Just weeks after a photo of Justin Trudeau and pop superstar Katy Perry sharing a kiss made headlines around the world, the former Canadian Prime Minister was spotted spending Thanksgiving not with a new flame -- but with his ex-wife, Sophie Grégoire Trudeau. The sighting, which saw the estranged couple sharing a quiet family dinner with their three children in Ottawa, has reignited speculation about the state of their relationship.
For many, the peaceful holiday gathering seemed to signal more than just co-parenting. Could a reconciliation be in the works? While no official comments have been made, the timing of their public reunion -- so soon after Trudeau's viral moment with Perry -- has fans and political watchers alike reading between the lines.
A kiss, a pop star, and a quiet Thanksgiving
In late July, Trudeau and Perry were seen enjoying a dinner date in Montréal, with TMZ reporting cocktails and a variety of shared dishes. The outing came on the heels of Perry's breakup from actor Orlando Bloom, and the internet lit up when an image of the pair locking lips surfaced soon after.
Although neither camp has confirmed a romance, the moment triggered a frenzy of online speculation about Trudeau's dating life -- his first since announcing his separation from Sophie in August 2023. Yet while the headlines swirled, Trudeau returned to more familiar ground.
This year's Canadian Thanksgiving saw him back in the capital, not with Perry, but sitting down for a cozy meal with Sophie and their children: Xavier, Ella-Grace, and Hadrien.
Who is Sophie Grégoire Trudeau?
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Sophie Grégoire Trudeau is more than just a former First Lady of Canada -- she's a passionate mental health advocate, accomplished media professional, and mother of three. Her life story is deeply interwoven with Justin Trudeau's, but she has long carved out an identity of her own.
Born in Montréal, Sophie met Justin as a child through his younger brother, Michel. "We would hide in the closets to have our first kiss," she once recalled with a laugh, reminiscing about playdates at the Trudeau family home.
Though childhood sweethearts, they were not -- at least not right away -- they reconnected in their adult years while co-hosting a charity event in 2003. Their connection was instant, though Trudeau initially hesitated. When she first emailed him, he didn't even reply. "I just decided, 'No, I'm better off not starting anything that I'm not willing to go through with,'" he later admitted.
Fortunately, fate intervened. A chance meeting weeks later led to a first date at an Afghan restaurant, karaoke performances of Elton John and Beatles classics, and -- famously -- a mishap where Trudeau walked straight into a pole while distracted by Sophie.
A love story in the public eye
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Their romance blossomed quickly. On October 18, 2004 -- what would have been Pierre Trudeau's 85th birthday -- Justin proposed to Sophie at a luxury hotel after a visit to the family tomb. "There were candles and rose petals everywhere. I felt like I was a princess," Sophie recalled.
They married in May 2005 in a traditional Catholic ceremony in Montreal, with a reception filled with music, local food, and a notably absent wedding cake. "I find that people never eat it," Sophie explained at the time. "You take this tacky picture, cutting the cake. So I said, 'No! Let's do something different!'"
Throughout Justin's rise to power -- first elected Prime Minister in 2015, and re-elected in 2019 and 2021 -- Sophie stood beside him, offering both personal and public support. But the pressures of political life and personal evolution eventually took their toll. In August 2023, the couple announced their separation after 18 years of marriage. "It hurts deeply," Sophie later said on the Next Question with Katie Couric podcast. "Marriage is 'success.' Separation and divorce is 'failure.'"
Sophie's own journey
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While much of the spotlight has been on her marriage, Sophie has led a dynamic career of her own. Fluent in French, English, and Spanish, she began in advertising before transitioning to TV, working as an entertainment reporter and even a personal shopper for luxury retailer Holt Renfrew.
Her passion, however, lies in advocacy. Sophie has been a fierce proponent for mental health awareness, particularly eating disorders -- a struggle she knows firsthand. She has spoken candidly about her battle with bulimia nervosa, saying, "Eating was my only way of controlling my life, or so I thought."
She has also worked with the Canadian Mental Health Association and became an author in 2024 with the release of her self-help memoir, 'Closer Together: Knowing Ourselves,' 'Loving Each Other.' ALSO READ|
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