Chris Appleton Speaks Out on Lukas Gage Split: Fast Love, Heartbreak and Growth
Hi, I’m Quinn Parker and I’ve downed one extra-strong latte before writing this—and trust me, you’re going to feel the caffeine buzz in every word. Okay so let me tell you this one has me wide awake!
Hairstylist Chris Appleton spoke out publicly for the first time about his divorce from Euphoria star Lukas Gage during the August 6 episode of Jay Shetty’s On Purpose podcast. The candid chat, covered by E! News and echoed in People, marked Appleton’s first detailed response since filing in late 2023 to end his six-month marriage to the 30-year-old White Lotus alum.
You can love someone and there not be a forever happy ending Chris told host Jay Shetty in an interview transcript published by E! News. He stressed that every relationship offers lessons on boundaries, self-awareness and the mechanics of true connection. According to the podcast notes, Chris reminded listeners that moving quickly into love doesn’t always equate with recklessness: Sometimes it means you’re hopeful, he added.
The 42-year-old stylist—who tied the knot with Lukas in an intimate Las Vegas ceremony officiated by Kim Kardashian—addressed critics who slammed their whirlwind romance. He pointed to their shared Instagram snapshots from a February Mexico getaway, the surprise ski engagement revealed on March 23, and their joint red carpet appearance at Vanity Fair and TikTok’s Young Hollywood event just days later. “Any relationship I’ve ever been into I’ve gone in with an open heart, and I have no regrets about that,” he insisted.
Chris also revealed that he endured “a lot of private pain” behind the scenes but refused to fuel unverified talk of infidelity or scandal. He maintained that his primary concern through the split was protecting his children, Billy (22) and Kitty-blu (20), whom he shares with model Kate Katon. As a dad, I wanted to protect my kids, he said, according to details shared by People.
With the help of therapy, friends and family, Appleton learned it’s acceptable “not being OK.” He described a breakthrough moment when he aligned his external creative world—cutting-edge hair artistry—with internal peace. “When you genuinely feel good on the inside, that’s when your real power comes into place,” he explained on the podcast.
Looking back on the rapid-fire romance—from initial Instagram teasers to the surprise April 5 engagement confirmation reported by E! News—Chris urged listeners not to shame people for leading with vulnerability, even if love doesn’t last forever. His message: growth, not regret, is the real takeaway.
Stay tuned for what’s next in both Chris’s flourishing career and Lukas’s acting projects, because this chapter may have closed but the story is far from over.
Whew! I need to catch my breath after that!
Sources: Celebrity Storm and E! News, On Purpose podcast
Attribution: Creative Commons Licensed
