Star Reveals Ex’s Fling With Spice Girl Left Her Blindsided
The star said the actor’s romance with a Spice Girls singer was “devastating, heartbreaking, humiliating [and] traumatizing.”

Getty Pic Monkey
TV personality Giuliana Rancic is speaking out about her past relationship with Jerry O’Connell, claiming the actor’s retelling of their breakup left out painful details.
Speaking on Wednesday’s episode of the Bill and Giuliana podcast, which she hosts with her husband Bill Rancic, the former E! News host called the romance “traumatizing” and accused O’Connell of being “dismissive” and “cold as ice” while reflecting on their 2003-2004 relationship.

Jerry O'Connell and Giuliana Rancic during Mercedes-Benz LA Fashion Week in Spring 2004.
J. Vespa/WireImage
Rancic’s response comes just days after O’Connell appeared on Kelly Ripa’s Let’s Talk Off Camera podcast, where he admitted he was a “terrible boyfriend” and acknowledged there was another woman inside his apartment when he ended the relationship with Rancic.
Rancic, however, said O’Connell’s interview “downplay[ed] what [their] relationship was.”

Jerry O'Connell and Giuliana DePandi dated from 2003 to 2004.
Jon Kopaloff/FilmMagic
“For a year and a half—except for the one breakup—we were together 24/7 every day, every night,” she said. “You could listen to his interview and think maybe this was an easy relationship, he was dating a bunch of girls, but no. It was a real relationship.”
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She said the pair said “I love you” every day and that everything seemed “perfect” until O’Connell traveled to London to film a movie with Spice Girls star Geri Halliwell.
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Rancic felt blindsided when photos surfaced showing the pair holding hands.
“It was, like the most shocking moment of my life,” she said. “I walked into a voiceover booth and fell to the ground, crying hysterically. It was awful. So upsetting and so devastating.”
When she confronted O’Connell at the time, she said he admitted, “Yeah, sorry. I don’t know what to tell you. I screwed up.”
Rancic said the Stand By Me actor later begged for another chance after his relationship with Halliwell fizzled out, allegedly telling her, “I am so sorry. I made the biggest mistake of my life. I don’t know what I was thinking. Please take me back. You’re the love of my life.”
Geri Halliwell’s stage name was “Ginger Spice”
Str Old/REUTERS
Calling the breakup “devastating, heartbreaking, humiliating [and] traumatizing,” Rancic said she invited O’Connell to appear on the podcast on an Instagram post because she wanted to “unfuzz” his memory. He did not respond.
Giuliana Rancic and Bill Rancic met in 2004 when Giuliana interviewed Bill for E! News.
Danny Moloshok/REUTERS
“Everything happens for a reason,” Rancic explained. “We are both happily married now, both have great families and we are both exactly where we’re meant to be.”
The former Spice Girl has not made any comments on the situation.
Jerry O’Connell and actress Rebecca Romijn married in 2007.
TOM BRENNER/REUTERS
Rancic married entrepreneur Bill Rancic in 2007, and the couple shares one son.
O’Connell married actress Rebecca Romijn the same year, and they have twin daughters. Geri Halliwell married Formula 1 team boss Christian Horner on May 15, 2015.

Geri Halliwell-Horner and Christian Horner attend day one of Royal Ascot 2026 at Ascot Racecourse on June 16, 2026.
Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images
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