When people search for a Chris Appleton ex-wife, they're almost always looking for information about his long-term former partner, Katie Katon. While the celebrity hairstylist was briefly married to actor Lukas Gage, he was never married to Katie, despite spending nearly a decade with her and raising two children together. This relationship predates his massive global fame, salon empires, and close ties to Hollywood's elite. Understanding his family background offers a clearer picture of the man behind the styling chair.
Long before he was shaping the hair of Kim Kardashian and Jennifer Lopez, Chris Appleton built a life in Leicester, England. He met Katie Katon when they were teenagers, working together in the hair industry. Their nine-year relationship shaped his early adulthood, bringing two children into the world before his personal life shifted dramatically in his twenties. Let's break down the history of this foundational relationship, the truth about his marriage history, and how his family dynamic looks today.
The Early Years with Katie Katon
Chris met Katie Katon when he was just a teenager cutting hair in the UK. Katie served as the managing director of Georges Hairdressing in Leicester, where their professional paths crossed and a romance blossomed. They spent nine years together, building a domestic life well before Los Angeles red carpets and reality TV cameos entered the picture.
During this nine-year partnership, they welcomed two children: a son named Billy, born in 2002, and a daughter named Kitty-Blu, born in 2004. Chris often speaks about becoming a father at nineteen years old, balancing early paternal responsibilities with a burning ambition to scale the ranks of the hairdressing world. Though public curiosity often labels Katie as a wife, they never legally married, remaining partners through the foundational decade of his career.
Coming Out and Navigating the Separation
As his career gained momentum, Chris grappled with his internal identity. In his twenties, he came to terms with being gay—a realization that upended the life he had built. He has openly discussed the emotional turbulence of that period, noting how difficult it was to walk away from a stable family unit with Katie and their young children.
The transition brought immense personal strain. In interviews looking back at those years, Chris shared the heavy guilt he carried regarding the disruption to his children's lives. Despite the initial shock and pain of the breakup, both parents prioritized their children's well-being. Over time, Chris and Katie established a stable co-parenting dynamic, ensuring Billy and Kitty-Blu grew up with both parents actively involved in their lives.
The Later Marriage to Lukas Gage
Public interest in Chris's marital status spiked heavily in 2023 when he entered a high-profile relationship with American actor Lukas Gage. The romance moved at lightning speed:
- March 2023: Chris publicly confirmed his relationship with Gage.
- April 2023: The couple announced their engagement.
- April 2023: They tied the knot in Las Vegas in a ceremony officiated by Shania Twain, just weeks after going public.
- November 2023: Chris filed for divorce, citing irreconcilable differences.
- June 2024: Their divorce was officially finalized.
Their brief marriage even featured prominently on episodes of The Kardashians, placing Chris's personal life under a massive media microscope. Because of this high-profile legal marriage and subsequent divorce, media outlets frequently search for his marital history, often blurring the lines between his decade-long relationship with Katie and his brief legal marriage to Lukas.
Where His Children and Family Stand Today
Today, Chris's children are young adults. His daughter, Kitty-Blu, has carved out her own path in the beauty and fashion industry, working with high-profile brands like SKKN BY KIM and traveling extensively. His son, Billy, largely stays out of the immediate public spotlight while maintaining a close relationship with his father.
Chris has used his platform to speak candidly about mental health, the pressures of the beauty industry, and the realities of navigating identity later in life. While the phrase "Chris Appleton ex-wife" points toward a marriage that never actually happened, it underscores how deeply people care about the formative years that shaped one of Hollywood's top stylists.
Frequently Asked Questions
Was Chris Appleton ever legally married to Katie Katon?
No. Despite spending nine years together and sharing two children, Chris and Katie were never legally married.
How many children does Chris Appleton have?
He has two children with his former partner Katie Katon: a son named Billy (born in 2002) and a daughter named Kitty-Blu (born in 2004).
Who was Chris Appleton married to?
Chris was legally married to actor Lukas Gage. The couple married in April 2023 and finalized their divorce in June 2024.
What do Chris Appleton's children do?
His daughter Kitty-Blu works in product development and social media within the beauty industry, while his son Billy maintains a more private lifestyle.
