Deborra-Lee Furness cosies up to pal Robbie Williams in first appearance since she confirmed Hugh Jackman split was over rumoured affair with Sutton Foster

Robbie Williams was a supportive shoulder for Deborra-Lee Furness on Wednesday night as she appeared on the rare red carpet for a screening of her friend’s biopic Better Man in New York City.

Deborra-Lee attended the event without make-up and posed for photos at the Metrograph with her boyfriend Robbie, who was smartly dressed in a yellow jacket.

It marks the first appearance for Deborra-Lee and seemed to confirm the real reason for her September 2023 legal separation by Hugh Jackman.

Earlier this week, her social media activity confirmed that the split was the result of Hugh’s rumored affair with his former Music Man leading lady, Sutton Foster.

The private Instagram account of the Australian 68-year-old ‘found’ an Video from October 26 from gossip blogger Tasha Lustig who claimed he ‘ran off with the mistress’ and planned a ‘soft launch’ of their relationship – according We weekly.

The claim was given more credence by Deborra-Lee’s friend Amanda de Cadenet, who responded to the same post: ‘You are in lockstep with this one. My beloved friend Deb is about to get her ass ripped off, fyi!”

Hugh and Sutton began workshopping Jerry Zaks’ Broadway revival of the 1957 musical in March 2020, before the musical finally hit the stage post-pandemic in February 2022 and ran for 11 months at the Winter Garden Theater in Manhattan.

Insiders say their affair on the show was ‘Broadway’s worst kept secret’ and now it’s claimed the ‘really happy’ couple are keen to take their relationship public.

“A lot of people on Broadway knew, and we kept it quiet because they’re both such nice and wonderful people. Everyone respected his privacy. But there was an affair and overlap. They are really happy now,” said a source close to Foster We weekly.

They continued, “Hugh’s whole image is that he’s the nicest guy in Hollywood, so he doesn’t know what to do with this.”

And while a source told DailyMail.com on October 26 that Furness “had her suspicions when Hugh started working with Sutton,” an industry source claimed the opposite to Us Weekly.

“Deborra-Lee was stunned when she learned about the affair on the show,” the insider said.

It marks the first appearance for Deborra-Lee who appeared to confirm the real reason for her September 2023 legal divorce from Hugh Jackman (Deborra and Hugh pictured in May 2023)

Earlier this week, her social media activity confirmed that the split was the result of Hugh’s rumored affair with his former Music Man leading lady, Sutton Foster (pictured in 2022 during the opening of The Music Man)

“It was apparently Broadway’s worst-kept secret, and Deborra-Lee was the last to know. [Worse yet,] he didn’t know!’

Hugh and Deborra, parents of son Oscar Maximilian Jackman, 24; and daughter Ava Eliot Jackman, 19, announced their divorce in September 2023 after 27 years.

Deborra was at the screening on Wednesday to cheer on Robbie, who was all smiles as he wore a white mesh tank top under his statement blazer on the red carpet.

The Let Me Entertain You hitmaker put on an animated display on stage before later posing for a selfie with fans.

He later posed with Rufus Wainwright before planting a kiss on his cheek as the pair took to the stage together.

The first look clip from the biopic sees Robbie, played by actor Jonno Davies, through his life from school to the stage as his hit Let Me Entertain You plays in the background.

Robbie Williams turned heads in a yellow blazer as he posed on the red carpet for his biopic Better Man screening in New York City on Wednesday

In the voice-over he explains: ‘I know what you’re thinking. What about the monkey?

‘I’m one of the biggest pop stars in the world. But I’ve always seen myself as a little less developed.’

While Jonno takes on the role of the younger Robbie, the singer can be heard in voiceover and later plays the older version of himself.

From Greatest Showman director Michael Gracey, also starring JThink Simmance as Gary Barlow, Liam Head as Mark Owen, Jesse Hyde as Howard Donald and Chase Vollenweider as Jason Orange.

Robbie was all smiles as he added a white mesh tank top under the statement blazer as he posed on the red carpet held at the city’s Metrograph

Robbie flipped his long, graying locks up as he beamed for photos before taking to the stage to talk to the audience

The Let Me Entertain You hitmaker put on an animated display on stage before later posing for a selfie with fans

He later posed with Rufus Wainwright before planting a kiss on his cheek as the pair took the stage together

Giving a first look at X, he captioned the video: “Based on a true story… ‘BETTER MAN’ – coming soon. Visit betterman.robbiewilliams.com/ for more information and worldwide release dates.”

The official synopsis reads: ‘Better Man is based on the true story of the meteoric rise, dramatic fall and remarkable revival of British pop superstar Robbie Williams, one of the greatest entertainers of all time.

“Under the visionary direction of Michael Gracey (“The Greatest Showman”), the film is uniquely told from Williams’ perspective, capturing his signature humor and indomitable spirit.

‘It follows Robbie’s journey from childhood, to the youngest member of hit boy band Take That, to his unparalleled achievements as a record-breaking solo artist – while facing the challenges that stratospheric fame and success can bring.’