Julia Roberts and Kiefer Sutherland's non-wedding stands as one of the most unforgettable and contentious moments in recent Hollywood history.
This incident involved America's sweetheart, Julia Roberts, who had recently gained fame through her role in the iconic film "Pretty Woman," for which she received an Oscar nomination. Just three days before their planned wedding at the 20th Century Fox sound studio, which had been transformed into an idyllic garden for the occasion, she abruptly ended her relationship with Kiefer Sutherland, whom she had met on the set of "Flatliners."
Every detail was meticulously arranged for the big day. The bridesmaids had already selected their $425 Manolo Blahnik shoes in aquamarine green, perfectly matching the pie shaped like a Thanksgiving turkey, a special request from Sutherland. The wedding dress design had already been leaked to the press – an $8,000 two-piece outfit with a long jacket that could be transformed into a miniskirt for the after-party.
Everything was set for the grand celebration until Julia Roberts chose to be a 'runaway bride,' much like her role in movies alongside Richard Gere. Although her decision caught everyone off guard, there were signs in the months leading up to the event that indicated trouble in paradise. In February of that year, Sutherland temporarily relocated to a motel, ostensibly to prepare for a role, and during that time, he reportedly became a regular at the Crazy Girl strip club, where he struck up a friendship with a dancer named Amanda Rice. Rumors at the time suggested that they even traveled to Disneyland with her son and Sutherland's daughter. Three months later, Rice spoke to the tabloids, claiming that Sutherland had confided in her about Julia's insecurities, possessiveness, and her transformation into an "ice princess" since "Pretty Woman."
Kiefer always vehemently denied any intimate involvement with Rice, and despite the media frenzy, he and Roberts rekindled their engagement shortly after. A wedding date was set, and the rest is history.
Despite the abruptness of their breakup and the ensuing scandal, they have become a living testament to the saying that 'time heals everything,' even the most embarrassing events. Kiefer Sutherland and Jason Patric are prime examples of this. They reconciled and even worked together in theater in 2011. In fact, both of them appeared on Michael Rosenbaum's podcast, "Inside of You," in 2021, demonstrating their ability to reminisce about the event without any lingering resentment. They openly admitted that, in hindsight, Julia Roberts' decision was the right one.
When the topic came up on the podcast, Patric began to share his perspective. “Well, I mean, that was it, everything the press said. The case is that I left…” he began to explain, before Sutherland chimed in with, “Ireland.”
“Yes, I went to Ireland. The thing is, [she] is not here present. So I feel strange talking about what she told me or what she told Kiefer because she's not there and she can't speak for herself,” Patric continued.
“The big issues, [reported on] by the press, about the wedding invitation or the bride's elopement, all that nonsense. The relationship she had with Kiefer and how they were at that time is their own matter,” Patric clarified, emphasizing that he was discussing only his own experience. “Honestly, where I come from, you fall in love, and that's it, there's nothing you can do about it,” Sutherland remarked. “She is an extraordinary person, and so is he. The timing was what it was, and everyone went their separate ways,” he concluded.
