Only true Mila and Ashton fans will remember the kiss cam meme that was over the Internet — the photo, at least.
The pair, after announcing their engagement, were in attendance at a Clippers game. The camera made a beeline for them in the crowd, where they buckled to the pressure and gave each other a smooch. How sweet!
Start With a Bit of Context
So we’re in the present day, and we’re looking back on all the good and the bad, the past and the present, with maybe an eye to the future. But if this story tells us anything, it is that sometimes things take time.
In Mila and Ashton’s case, it was over a decade for the former co-stars to go from colleagues to a couple. Did you know that they both had respective serious relationships before they went ahead and made things official?
Let’s Take It Back…to the 90s
What better place to start than when they first met? Kunis and Kutcher were practically babies! Kunis was just 14, and Kutcher was 19 at the time of "That ‘70s Show."
Over the course of the show, the pair had a few close moments, including a couple of kisses. For Kunis, it was her first kiss ever. She admitted later down the line that she actually had a crush on him when they were filming. Let’s be real though, who wouldn’t? He’s a hunk of a man!
Calvin Klein’s Model Boy
Kutcher had risen to some acclaim as a model in his teens and twenties, after winning an Iowa modeling contest in 1997. This win led to him going to New York City and shooting campaigns for Calvin Klein and Abercrombie & Fitch.
When he first joined the show, Mila was well aware of those photoshoots, and confessed that she had “the biggest crush on him.” Naw! Clearly, it was that bone structure.
“Just playing” Boyfriend and Girlfriend
One of their co-stars on the show, Kurtwood Smith, was well aware of their characters’ relationship on-screen. The pair played a boyfriend-girlfriend couple.
But you have to remember here that they were 14 and 19, and that age gap at that time is well, a little awkward. Of course, down the line, that gap seems smaller and smaller — five years really isn’t a huge difference — but at those teenage stages, it’s really big!
More on That ‘70s Show
Okay sure, these two were co-stars, and Mila had her first kiss ever with Kutcher, but did you know that they also bonded in a more intellectual way?
Kutcher, with his brains (which we’ll get to later), used to help Kunis with her chemistry homework when she was in high school! At the time, Kutcher had been studying science, and was the perfect guy to help a gal out! But we just love that he was sweet and down-to-earth enough to help out.
Saying Goodbye?
By the time "That ‘70s Show" was wrapping up, Kutcher had already been gone for at least a season. But the two were close on set and remained friends afterward.
Funnily enough, though, Kunis didn’t think it was romantic — it was more friendly than anything else! It was 2005 and Kutcher was trying to pursue other things — like older women.
Enter Demi Moore
We think the tabloids and the paparazzi went wild after Moore and Kutcher announced their nuptials.
When the pair met, Kutcher was 25 and Moore was 40. While that age gap is certainly more than five years, it didn’t present much of a problem for the pair. When they first got together, she and Kutcher couldn't get enough of one another, and Moore admitted that she might have been a bit too available for him!
Demi and Ashton’s Woes
In Moore’s book, she admits that she felt crushed after Kutcher began to pull away from her, telling her not to come on set and blaming it on co-stars or producers.
Kutcher apparently didn’t have much “compassion” for Demi or her struggles with alcohol. While she was going through a detox, Kutcher didn’t offer the support that she needed while going through a tough time.
Once a Cheater...
The final straw for Demi Moore was her finding out via Google Alert on her phone that Kutcher had been unfaithful to her and was spotted with a girl he met at a bowling alley.
He confessed to having intimate relations with this 21-year-old mystery girl, which he said may have been due to him wanting to add an extra person to their love life earlier in the year for some fun. Hmm! Moore was trying so hard to fit in with his needs and wants that she did that for him.
Moore’s Love for Ashton
The most difficult part of love is when there is love from one, but push-back from the other person in the relationship. This was the case in Ashton and Demi’s love life.
In her book, “Inside Out”, the actress detailed all the goings-on in their marriage, which was apparently a facade. But their relationship didn’t seem too healthy — between his cheating, her alcohol problems, and his lack of support, their marriage wasn’t going to last. They were together from 2003 until 2011, with their divorce being made official in 2013.
What About Mila?
So you may have forgotten this, but Kunis was in a long relationship with none other than Macaulay Culkin, mister “Home Alone.”
Lots of fans were extremely surprised at the news that the pair had broken up because well, no one knew they had been dating seriously for eight years! But Mila and Macaulay dated between 2002 and 2010, and she opened up about how difficult a breakup it was for her.
What’s the Story With Macaulay?
The pair probably had something in common with their early acting history as child actors. They met when they were 18 and 21, starting out as long-distance boyfriend and girlfriend.
