Renée Zellweger Opens Up About Kenny Chesney Split and Gay Rumors

Renée Zellweger recently reflected on her short-lived marriage to

country star Kenny Chesney and the rumors that followed their 2005 split.

Speaking to The Advocate, she addressed the speculation that

Chesney was gay after she filed for an annulment just four months after their wedding, citing “fraud” as the legal reason.

Hurt by Rumors and Public Reaction

Zellweger said the gossip was upsetting and damaging.

“It made me sad that people were using that as a way to be cruel, and that calling someone gay was treated like a negative, which can have real consequences,” she said. She questioned why people felt the need to make up stories in the first place.

Clarifying “Fraud” and Keeping Things Private

At the time, Zellweger clarified that the term “fraud” was simply legal language and “not a reflection of Kenny’s character.” When asked if she felt pressured to defend him, she explained, “I’m old-fashioned and don’t think it’s right to air personal matters publicly. You diminish yourself when you share intimate details with countless strangers who are mocking you.”

Chesney’s Response to the Rumors

Chesney addressed the speculation in a 2007 interview with Anderson Cooper on 60 Minutes, saying, “It’s not true. Period… I didn’t feel I needed to prove anything to anyone.” The former couple had previously issued a joint statement, saying their split was due to a “miscommunication of the objective of their marriage.”

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