Meryl Streep and Martin Short may still refuse to publicly define their relationship, but the Hollywood pair continues fueling speculation everywhere they go.
While the beloved stars have quietly grown closer since working together on “Only Murders in the Building,” one lingering detail has continued to surprise fans: Streep is still legally married to sculptor Don Gummer.
Now, insiders are shedding new light on how Gummer allegedly feels about Streep’s romance with her famous co-star after years of separation and emotional adjustment within their family.
Streep and Short first sparked romance rumors in 2024 after they were spotted looking unusually affectionate together, surprising fans who never expected the longtime friends to become Hollywood’s newest couple.
The pair starred together as Loretta Durkin and Oliver Putnam in Hulu’s “Only Murders in the Building,” where their on-screen chemistry quickly spilled into real-life speculation.
Even as sightings of the two increased, both stars continued to avoid direct confirmation of their relationship status. That secrecy did not shock those closest to Streep, who has always guarded her private life carefully.
The Oscar-winning actress only revealed in October 2023 that she and her husband, Don Gummer, had separated in 2017 after decades together.
The former couple met through Streep’s brother in 1978 and married later that same year at a garden ceremony at her family home.
Now, years after quietly ending their relationship behind closed doors, Streep appears happier than ever, spending time with Short at celebrity hotspots around Los Angeles.
Streep’s Husband Reportedly Made Peace With The Split
According to insiders, Gummer has spent years emotionally processing the end of his marriage and has now reportedly accepted Meryl Streep’s new chapter with Short.
“Don has come to terms with the end of his marriage,” a source told the Daily Mail. The insider explained that the former couple’s decades together and shared family history made the transition incredibly difficult at first.
“They were together for such a long time and will always be connected through their children,” the source added.
Streep and Gummer share four adult children: daughters Grace, Mamie, and Louisa, and son Henry Wolfe.
According to the insider, Gummer initially worried most about how the split would affect their children because the family had always viewed their parents as inseparable.
“Don was especially worried about how the kids would take it, because seeing him with Meryl was the only version of family they had ever known,” the source revealed, adding, “The split shattered that ‘together forever’ image.”
Still, years of communication reportedly helped the family slowly adapt to the new reality. “After years of honest conversations, the family has come to understand that the change was necessary,” the insider explained.
Meryl Streep’s Timing With Short Apparently Helped
Sources claim one major reason Gummer eventually accepted Streep’s relationship with Short is that so much time passed between the separation and the romance rumors.
According to insiders, the situation could have been far more painful had the actress immediately begun dating after ending the marriage.
“If she had moved on with Martin right after the breakup, it really would have hit Don hard,” the source explained.
Another insider added, “If this relationship with Martin had started immediately after the split, it’s something he probably never would have gotten over. But enough time has passed now that he’s genuinely at peace with it.”
The insider also claimed that Gummer now chooses to focus on the positive memories from their decades-long marriage rather than remain bitter.
“He has accepted that he shared some of the best years of his life with her,” they shared.
Although the source joked that Gummer is probably not watching “Only Murders in the Building” repeatedly at home, they insisted he is glad his estranged wife appears happy and isn’t publicly weaponizing their past relationship.
Streep And Gummer Remain Legally Married
Despite living separate lives for years, Meryl Streep and Don Gummer reportedly have no immediate plans to officially divorce.
According to insiders, finances and shared assets are the biggest reasons the former couple has remained legally married. One source claimed the “Devil Wears Prada” actress has not “officially moved forward with a divorce largely for financial and logistical reasons.”
Because the actress reportedly has a fortune estimated at around $100 million, dividing properties, investments, and long-held assets would become extremely complicated.
“They share significant assets, and it’s simply far easier to remain legally married than to go through the complicated and expensive process of dividing properties, investments, and everything tied to their lives together,” the insider explained.
Rather than endure a lengthy legal battle, both parties reportedly prefer handling the situation privately and respectfully.
“There is still a strong level of respect between them,” the source said. The insider added that both would rather avoid spending enormous amounts of money and emotional energy untangling decades of shared responsibilities.
Meryl Streep And Martin Short Continue Fueling Romance Rumors
Although they continue to deny being romantically involved, Streep and Short are reportedly no longer hiding their affection from those around them.
The pair have recently been spotted together at several celebrity-favorite Los Angeles spots, including Chateau Marmont and Giorgio Baldi.
During one recent outing at Chateau Marmont, insiders claimed the two looked unmistakably close throughout dinner.
According to eyewitnesses, Streep and Short were “holding hands under the table” while “acting like teens” and “whispering to each other.”
The behavior reportedly left little doubt among onlookers about the nature of their relationship.
“What was interesting is that they’ve both been denying they’re in a romantic relationship,” the source previously said, adding, “But seeing them inside the Chateau there’s no doubt they are in love.”
