Jennifer Hudson And David Otunga: The Shocking Truth Behind Their Decade-Long Split And What They're Doing Now In 2025

The relationship between Oscar winner Jennifer Hudson and former WWE star David Otunga captivated the world for nearly a decade, culminating in a shocking split and a high-stakes custody battle that dominated headlines for years. As of late 2024 and early 2025, both high-profile figures have moved on, building separate lives and careers while successfully navigating the challenges of co-parenting their now-teenage son. The drama of their contentious split is long behind them, replaced by new professional ventures—Hudson as a talk show host and Otunga as an active figure in the wrestling and entertainment world—and new romantic chapters, including Hudson's high-profile relationship with rapper Common. The former couple, who were engaged for ten years but never married, have finally settled into a routine that prioritizes their child, David Daniel Otunga Jr. The legal battles over their son's custody, which began with a temporary protective order filed by Hudson in 2017, concluded in 2019, allowing both stars to focus on their respective careers and personal growth. This article dives deep into the complex timeline of their romance, the specifics of their custody resolution, and the current, up-to-the-minute details of what both Jennifer Hudson and David Otunga are doing today.

Comprehensive Biography Profiles: Jennifer Hudson and David Otunga

The story of Jennifer Hudson and David Otunga is one of two ambitious Chicago natives who found success in vastly different fields—music/film and professional wrestling/law—before their paths intertwined.

Jennifer Hudson (J.Hud)

• Full Name: Jennifer Kate Hudson
• Born: September 12, 1981 (Age 43 in 2025)
• Birthplace: Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
• Key Career Milestones:
  • Rose to fame on *American Idol* (Season 3, 2004).
  • Won an Academy Award and Golden Globe for her debut film role as Effie White in *Dreamgirls* (2006).
  • Achieved EGOT status (Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, Tony Award) in 2022, one of the youngest people to ever do so.
  • Currently hosts the daytime talk show, *The Jennifer Hudson Show*.

David Otunga

• Full Name: David Daniel Otunga Sr.
• Born: April 7, 1980 (Age 45 in 2025)
• Birthplace: Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
• Key Career Milestones:
  • A highly educated lawyer, graduated from Harvard Law School.
  • Professional wrestler best known for his time in WWE (2009–2019).
  • A founding member of the dominant wrestling stable The Nexus.
  • Appeared in films such as *The Call* and works as a wrestling commentator and independent announcer.

The Tumultuous Timeline: Engagement, Protective Order, and Custody Battle

Jennifer Hudson and David Otunga first began dating in 2007, a year after Hudson's *Dreamgirls* success. Their relationship quickly became a staple of celebrity news, a seemingly stable pairing in the tumultuous world of Hollywood. The couple announced their engagement in September 2008, just a few months before their son, David Daniel Otunga Jr., was born in August 2009. The ten-year engagement period, however, was marked by the couple never taking the final step to marriage. The stability publicly shattered in November 2017 when Hudson's representative announced the couple's split, confirming they had been in the process of ending their relationship for months. The breakup immediately devolved into a legal battle when Hudson requested and received a temporary protective order against Otunga, citing "verbal and physical abuse." This order was later dropped by Hudson, allowing Otunga to regain custody of their son, David Jr., while the legal process continued. The core of their dispute was the primary physical custody of their child. Reports indicated the battle was acrimonious, with details leaking about Hudson’s legal team attempting to compel Otunga, a Harvard Law graduate, to find a more traditional job rather than pay him child support. The prolonged legal fight finally concluded in July 2019 when the former couple reached a confidential custody agreement. While initial reports varied, the final settlement was widely reported to be a 50/50 shared custody arrangement, allowing both parents to be actively involved in their son's life.

Current Lives in 2025: New Romances and Career Resurgence

With the custody battle finalized, both Jennifer Hudson and David Otunga have entered new, vibrant phases of their lives, both professionally and personally. Their focus remains on co-parenting their teenage son, who is now a budding celebrity in his own right.

Jennifer Hudson's New Chapter with Common

As of 2025, Jennifer Hudson is in a public and loving relationship with fellow Chicago native, the Oscar-winning rapper and actor Common. * The Romance Timeline: Dating rumors first sparked in 2022 after the two worked together on the thriller film *Breathe*. However, they went public with their relationship in 2024, confirming their long-rumored musical romance. * A Power Couple: Both are celebrated artists, with Common describing his relationship with J-Hud as one that brings him "peace." Their pairing marks a significant, stable relationship for Hudson following her decade-long engagement to Otunga. * Professional Success: Hudson continues to thrive as the host of her successful daytime program, *The Jennifer Hudson Show*, which has further cemented her status as a major media personality following her EGOT achievement.

David Otunga's Return to the Ring and Entertainment

David Otunga has also refocused on his career, embracing his multi-hyphenate status as a lawyer, actor, and professional wrestling personality. * Wrestling Ambitions: Otunga has confirmed in recent statements that he does not consider himself retired from professional wrestling and is open to a potential return to the WWE. * Current Role: He is actively working as an announcer and commentator for independent wrestling promotions, such as 4th Rope Wrestling. He also launched his own YouTube channel to connect with fans. * Focus on Fitness and Acting: Otunga has been noted to be in better physical shape than he was during his full-time WWE tenure, a testament to his dedication to health. He continues to pursue acting roles, leveraging his on-screen experience from his wrestling and reality TV days.

The Future of David Daniel Otunga Jr.

The most important entity in the story is their son, David Daniel Otunga Jr., who is now a teenager. Both parents proudly share updates on his life, highlighting his transition into young adulthood. * A Musically Gifted Teen: David Jr. has inherited his mother's musical talent, with Hudson sharing clips of them singing duets, leaving fans amazed at his natural ability. * Basketball Star: Jennifer Hudson has proudly embraced the role of a "basketball mom," often sharing updates about attending her son’s games. * Successful Co-Parenting: The final custody agreement has allowed the teenager to have a stable environment supported by two loving, albeit separate, parents. The public drama is over, and the focus is entirely on his growth and future, which is the ultimate goal of any co-parenting relationship. The journey of Jennifer Hudson and David Otunga from a high-profile engagement to a contentious split and finally to a settled co-parenting dynamic serves as a powerful reminder of how celebrity relationships evolve. In 2025, both are not just moving on, but actively thriving in their respective fields, with their son's well-being as the undisputed priority.