They helped each other a lot emotionally and were steady “rocks” for one another. The difficulty in maintaining privacy was also hard on both of them and led to a horrible breakup.
How Did It All End?
Mila was promoting a film that gained international attention and critical acclaim, "Black Swan," when the news broke that she and Macaulay Culkin had broken up.
Kunis admits that she was... unpleasant in her 20s, which took her a while to accept and come to terms with. The two didn’t stay friends after the break-up, but Kunis said a few years later during an interview with Dax Shepard that they had no “hard feelings.”
Ashton’s Back on the Scene
So the story that we’ve heard that’s been told is that the night Kunis rekindled the flame with Kutcher, she was actually on a date with someone else!
Kutcher had wanted to introduce her to someone. There was a blind date planned, but the dude never showed. So then, Ashton swooped in, we guess! But at the time, both were single (or at least, Kutcher had separated from Moore and was a free agent).
Let’s Go to January of 2012
We have to say that one reason we love Kunis, is her realness and bluntness in interviews. In January 2012, the pair saw each other again at the Golden Globes. Kunis caught herself checking him out until he turned around and she realiזed who it was.
So it’s clear that the was obvious attraction still there, even from years ago. Apparently, after they went to a party together in Hollywood, they shared their first kiss, off-screen!
Smokers Unite
So sure, these days smoking isn’t really in vogue — in America, anyway — but Kunis had been coming off cigarettes, and Kutcher was still on them.
The story goes that Kutcher was passing some second-hand smoke over to Kunis, and then over the course of the night the pair got closer and closer until they kissed.
Two Movies Mirroring Their Lives
You may have guessed this already, but the pair were filming two films about the same thing: casual relationships. Kunis was starring alongside Justin Timberlake in “Friends with Benefits”, while Kutcher was in “No Strings Attached” with Natalie Portman.
In the latter film, it seems that life imitates art — Kunis and Kutcher had been friends for the better part of 15 years, and the storyline was that of lifelong friends taking their relationship to the next level by getting together. They agreed (as did JT and Kunis’ characters in “Friends with Benefits”) to keep things just physical!
The Body Double
While we’re on the topic of bodies and physical stuff and “Friends with Benefits”, we found out that the body you saw laying next to Justin Timberlake wasn’t actually Mila's!
Whenever she would film a love scene or intimate scene, Kunis would opt to use a body double. She solemnly swore to not show her body in a movie or on any television show, and despite the title of the film, she kept to her promise!
Just Having Fun
We know the friends with benefits arrangement rarely works out. Kunis was interviewed by James Corden and was very candid about her casual relationship with Kutcher.
At the time, they literally “shook hands” and said they were “gonna have fun because we’re both single and young.” Famous last words, right? According to the actress, three months later they were living together, and just another six months down the track things got even more serious!
Moving in Together
It’s April 2012, and after that first kiss a few months back, the pair decided to take their relationship to the next level, deciding to move in together!
Kunis realized that she really liked Kutcher and didn’t want to play with his heart or mess their relationship up, so she said “I’m going to walk away.” The story goes that the following day, Kutcher showed up at her place asking her to move in with him. Her response? “OK!”
Divorce Is Official!
An engagement on the Cards! Kutcher, after dating Kunis and living with her for a few months, filed for divorce from Demi Moore. Starting the process in December of 2012, the pair were officially split by November of 2013.
Things seemed to move pretty quickly for the pair, announcing just two months later in Feb 2014, that Kutcher had popped the question!
Kiss Cam Meme
Only true Mila and Ashton fans will remember the kiss cam meme that was over the Internet — the photo, at least.
The pair, after announcing their engagement, were in attendance at a Clippers game. The camera made a beeline for them in the crowd, where they buckled to the pressure and gave each other a smooch. How sweet!
Some Air Time
It looks like the pair couldn’t stay apart even on-screen, despite their romantic relationship that was blossoming off-screen. Mila Kunis had a guest appearance on the sitcom "Two and a Half Men," the show on which Kutcher had a recurring role.
The cameo was actually pretty cute and timely. In the same month, they were out publicly so their relationship wasn’t a secret anymore.
Wedding Bells
When you’re with the right one, you know, it seems. The pair, after starting their casual relationship, were quickly moving in and then married — and welcoming a child together! Their bond is so strong, and clearly, they provide what the other needs.
They tied the knot in 2015, on a day that neither of them will forget — the 4th of July. Imagine having your wedding anniversary on American Independence Day, huh??
Not a Believer in Marriage?
