wide-ranging, comedic, and honest discussion about fidelity, public perceptions, and the complicated humanity behind high-profile relationships. With their signature blend of humor, personal anecdotes, and genuine curiosity (plus a dash of pop culture gossip), they ask: Can we forgive these cheaters?
Key Discussion Points & Insights
Setting the Stage: Why Do Celebrities Cheat So Much?
- Opening jokes about not cheating on each other if they ever "make it" big.
- Kendahl argues some celebrities, especially touring musicians and comedians, have lifestyles that make monogamy tough ("How do you even have a relationship if you're on a flight every night to a new city?" – Kendahl, 02:46).
- Jordan notes actors can sometimes have more stability than musicians or comics who tour.
The Nicole Kidman & Keith Urban Scandal (03:43 – 08:31)
- Jordan is heartbroken about rumors of Keith Urban cheating and their alleged messy divorce.
- Discuss emotions fans tie to celebrity couples (“Who do I look up to now? There's no one.” – Jordan, 05:50).
- Details on rumors: Allegations Keith cheated with much younger women.
- Larger point: “Almost every celebrity has cheated.” – Jordan, 05:55
- Conversation about whether personal growth can mean you’re not “always” a cheater.
Was Ross From Friends a Cheater? Pop Culture Morality (06:10 – 07:06)
- Debate on the “We were on a break!” storyline – both agree it’s not technically cheating, but not a great choice either.
AMC Nicole Kidman Ad and the Intersection of Pop and Queer Culture (08:28 – 13:25)
- Sidetrack into AMC’s Nicole Kidman theater ad—funny, campy discussion about its evolution from gay to straight culture.
- Kendahl and Jordan lament standard ads replacing movie trailers, share love for the Dolby Cinema intro (“It’s so gay…it’s like Bill Nye the Science Guy” – Kendahl, 12:01).
- Transition: “Okay, so that's one big cheating scandal right now. Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban. The biggest, most recent one, I would say is Lily Allen and David Harbour.” – Jordan, 13:25
Recent Cheating Headlines: Lily Allen & David Harbour (13:25 – 15:49)
- Lily Allen allegedly was cheated on by David Harbour (Stranger Things cop), who claimed sex addiction necessitated an open marriage but reportedly broke agreed rules.
- Lily released an album about the betrayal (“…she wrote an album in like, five to ten days about the cheating. Wow." – Kendahl, 14:25).
- Both hosts agree: Open relationships don’t work if your goal is to “get away with” cheating.
"Where Would It Be Worst if I Cheated?" – Personal Side (15:49 – 16:09)
- Humorous detour where Kendahl asks which household spot would be worst for cheating; Jordan answers “in bed with me sleeping next to you."
Ariana Grande and the Homewrecker Discourse (16:19 – 21:29)
- Recap of Grande’s relationship patterns; allegations she’s repeatedly entered relationships with attached partners.
- Discussion about the term “homewrecker” and whether it’s sexist (They mostly agree it’s gender-neutral but not flattering).
- Lists previous allegations: cheating with Big Sean, Pete Davidson, Ethan Slater.
- “She’s only attracted to people who are off limits.” – Kendahl, 19:08
- Sympathy: “I'm just like, you're not gonna be in a happy relationship.” – Kendahl, 21:00
Aaron Taylor-Johnson Rumors & Age Gap Relationships (20:13 – 21:29)
- Public rooting for Ariana to allegedly “steal” Aaron Taylor-Johnson from his controversial, much older wife, referencing their real-life director/star dynamic that began scandalously.
When Is Cheating Understandable? Musicians, Tour Life & Queer Representation (22:06 – 23:48)
- Shift to queer cheating scandals: Renee Rapp and Toa Bird allegedly began their relationship while with other people.
- Kendahl suggests touring lifestyles can make monogamy difficult and sometimes create “summer camp” relationship dynamics.
Art About Cheating & The Ethics of Turning Scandal into Song (26:02 – 31:00)
- Both Rapp and Bird faced backlash for releasing songs about cheating/the other woman.
