A new report places the blame for Hugh Jackman’s divorce from his longtime wife Deborra-lee Furness squarely on his alleged backstage affair with Sutton Foster, his co-star in the hit Broadway revival of “The Music Man.”

“Sutton and Hugh’s relationship is the reason Hugh and Deb divorced,” a source close to Foster told Us Weekly for a new cover story out this week.

“A lot of people on Broadway knew, and we kept it quiet because they are both such kind and wonderful people,” the source continued. “Everyone respected their privacy. But there was an affair and overlap.”

But more than just this source’s word, the Us Weekly report also explains how Furness, 68, herself appeared to confirm that her husband’s secret romance with Foster led to their divorce after 27 years of marriage.

Late last month, news began appearing in the tabloids that Jackman, 55, had begun a relationship with Foster, 49, during “The Music Man” series from late 2021 to early 2023 — while they were both married to other people. The affair reports began as soon as Tony Award-winning Foster filed for divorce from screenwriter Ted Griffin last month after 10 years of marriage – “amid rumors” that she was now dating Jackman.

On October 26, gossip blogger Tasha Lustig spilled “some major tea” about Furness being “blindsided” by her husband’s romance with his co-star, according to Us Weekly.

Lustig said in an Instagram video: “Remember when I told you this man was up to no good?” She popped the question along with a photo of Jackman and Foster looking “lovey-dovey” on a red carpet, Us Weekly said.

Lustig went on to say that the ‘Wolverine’ star had ‘blinded’ Furness, who had given him her ‘entire life and career’, by ‘running off with the mistress’. Lustig also said the Broadway stars planned to publicly “soft launch” their relationship.

Furness has not publicly commented on Jackman’s alleged affair with Foster. But among the more than 26,000 people who viewed and “liked” Lustig’s post was Furness, Us Weekly reported. She ‘liked’ the post from her private account – which is only visible to people she follows on the platform.

Additionally, Furness’ close friend, British media personality Amanda de Cadenet, also commented on Lustig’s claim, Us Weekly reported. ‘You’re right here. My beloved friend Deb is about to get her ass ripped off, fyi!”

For whatever reason, Furness struck a much more conciliatory tone when she and Jackman announced their separation in September 2023. A source told the Daily Mail that Furness was determined at the time ‘not to speak against Hugh’.

“When they divorced, they agreed to keep everything that happened during their marriage private,” the Daily Mail source also said.

As a result, the estranged Australian couple issued a polite and amicable-sounding announcement, saying they were “blessed to share nearly three decades together as husband and wife in a beautiful, loving marriage.”

The couple, who share children Oscar, 24, and Ava, 19, also spoke about how their “journey” is “changing” and how they have “decided to separate to pursue our individual growth.”

Now it turns out that Jackman’s “journey” also included his romance with Foster – a journey that was apparently an “open secret” in Broadway circles.

The romance developed while Jackman and Foster worked together on the classic musical comedy, set in small-town America at the turn of the 20th century. His con man and her librarian fall in love through a series of music and dance numbers.

While Jackman and Foster promoted the show, they did not hide their respect for each other. During a 2022 interview on Live with Kelly and Ryan, Foster admitted that she and Jackman developed a very close bond and explained how they started a pre-performance ritual that took place when they were alone in her dressing room.

“We call it carpet chat,” Foster revealed in the interview.