People have same response as Billy Ray Cyrus declares Elizabeth Hurley ‘the love of his life’
Billy Ray Cyrus may be head over heels for Elizabeth Hurley, but the internet isn’t exactly buying it.
The 63-year-old country singer marked Hurley’s 60th birthday on Tuesday with a romantic tribute that quickly stirred up backlash online, per the Daily Star. Posting a cozy photo of the couple, with Hurley sitting on his lap as they both smiled off into the distance, Billy Ray captioned it: “Happy birthday to the love of my life [sic].”
While many fans sent birthday wishes to Hurley, a significant number took issue with the grand declaration. “How you two just started dating [sic] Love of your life? What a joke,” one commenter wrote.
Another chimed in: “How many ‘loves of your life’ have you had in the last 10 years?”
Others didn’t hold back either: “You change the love of your life like your underwear,” and: “I’m sure your kids are thrilled to hear that [sic],” read two more popular responses.
Still, not everyone was cynical. A portion of the internet seemed genuinely happy for the couple, offering kind words and supportive messages, but most were skeptical, with many questioning the sincerity of the “love of my life” label.
Billy recently opened up about his relationship with Hurley during an appearance on The Ty Bentli Show, sharing how they met while filming Christmas in Paradise in 2022 on the island of Nevis. Although they shared limited screen time, Billy described a spark between them: “We just laughed, and it came at a time when I wasn’t laughing much. It was the oddest thing.”
Despite their vastly different backgrounds, Hurley a British film and fashion icon, and Cyrus a self-proclaimed “kid from Flatwoods”, he said their connection felt surprisingly natural. “I figured we were so different, but in some very strange way, we had way more in common than not,” he explained.
Though they lost touch after filming, their paths eventually crossed again, and now, according to Billy Ray, it’s love.
This isn’t Billy Ray’s first public declaration of love. He was married to Cindy Smith from 1986 to 1991, then to Tish Cyrus from 1993 until their divorce in 2022, with whom he shares five children, including Miley and Noah Cyrus. In 2023, he married Australian singer Firerose, but the marriage ended less than a year later.
Elizabeth Hurley’s romantic résumé is equally high-profile. She famously dated Hugh Grant for over a decade, and though they split in 2000, they’ve remained close friends. She had a brief relationship with Steve Bing, father of her son Damian, and later married Indian businessman Arun Nayar in 2007. That marriage ended in 2011, the same year she got engaged to Australian cricketer Shane Warne, though that engagement also fell through by 2013. She was even linked to Prince Harry, though this was likely a rumor.
Despite the backlash, neither Billy nor Elizabeth has responded to the online criticism. For now, they appear unbothered; smiling, posting, and leaning into their romance.
But if there’s one thing the internet seems to agree on, it’s this: Billy Ray might want to retire the phrase “love of my life”, or at least wait a little longer before declaring it again.
