Nicole Kidman has found herself at the center of fresh family speculation after fans noticed she excluded her older children, Isabella and Connor, from a recent Mother’s Day tribute.
The post reignited long-standing rumors about her relationship with the two adopted children, with a source sharing that things have “shifted” since the actress’s recent divorce.
At the same time, insiders claim Keith Urban is quietly struggling with growing distance from the daughters he shares with Nicole Kidman.
Nicole Kidman has sparked debate online after excluding her two older children, Isabella and Connor, from her recent Mother’s Day tribute.
The Oscar-winning actress shared a sweet Instagram photo on Sunday featuring her daughters, Sunday Rose, 17, and Faith Margaret, 14, whom she shares with husband Keith Urban.
Alongside the image, Kidman wrote: “To my beautiful girls, the greatest joy is being your mother. Happy Mother’s Day to all the mothers in the world.”
The post quickly drew attention from fans, many of whom questioned why her adopted children with ex-husband Tom Cruise were not included. “What about the other two?” one follower commented.
Kidman adopted Isabella, now 33, and Connor, 31, during her marriage to Cruise. The actress has rarely been seen publicly with either child in over a decade, fueling long-running speculation about distance within the family.
Much of the attention has centered on Isabella and Connor’s involvement with the Church of Scientology, which Cruise also famously follows.
Nicole Kidman’s Relationship With Her Eldest Kids Has ‘Shifted,’ Sources Claim
Amid the rumors of strain, Isabella recently appeared to acknowledge her connection to her mother by professionally using the surname “Kidman Cruise” instead of simply “Cruise.”
However, a source speaking to Woman’s Day claimed that Kidman’s relationship with her adopted kids has “shifted” since her divorce from Keith Urban, and now the actress is reassessing the people she keeps close as she enters a new phase in life.
“Nicole’s going through a rigid ‘culling’ period where she’s moving forward,” a source told the news outlet, per Sky News Australia.
They added, “Her trust issues have definitely been rattled, and she’s only bringing people along her next phase in life who have a proven track record of loyalty.”
Nicole Kidman Once Spoke About Her Adopted Kids’ Decision To Become Scientologists
Years before Kidman’s omission of her adopted kids from her Mother’s Day post, she had publicly expressed love and support for all of her children.
In a 2018 interview with Who Magazine, she addressed her older children’s religious choices, saying that as adults, “they are able to make their own decisions.”
The movie star also talked about the duo’s decision to join the Church of Scientology like their father, Cruise, revealing that, as their mother, all she can do is “love” the two of them despite their choices.
“They have made choices to be Scientologists, and as a mother, it’s my job to love them,” Kidman said at the time.
Keith Urban Reportedly Refuses To ‘Trash Talk’ Nicole Kidman Despite Painful Family Divide
Meanwhile, Urban is reportedly taking the high road following his split from Kidman, with insiders claiming the country star has refused to publicly criticize his ex despite feeling increasingly distant from their daughters.
According to a source who spoke with In Touch, Urban has “kept his side of the street clean” throughout the separation and “doesn’t trash-talk Nicole or accuse her of poisoning the kids against him, even though … the cold reality is that they’re not currently a part of his life.”
Court documents obtained by People Magazine reportedly show that Kidman, 58, became the primary residential parent after the pair’s September split.
The arrangement allegedly gives the actress custody of the girls for the majority of the year, while Urban’s parenting time is significantly more limited.
The insider claimed Urban agreed to the terms without putting up a legal battle because he believed it was the best decision for the family at the time.
However, those close to the singer say he “never in a million years did he envisage any scenario this brutal.”
Keith Urban Reportedly Struggling As Sunday Rose Publicly Sides With Nicole Kidman
In recent months, Sunday Rose has frequently appeared alongside her mother at major public events, including Paris Fashion Week, the Met Gala, and Chanel’s pre-Oscar celebration.
During a March interview with Elle Australia, the teenager reportedly described Kidman as her “biggest inspiration in life.”
Fans also noticed that Sunday briefly unfollowed Urban on Instagram earlier this year, something first reported by the Daily Mail.
Sources close to Urban claim seeing his daughters publicly embrace life with Kidman has been emotionally difficult for the singer.
Some within his inner circle allegedly believe the actress has been intentionally highlighting her close bond with the girls following the breakup.
“She’s like the cat that ate the canary right now, rubbing her happy single parent life in his face, and to pretty much everyone in Keith’s world, that’s just cruel and totally out of line,” the insider said.
