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Compared to her ’90s popstar counterparts, Cristina Aguilera has kept much of her past relationship drama out of the press — but it definitely exists. Her secret is that she doesn’t date other celebrities. «I think that I can only handle one [celebrity] in the relationship, and I need to be it,» she told People in 2018, adding that she’s «had opportunities, but it isn’t my style to date another person in the business.» Among those «opportunities» were Fred Durst and Carson Daly, but those hookups were apparently just rumors.
Her three biggest relationships that we know about are with former backup dancer George Santos, her ex-husband, record producer Jordan Bratman, and her fiancé Matthew Rutler, who was a production assistant when they met. Just because Aguilera keeps details of her relationship struggles private, that doesn’t mean she hasn’t shared certain details that are, um, how do we say this? Odd. For example, she and Bratman had this tradition: «On Sundays we just do everything in the house, and we’re just cozy and laid back. We don’t need to go anywhere, we’re just with each other. We do everything naked. We cook naked,» the singer told Ellen Degeneres on her show in 2007 (via People).
Naked Sundays, at least with Bratman, are over as far as we know. But Aguilera and Rutler are still keeping it plenty weird. Here’s what we dug up.
Will Christina Aguilera and Matthew Rutler ever say ‘I do?’
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Chistina Aguilera and Matthew Rutler got engaged on Valentine’s Day 2014, while she was pregnant with their daughter, Summer Rain (we needed an explanation of the name, too. See below). True to form, though Aguilera shared the news on Twitter, she didn’t include too many details. The tweet simply stated, «He asked and I said……» with a picture of the couple’s hands clasped together, and Aguilera sporting the ring. A source told People at the time, «They’re very much in love and are really excited to take this next step!» Except … as of this writing they haven’t.
While it’s understandable that the couple may not have wanted to get married while Aguilera was pregnant or they had a newborn and then a toddler running around, Summer turns six in August 2020. Aguilera and Rutler have been engaged for more than six years now, and it doesn’t seem like that’s going to change any time soon. Rutler’s Instagram bio says that he’s a «Proud father, happily engaged.»
We’re not judging them, but we’re definitely wondering what’s the point of the engagement if they don’t want to sign the papers? Celebrities are known for rushing into marriages that don’t last. Trepidation is understandable, but it’s not like the cost of their dream wedding would be a financial hardship or even require too much emotional stress. Thousands of wedding planners around the world would jump at the chance to help them out.
They named their daughter after a weather event
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Christina Aguilera and Matthew Rutler welcomed their daughter Summer Rain into the world on August 16, 2014. We’re not going to claim that a unique name is shocking for a celebrity child. Summer’s first name alone is understated compared to other celebrity kids’ names — like Jason Lee’s son Pilot Inspektor Lee as just one example of many. But Summer Rain’s whole name is an entire weather event. That’s odd to say the least. Did Aguilera and Rutler first kiss in summer rain? Did they share an ice cream cone during a thunderstorm? We need answers.
Aguilera gave some to People when Summer was just a few months old, and if we’re being honest, her reasoning is more charming than strange. «Summer is a time of spreading warmth and light, while rain washes away … replenishes and brings new life to allow growth and new beginnings,» Aguilera said, adding, «I wanted her name to be filled with inspiration, love and joy. And that’s exactly what she brings to all who encounter her. Her beauty and sunshine exude from within.» Speaking of weather events, did the pollen count just spike or it just us?
Christina Agulilera may be afraid to get married again
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Christina Aguilera’s parents had a traumatic relationship that she’s been open about via song. One track from her second album Stripped, titled «I’m OK,» is about the trauma that this toxic relationship created for her. «I’ve spoken very openly about growing up in a house where there was a lot of abuse. There was a lot of domestic violence and seeing what my mom went through, what I went through as a child, you know not feeling like I had a safe place to go home to,» Aguilera told Unmask Us. The song’s title suggests Aguilera and her mother got through it — her parents divorced when she was seven. Still, the singer said, «There are still many scars that I battle with on a day to day basis.»
Aguilera’s tragic past taught her what to do for her son Max when she became unhappy in her marriage to his father, Jordan Bratman (pictured above). «Things were so unhealthy and unhappy for both Jordan and me, I knew I had to end it. It wasn’t good for us, and it wasn’t good for Max to witness our arguments,» she told People of why she chose to divorce Bratman. The pair wed in November 2005. Aguilera filed for divorce in October 2010.
Aguilera has seen many examples of marriages failing. Maybe she’s scared that changing her status with Matthew Rutler will lead to their demise.
