Why Hugh Jackman's ex-wife Deborra-Lee Furness chose now to 'confirm' Sutton Foster affair rumors

Hugh Jackman's ex-wife Deborra-Lee chose to make a 'subtle' move to seemingly confirm speculation about the actor's alleged affair with Sutton Foster because she was 'hurt' by his dishonesty, insiders have claimed.

The Australian actress, 68, raised eyebrows on Wednesday when her private Instagram account 'liked' a video from gossip blogger Tasha Lustig which claimed Jackman, 56, was 'running off with the mistress' and planning a 'soft launch' of their relationship, according to Us Weekly.

Adding credence to the claim was Furness's friend Amanda de Cadenet, who commented on the same post from October 26: 'You are on point with this one. My beloved friend Deb is about to have her glow up any moment fyi!'

Furness, who announced her split from Jackman in September 2023, 'liked' the post to shed further light on her split.

'She has suspected Hugh of cheating on her and he adamantly denied it over and over,' the source said. 'This is what would hurt the worst.'

Adding that the pair's 27-year marriage had been thwarted by Jackman's alleged lies, the source continued: 'They based their marriage on honesty. But if Hugh didn’t physically cheat, she knows that he did emotionally.

'She wasn’t going to be the one to break anything or say anything and she still won’t be speaking out.'

The source added: 'Her liking a simple post is the most subtle thing she could do that would have the greatest impact and it cannot be proven in any way shape or form that it was a jab to him. It’s left up to interpretation.'

Jackman and Foster first began workshopping Jerry Zaks' Broadway revival of the 1957 musical in March 2020.

The costars took on the roles of Harold Hill and Marian Paroo, which ran from February 2022 to January 2023, at the Winter Garden Theatre in Manhattan. 

In the post Furness liked, gossip blogger Lustig claimed that the former costars have been planning a 'soft launch' of their relationship publicly to test reaction, adding they are going 'to have to dream up the Disney story of the ages' to win over critics.

Jackman and Foster have already attended public events together, looking smitten with one another at the opening night of their show The Music Man on Broadway in February 2022.

According to reports, their affair during the show was 'Broadway's worst-kept secret' and now it's claimed the 'really happy' pair are keen to have their relationship out in the open.

It comes after sources revealed to DailyMail.com that Furness had concerns about the pair teaming up for the Broadway production in 2022 - a year before Jackman announced the end of their 27-year marriage. 

'Deborra-Lee had her suspicions when Hugh started working with Sutton,' a source previously said. 'Their relationship is not a secret to her.'

Furness shares adopted children Oscar, 24, and Ava, 19, with her ex.

The insider noted: 'She is not going to address this or speak against Hugh. When they divorced, they agreed to keep everything that happened during their marriage private.' 

The rumored couple publicly gushed over one another with both admitting it 'was a dream come true' to work together in resurfaced interviews.

Foster spoke highly of the 'incredibly kind, and generous' Jackman to Vogue when asked about their professional relationship, gushing that 'he's now become one of my best friends,' before adding that 'we just spent Memorial Day with our families. It's really fun to meet new friends after 40.'

It comes after a source told Page Six that the pair are '100 per cent together and are in love and want to spend the rest of their lives together.' 

Foster filed for divorce from her estranged husband Ted Griffin last month after 10 years of marriage. They share daughter Emily, seven. 

Her first marriage was to Tony winner Christian Borle, 51, from 2006 until 2009. Four years later, she confirmed her engagement to Griffin, a screenwriter on Ocean's Eleven.

Jackman and Furness shocked fans when they announced their split last year.