The best thing about friendships is its unpredictability. We don’t usually require our friends to check off boxes in the same way we might a potential spouse or significant other. Plus, they’re never duty-bound to spend time with us in the way family members sometimes seem to be. At best, friendships are resilient, contentful, and provide mutual happiness for both parties.
Best of all, there are zero rules about who you can and can’t be friends with. In Hollywood circles, as in the rest of the universe, unexpected friendships are bound to form. Before Ed Sheeran was the superstar songster he is today, you might have found him in L.A. performing in smaller gigs and building up his reputation. Oh, and becoming close friends with Courteney Cox, a woman 27 years his senior. The rumors briefly flew, of course, but friendship doesn’t tend to care so much about the paparazzi.
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Courtney and Ed began living together within weeks of knowing each other
The most epic friendships tend to form by pure chance. It took a little bit of a coincidence for Courtney and Ed to come across each other as well. In detailing how he was acquainted with Courtney, Sheeran said that TV producer Bill Lawrence and his wife, actress Christa Miller, brought their daughter backstage to one of his shows back in 2013. The following day, he ran into them again. “Next day, I happened to be having lunch in the same restaurant and they said would I like to come to a party that night?” he recalls. “It was at Courteney's house.”
Cox had been working with Bill Lawrence and Christa Miller at the time in their hit show Cougar Town. Sheeran went, hit it off with Cox, and the next thing you know, she was inviting him to live in her Malibu home rent-free. Looking back, Sheeran said:
There was no rent, but I made the bed and cups of tea and things like that. If you’re staying at your friend’s house, you should treat it like your own
He lived there for three months. Due to their close living situation, the media began assuming that they were involved romantically, especially since Courtney had only recently divorced David Arquette. Of course, it was mostly the gossip columns that tried to propagate this rumor — Ed and Courtney were completely unconcerned by the tabloids and focused on getting to know one another better.
Their friendship has allowed them to find both professional and personal success
Though Sheeran had already had some real success in the music industry—particularly with his 2011 album "+" — he is quick to credit Cox with helping him reach the very top. Even though he wasn’t yet world-famous, Cox appears to have had real faith that he would make it big. She wanted to wholeheartedly support his journey. During the time she let him stay in her home, Sheeran was able to write several songs for his second album "×." She provided him with the perfect environment in which he could be creatively inspired and continue building his album. At the same time, Cox also introduced Sheeran to some of her major celeb friends, such as Jennifer Aniston—who Ed also managed to strike a friendship with.
Sheeran has paid back Cox’s generosity beyond simply making a good cup of tea. For all the suspicious souls out there who thought that the pair were, in fact, a secret May-December type couple, Ed actually introduced Courtney to her significant other, Snow Patrol band member Johnny McDaid.
While Sheeran was still living with Cox, McDaid—a friend of Sheeran’s who he’d had once toured with—came over to write music. in explaining the match-up, Ed said:
I think I did the 'Courteney meet Johnny, Johnny meet Courteney' thing…It’s just two people who fell in love and I hope they're really happy.
While Ed certainly doesn't want to take the credit for the meeting, Cox nonetheless insists on acknowledging Ed for making it happen. She said, “We are certainly grateful to Ed for introducing us.” Just months after meeting, the couple announced their engagement. Though they briefly called it off in 2015 because they couldn’t agree on where to live.
Cox has since explained the situation, saying, “We broke off our engagement, and he moved to England, then we got back together, and it’s actually better than it was before.” The two continue to be a hot item today; the only thing is that she lives in L.A. and he lives in London. It might be a long-distance relationship but as long as it works for them, nothing else matters. It's a lot like strong friendships that manage to beat all odds and continue to work in spite of the distance, age, or fame.
There are no rules in friendship
Courtney and Ed still continue to hang out to this date. Sheeran became an adopted member of Friends and has been spotted hanging out with Cox and Aniston many times in recent years. Notably, in 2018, he was spotted out on a double date with Cox in West Hollywood— the gossip sites loved it. He was seen with his fiancée at the time, pro hockey player Cherry Seaborn, who has since become his wife and the mother of his child.
One thing’s for sure: Cox and Sheeran remain close friends and have nothing but wonderful things to say about one another and their unique friendship. When speaking about Courtney's warm demeanor, Ed
said :
[Courtney's] from Alabama so it's bred into her, but everyone she surrounds herself with is the same. Jennifer Aniston's just as friendly. I'd only ever experienced the darker side of Hollywood and they give you faith in everything.
Bottom line: friendships don't have to be surface-level traditional or convention in order to be fulfilling. On the contrary, the best friends are often those we feel we can relate to on an instinctive level. They are the folks that unexpectedly elevate the quality of our lives without us even realizing it. So you need to cherish those special friends and express your gratitude to them however you see fit.
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Military Dad Defends His 4 Little Daughters When Strangers Make This Rude Remark
Military Dad of 4 Daughters Defends His Girls When Strangers Make This Rude Remark
Austin von Letkemann is the military officer strangers feel "sorry" for — and the reason is infuriating.
Whenever the devoted father leaves the house with his four children, strangers can't help but notice the officer in uniform is holding hands with 4 adorable little girls. They will tell the traditionally "masculine" and "all American" dad they feel sorry for him, because he has no sons. This dad makes one thing very clear: They are his daughters, they aren't a burden.
In a passionate video, von Letkemann took to Instagram to share with his followers that the only thing that's "difficult" about being a girl dad — is clapping back to these sexist remarks over and over again.
They Mock His Daughters To Their Face
When strangers approach Austin von Letkemann and his four daughters, they don't always realize that their comments are being overheard. They seem oblivious to the fact that his girls understand every word. Von Letkemann describes how people will approach him and, without thinking, make remarks like "I'm sorry" or even joke about his lack of sons. What they don't realize is that these comments, intended to be light-hearted or humorous, can be deeply hurtful to his daughters. These strangers are not just disrespecting von Letkemann's choices as a father; they're also sending a message to his daughters that their presence is something to be pitied. It’s a message that von Letkemann won't stand for, and he's speaking out to defend his girls from these insensitive remarksSaying "Get Your Shotgun" Isn't Funny — It's Sexist
Another common comment that Austin von Letkemann encounters is the old "better get your shotgun ready" trope, often delivered with a smirk or a wink. This line is typically intended to suggest that a father with daughters should be on high alert to protect them from potential "suitors," implying that they are objects to be guarded rather than individuals with agency.
Von Letkemann finds this line of thinking outdated and sexist. In his viral Instagram video, he points out that these jokes are not just stale — they're damaging.
By suggesting that his daughters require armed protection, the joke reinforces the idea that women are inherently vulnerable and need to be shielded from men. Von Letkemann argues that instead of promoting this narrative, society should focus on teaching respect and consent, challenging these sexist tropes at their source.
Watch Austin von Letkemann's Video:
"If I Had A Fifth Child, I'd HOPE It Was A Girl" — One Dad's Message For Other Parents
Despite the constant remarks about his lack of sons, Austin von Letkemann is clear: He wouldn't trade his daughters for anything.
In fact, he told his Instagram followers that if he were to have a fifth child, he would hope for another girl. This declaration isn't just about doubling down on his pride in his family — it's a pointed response to those who see fathering daughters as a misfortune.
Von Letkemann's stance is a powerful one, rejecting the notion that a family is incomplete without sons. He encourages others to question the assumptions behind these comments and to appreciate the joy and fulfillment that his daughters bring. By sharing his story, von Letkemann hopes to create a more inclusive perspective on fatherhood, one that values daughters just as much as sons.