The couple that gets arrested together stays together
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Christina Aguilera has cleaned up her dirty ways since becoming a mother — for the most part. In 2011, a drunken night got her and then-boyfriend Matthew Rutler in trouble. According to TMZ, Rutler was «driving erratically.» He was pulled over and arrested for a misdemeanor DUI. Aguilera was described as «extremely intoxicated» by police. «And since she was unable to care for herself, Aguilera was taken into custody,» TMZ reported. «If the driver had NOT been arrested for DUI, [Christina] would have never been in trouble,» a source told the outlet.
Ultimately, Aguilera wasn’t charged for public intoxication. A spokesperson for the L.A. County Sheriff’s Office told Page Six at the time that Aguilera was only taken into custody for her own safety and the public’s. «She was not belligerent in any way,» the spokesperson said, adding, «We have no desire to prosecute.» We’re just happy that no one got hurt. It’s definitely a little bit strange to see a couple that got arrested together stay together, but thankfully this was a one-time event as far as we know.
Matthew Rutler saw the sexy side of Christina Aguilera before they were even dating
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Christina Aguilera and Matthew Rutler met in 2009 on the set of Aguilera’s movie Burlesque. It’s not strange for celebrities to meet on a movie set, but the subject of the movie certainly made it easier for the pair to get acquainted really fast. Aguilera played Ali, a girl from a small town who goes to L.A. to chase her dreams, who finds a home at a burlesque club run by Tess, a former dancer played by Cher. Rutler was a production assistant on the film, and its nature meant that he may have seen his future fiancée in a host of compromising positions and risqué outfits within days of meeting her.
Aguilera was unhappily married at the time she met Rutler, and while it does not seem like this particular relationship was a reason for the split, the timing of it all is suspect. «We had a really strong friendship on the movie. He’s the kind of person you could spend hours on the phone talking to and all of a sudden it’s daylight,» Aguilera told People in late 2010, just a few months after she filed for divorce from Jordan Bratman.
Whatever happened between Aguilera and Rutler, however, happened fast, because when asked if she was in love she said, «There’s a love there, yes.»
Christina Aguilera and Matthew Rutler love costumes
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Christina Aguilera and Matthew Rutler love costumes. Yes, a quick look at their respective Instagram accounts prove that they go all out for Halloween. But just because some of us only use the holiday as an excuse to throw on cat ears and eat candy, that doesn’t mean loving Halloween is strange. The Aguilera-Rutler clan goes a lot further than that, as you can see above from the picture taken at Summer Rain’s second birthday party — which appears to be Super Mario-themed.
The family cosplayed again for the premiere of The Addams Family animated film in 2019, thanks to Aguilera’s contribution to the soundtrack, the song «Haunted Heart.» And sure, people dress up for movie premieres, but not usually in costumes. The family of four took the chance to dress up as each member of the Addams family. Aguilera was Morticia to Rutler’s Gomez, while big brother Max was Pugsley to Summer Rain’s Wednesday Addams.
But wait, there’s more that’s not suitable for work or children. Aguilera’s birthday is December 18, and for her 38th, the theme of her party was Xmas — as in X-rated. People recirculated an image from the night that Rutler shared on his Instagram Story, depicting himself, dressed in a Grinch onesie, getting pretend naughty gift from Aguilera (Hint: She’s on her knees in the pic). No judgment, but that feels like an image they could’ve kept private. It’s an odd picture to share with the world if nothing else.
No, Christina Aguliera and Matthew Rutler haven’t split up
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We know to take all gossip with a grain of salt, but there is often some truth to rumors. The Nicki Swift team knows, because we dig it all up for you. And while Aguilera and Rutler have dealt with their fair reporting about their alleged break-ups, what feels really strange about them is that over nearly 10-years together, none of the rumors turned out to be true (so far).
Since 2018, the tabloid whistleblowers over at Gossip Cop have been denouncing Aguilera/Rutler breakup rumors reportedly made up by Star. We admittedly couldn’t find the original claims, but we love to see Gossip Cop out there, contacting Aguilera’s representatives to confirm rumors of a split are absolutely «not true.» Outlets that would reportedly claim that someone who has been with their partner for years would plan a wedding just for wedding photos need to be fact-checked, at least.
And really, so what if the couple ends up staying engaged forever, continues naming all of their children after precipitation, and starts dressing up every day of the week. If they’re happy and no one is hurt leave them in peace. We all have our quirks, right?