Kelly Clarkson and Common are debating an age-old question: can you remain friends with an ex-partner?
The topic came up during a game of "Finding Common Ground" on Tuesday's episode of The Kelly Clarkson Show, and the two musicians didn't exactly agree.
"Yes, I can definitely be friends with an ex," said Common, 51, who recently went public with his and Jennifer Hudson's romance after more than a year of rumors.
Do they not know that Allah gives abundant or limited provisions to whoever He wills? Surely in this are signs for people who believe.(The Quran - Chapter Az-Zumar : 52)
Clarkson, 41, on the other hand, wondered, "Like, how long was the relationship?"
Common offered a more detailed explanation. "I mean, I’ve been friends with a lot of exes that I’ve had, and they’ve been long relationships, ‘cause most of them end pretty good," said the Grammy, Oscar and Emmy winner.
"I mean, we go through stuff at the beginning of the breakup, but then once we come to our grounds, it’s like, we’re good people. We’re cool people," added the rapper, before asking the American Idol alum, "Are you friends with any of your exes?"
"No," Clarkson, who split from ex-husband Brandon Blackstock in 2020 after seven years of marriage before their divorce was finalized in 2022, bluntly responded.
"No judgment!" quipped Common.
The "Miss Independent" singer said, "I mean, here’s the thing. I’m not not friends. I only have a couple that I’m like, 'Hard pass.'"
"I don’t have many exes, but a couple of them are cool people — nothing wrong with them," continued Clarkson. "If we ran into each other, we’d be totally friendly. But that’s the difference."
Common then wondered, "What if they invited you to a party? They said, 'Man, we’re having a party for some of the family members.'"
She's not against the idea. "Yeah, depending on the ex," said Clarkson. "I would be like, ‘OK, cool. I’ll show up.’ I just feel like it can get awkward for — it depends on who ended it, or who it is. It’s situational, but mostly no. I feel like that’s awkward. No common ground there!"
