Renée Zellweger has spoken openly about her brief marriage to country singer Kenny Chesney and the rumors that surfaced after their split. In a new interview with The Advocate published on September 8, the actress addressed the speculation that arose when she filed for an annulment just four months after their May 2005 wedding, citing “fraud” as the legal reason.
The filing sparked widespread gossip that Chesney was gay — something Zellweger says made her deeply uncomfortable.
Shortly after filing in September 2005, Zellweger released a statement clarifying that “fraud” was simply legal terminology and “not a reflection of Kenny’s character.”
Asked if she felt compelled to defend Chesney at the time, Zellweger said, “I’d said all I needed to say on that subject. 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. There’s no dignity in that. But it can be hard to let something go when it’s unnecessary ugliness. Once you’ve said your piece, shouldn’t that be enough? And why is that kind of negativity so appealing to people?”