Justin Trudeau’s ex-wife Sophie Grégoire has shared a candid and deeply personal reflection on spending Valentine’s Day ‘uncoupled’, as the former Canadian Prime Minister’s romance with pop superstar Katy Perry continues to grow.
Writing in her newsletter Closer Together, Sophie, 50, opened up about the emotional complexity of the day, particularly as she navigates life, love and identity in midlife.
“Fine. I’ll admit it. On the surface, being ‘uncoupled’ at 50 on Valentine’s Day doesn’t make me feel amazing,” she wrote honestly.
Sophie went on to explain that the occasion can feel “especially loud” for women experiencing what she described as “midlife singlehood”, a phase she frames not as a loss, but as a period of profound recalibration.
“Often, it’s a recalibration, a moment where the noise quiets enough for us to hear our own voice again,” she reflected.
© Getty Images for National Allian“For millions of women (and men), the answer hasn’t always been simple,” Sophie continued. “We’ve been taught, sometimes gently, sometimes harshly, that our bodies, our emotions, our authenticity need adjusting to be accepted.”
“When we spend years reshaping ourselves to fit in, our nervous system learns vigilance instead of ease,” she added, striking a chord with readers navigating similar life chapters.
© InstagramTurning her focus inward, Sophie also shared her evolving understanding of self-love, describing it as both a practice and a form of emotional safety.
“In many ways, self-love is being aware of our defence mechanisms and adaptive behaviours,” she explained. “It’s about unlearning them and choosing to change some of our emotional habits.”
© Instagram“Self-love is a practice. At its core, it’s safety. And safety comes from presence.”
Sophie’s reflections come nearly two years after Justin announced their separation in August 2023, following 18 years of marriage. At the time, the former Prime Minister shared the news in a since-deleted Instagram post.
“Hi everyone, Sophie and I would like to share the fact that after many meaningful and difficult conversations, we have made the decision to separate,” he wrote. “As always, we remain a close family with deep love and respect for each other and for everything we have built and will continue to build.”
“For the well-being of our children, we ask that you respect our privacy and their privacy,” he added.
© GettyThe former couple share three children, Xavier, 17, Ella-Grace, 16, and Hadrien, 11, and have remained committed to amicable co-parenting. Following their split, they confirmed they had reached a legal agreement and would continue to prioritise their family.
Once considered one of Canada’s most high-profile couples, Justin and Sophie’s love story began long before his political career. Sophie was a childhood friend and classmate of Justin’s late brother Michel, and the pair reconnected in 2003. Their romance blossomed quickly, leading to their marriage in 2005 and a life lived largely in the public eye.
Since their separation, Sophie has briefly found love again with Ottawa-based paediatric surgeon Dr Marcos Bettolli. The pair were first spotted together just six months after her split from Justin. While Justin has remained at Rideau Cottage with their children, Sophie moved into a separate Ottawa home as they continue to co-parent harmoniously.
Justin, meanwhile, has moved on with pop icon Katy Perry. The pair were first linked in July 2025 after being spotted enjoying an intimate dinner at Montreal’s Le Violon. Days later, Justin showed his support by attending Katy’s Lifetimes tour in the city alongside his daughter Ella-Grace.
Fans were quick to notice the former Prime Minister singing along to hits including “Firework” and “Teenage Dream”, with social media posts capturing his obvious admiration from the crowd. More recently, Justin and Katy shared a loved-up snap from a romantic Christmas getaway, confirming their relationship is going from strength to strength.
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