Kunis admitted that she wasn’t the biggest believer in the institution of marriage. She grew up in West Hollywood, and decided that the day she got married would be the day that “gay people can get married.” The pair decided to tie the knot after that law was passed. LOVE.
Apparently, Kunis had made the statement about when she’d get married when she was just twelve. We love her for that.
Her Rings Cost What?
For anyone who watches the Kutcher-Kunis life as closely as they can, through snippets shared on Kutcher’s IG or through interviews, a lot of questions were asked about their wedding.
A fact that surprised a lot of people, but is actually super practical, is that Mila got her and Ashton’s rings for the wedding from the craft site Etsy. Together, the rings cost less than $200. Now that’s a way to keep the costs down on your wedding day.
Life With Kids
The pair actually had their daughter, Wyatt Isabelle, 9 months before tying the knot. They welcomed their little bundle of joy in October of 2014. Kunis then gave birth to their second child, son Dmitri Portwood in December of 2016.
What we love about this celeb couple is that they’re adamant about keeping their relationship private, as well as their children.
On the Ellen Show
Just before Kunis was expecting her first child with Kutcher, she spilled the beans on The Ellen Degeneres Show. She shared with the famed TV host that she had some interesting cravings.
Pregnant women often have some strange requests during their time carrying a child. For Kunis, it was pickles and sauerkraut. Give us the vinegar!
No Christmas Presents
One thing that DID make headlines was the story that got out about their Christmas plans. They publically declared that they refused to buy presents for their kids at Christmas.
Sure, a few gifts are fine, but not an all-out extravaganza a la Kardashian. The excess of spending and goodies was a lot for their kids they thought, so they stopped buying them all together!
What’s Privilege Like?
Another thing that got Kunis and Kutcher into the news was their approach to parenting, and particularly raising kids with privilege. They didn’t choose to set up a trust fund for their children, deciding instead to give money away to charity and spend it on other things.
On Dax Shepard’s podcast, Kutcher revealed that his kids were “living a really privileged life, and they don’t even know it.” Here’s to raising normal kids!
Invest the Smart Way
Instead of just doling out money to his kids, Kutcher has taken a more savvy approach to money spending and he chose to invest it instead.
He has invested in a number of companies that have grown exponentially and he says that one day he’d invest in his kids’ companies if they were solid, treating them just like anyone else. Kutcher sounds a little like Bill Gates here, who said he’d leave his kids $10 million each!
A Doting Husband
You’re probably wondering how Kutcher is with Kunis, particularly after his marriage to Demi Moore. It seems that as Kutcher has aged and felt more ready for his relationship, it has been beneficial to both of them.
Kutcher can’t stop gushing about his now-wife, even sharing with Ellen DeGeneres that “she’s the greatest mom…she’s incredible.” We love to hear it!
Fun Fact About Their Kid Dmitri
So we know that sometimes choosing a baby name can be a harrowing ordeal — selecting the right name is pretty tough!
Sure, the couple ended up agreeing on Dmitri Portwood, but apparently, this wasn’t always so. Before they chose the name and announced his birth, Kutcher had wanted to call his baby Hawkeye and the reason behind this is very simple. He is an Iowa Hawkeye fan and he to the University of Iowa. It's as simple as that.
Not Really the Public Type
A lot of celebrities love attention — that’s why they’re in the industry, we guess. But Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis appear to be cut from a very different cloth.
Instead of competing for the spotlight on the red carpet, the pair are actually very rarely snapped at big events. There was a rare appearance at the Breakthrough Prize Awards back in December of 2017, and this was the first for them as a couple, despite getting married in 2015.
Let the Past Stay in the Past
So some of you may know that Demi Moore released a “tell-all” book, which details her life and her marriage to Ashton Kutcher. With the way their divorce went, we’re sure that there are a few details in there that are less than savory for Kutcher to be reading about.
Kutcher bluntly told media outlets that he had “no interest in…reliving the past.” We guess the man’s moved on, and Demi still had some issues to sort through.
Blame Game
We don’t really enjoy lingering on the topic of relationships not working out and divorce — we know that they are complicated and messy at times.
Demi Moore’s book revealed that Kutcher was the reason for their marriage ending. While there might be some truth to it, it takes two to tango! Moore says that Kutcher’s unfaithfulness, as well as asking for extra people in their intimate life, was ultimately red flags and led to the breakdown of their marriage.
Kutcher’s Snarky Tweet
For those of you who follow Kutcher on Twitter, you might remember an old tweet that surfaced around the time Moore’s book came out.
We’re almost positive he was ready to post something that was a clawback at Moore’s words. The tweet, however, explains itself: “I was about to push the button on a really snarky tweet. Then I saw my son, daughter, and wife, and I deleted it.” We are certainly glad that he thought of his loved ones before starting drama.