- Kendahl: “Music is supposed to be expressive.” (26:28)
- Jordan: “Imagine being the person who got cheated on, and then they released this smash hit song about how cool it is to cheat.” (27:14)
- Nuanced take on whether artists should/can make art about their own wrongdoings.
Naming Names in Songs: Becky So Hot (31:38 – 32:10)
- Debate on Fletcher’s “Becky So Hot,” a song naming her ex’s new partner.
- Kendahl: “I think she should have switched the name to a different person.” (31:54)
- Naming real people crosses a line, while more generalized confessional art is traditional.
The History of Cheating in Pop, Media Literacy, & Character Complexity (34:20 – 36:30)
- Kendahl reflects on the need for messy, complex characters in art:
- “I want to see a toxic bitch in my book, you know?” (35:24)
- Both discuss online audiences wanting artists to be role models and the shift toward literal-minded readings of art (“There’s no nuance, there’s no media literacy.” – Jordan, 35:55).
Personal Rankings: Favorite & Least Favorite Celebrity Cheaters (37:12 – 40:27)
- Jordan’s Picks:
- Favorite: Usher – for owning his mistakes honestly and making art from regret (“He’s laying it all out there and he’s so embarrassed. He’s my favorite cheater.” – Jordan, 38:22)
- Least Favorite: Ashlyn Harris (and Sophia Bush) – for messy, public handling of post-cheating narrative.
- Principle: If you cheat, own it “like Usher”—be honest, don’t trash your ex.
- Kendahl’s Picks:
- Favorite: Tiger Woods. Though his serial cheating was extreme (reportedly over 100 affairs), Kendahl brings a humorous personal angle as a kid golfer devastated by his career downturn post-scandal. Discussion includes racial double standards in sports scandals.
- Least Favorite: Jojo Siwa – for cheating on national TV, the manipulative “we’re just friends” narrative, and leveraging her fame against a much less famous partner.
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
- On why celebrities cheat:
“How do you even have a relationship if you're on a flight every night to a new city?” (Kendahl, 02:46) - On fan disappointment:
“Who do I look up to now? There's no one. When I was looking up couples who have cheated, almost every celebrity has cheated.” (Jordan, 05:50) - Why do cheaters make the best music?
"I think music is supposed to be expressive… I’d rather listen… about something that, man, that’s crazy, they shouldn’t have done, that’s bad.” (Kendahl, 26:28) - On Usher’s confessions:
“He’s not even just being general. He’s being specific … That’s true art.” (Kendahl, 38:22) - On picking a “favorite” cheater:
“Obviously, I’m not like, he should win a Nobel Prize… but, yeah, it was just. It really hurt me at 9.” (Kendahl, 46:36 – on Tiger Woods) - On dramatic, public cheating:
“If you are gonna cheat, it’s the way you handle it. And how Usher is really an inspiration for all of us.” (Kendahl, 53:45) - On media literacy and art:
“There’s no nuance. There’s no media literacy...sometimes what people want to see is movies about people you don’t agree with.” (Jordan, 35:55)
Timestamps for Important Segments
| Time | Segment / Topic | |-----------|------------------------------------------------------| | 00:40 | Celebrity cheating theme introduced | | 03:43 | Nicole Kidman & Keith Urban cheating rumors | | 06:10 | Debate: “Was Ross from Friends a cheater?” | | 13:25 | Lily Allen & David Harbour scandal details | | 16:19 | Ariana Grande’s relationship drama, term “homewrecker”| | 22:06 | Renee Rapp & Toa Bird queer cheating controversy | | 26:02 | Ethics of making music about cheating | | 31:38 | Naming names in songs: Becky So Hot | | 34:20 | Art, character flaws, and media literacy | | 37:12 | Personal favorite/least favorite celebrity cheaters | | 40:27 | Tiger Woods: cheating impact on his legacy | | 47:27 | Jojo Siwa: cheating on national TV |
Takeaways & Listener Engagement
- Cheating is messy, but so is being human.
- Art reflects flaws and complexity; should we demand perfection from our artists?
- When handling infidelity—public or private—honesty and humility make all the difference (“Be an Usher, not a Harris”).
- Hosts invite listeners to share their own picks for favorite and least favorite celebrity cheaters.
End of Summary.