A Strong Bond
Another thing we love about Mila is her unbothered, unconcerned attitude about all of the rumors that came around after the book was being sold.
Mila was solid for her husband and was the support that he needed at the time. She understood it was a different time in his life, and everyone “moved on.” Regardless, their lives are totally different and their priorities are their family life and children now.
Hitting Back at the Hate
The two don’t enjoy being the subject of media attention on a good day — unless it’s for a good cause or good reason.
Around the time that Demi Moore’s book came out and she went on tour, the controversy around their relationship continually was brought up. But the pair made the decision to put it behind them and in November 2019 they took their kids to Disneyland for the day. That’s a way to handle drama!
Any More Work Together?
It seems that Kunis has totally thrown the baby out with the bathwater on this one. (If you haven’t heard of that expression, look it up.) But she really is against the idea of working together with Kutcher on a film or acting alongside one another.
On an appearance on Willie Geist’s talk show, she bluntly said “I can’t look at him and not be like, ‘What are you doing?’ No, no, it’s weird.”
Spruiking Date Night VIP
Kutcher is known for his investments in various companies — one of which was @datenightvip. He and Kunis are probably great advertisers of the experience for anyone interested. Seeing the two good-looking people cuddling together makes us want to be in a relationship.
The app and company’s slogan is “fun, personalized, romantic dates for 2. A new way to say I Love You.” Cute idea, no? It starts at just $39 for a date. Not bad, especially in LA!
Trouble in Paradise?
The tabloids in the US decided that Kunis and Kutcher were on the rocks back in 2019. In Touch Weekly magazine printed that the couple was breaking up.
In response, Kutcher took to Instagram, sharing a video of the pair in a car together. Mila shows the photo on her phone, and solemnly tells Kutcher that she felt “suffocated” and “took the kids.” We love how this pair can make light of the rumors and have fun with what’s being said about them!
Making Parenting Fun
A self-proclaimed goofball, Kunis says that parenting is fun because well, she and Kutcher are pretty silly parents. They’re comfortable being fun, playing around with their kids, and just teaching them that anything goes. Well, not anything.
The main takeaway we got from Kunis was that any child of theirs does not have “a fear of making a fool of yourself.” So be comfy in your body, your skin, with your personality, and with who you are — don’t be shy, and don’t be afraid to share it.
Cheesy Fingers
Boy, do we love a Super Bowl ad. The excitement and anticipation pending the halftime show and the very, very expensive commercials are second to none.
The hilarious ad, which aired in February of 2021s Super Bowl saw the pair at home with a cameo from singer Shaggy. When Kunis is caught red-handed (hehe, get it?) by Kutcher, she eyes Shaggy and she shakes her head and says “it wasn’t me.”
A Surprising Hobby
So maybe some of our readers can relate here, but did you know that Kunis has (or at least she had), a vice? A vice that can consume you for hours on end and make your eyes bloodshot and make you very thirsty. Not sure what it is? Okay, it’s gaming!
Nowadays Kunis probably doesn’t have much time. Her game of choice though? World of Warcraft. But she used to play for like, eight hours a day! Crazy, right? Anyway, she has been working on curbing the habit.
Looks and Smarts
So sure, this isn’t exactly about their relationship, but during our research, we were stunned to learn that Ashton Kutcher is actually quite the brainiac!
The model-turned-actor and Hollywood heartthrob who hails from Iowa is actually just as smart as Stephen Hawking! Yep, you read that right — Kutcher has an IQ of 160! Not just a goofball — seems that under the hood he has a lot of brainpower.
Academic Aspirations
While we’re at it, we may as well shine a light on Kutcher’s past aspirations. Rather than wanting to model or act, Kutcher was actually at school studying Biochemical Engineering.
From a young age, he had hoped with his smarts that he could cure his twin brother’s heart condition. Of course, he earned his money a different way and became an angel investor instead (which actually is a career in itself). Now he can help his twin that way too.
Couple Goals
One of the best things about their relationship and their timeline is the love these two have for one another — from first kisses and chemistry homework to working through difficulties, raising kids, and living life together.
These two know how to ground one another and stay grounded, while still juggling being in the spotlight. Their sports game dates and love of staying home and binging “The Bachelorette” make them so much more real.
A Bit of PDA for the Road
Of course, the paparazzi have snapped this pair together many, many times. We actually love the PDA that these two give and it shows that they really care for each other.
It’s these little moments — the getting up and grabbing morning coffee or yogurt together — and wanting to do things with your partner that make us heart eyes for Kutcher and Kunis. We don't know about you, but we are obsessed.