Wendi Deng Rumored to be Dating Vladimir Putin

By Bridget O'Donnell, April 2, 2016

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Power couple alert! Vladimir Putin and Wendi Deng, aka Rupert Murdoch's ex-wife, are rumored to be dating. (In your face, Rupert!) And in case you're wondering if this is just another elaborate April Fools' joke, we've got a link to prove it's not — Us Weekly, that bastion of journalism, first broke the news in an "exclusive" article posted on March 31. 

The celebrity mag says that since their respective divorces in 2014 and 2013, rumors have swirled within the "corridors of power" of Washington D.C., Europe and Asia that the two have been a pair for years. An insider went as far as to tell the publication that their relationship is "serious."

The highly controversial 63-year-old Russian president, who separated from Lyudmila Putina in 2014 after 30 years of marriage, was romantically linked to Russian gymnast Alina Kabaeva shortly after the divorce. The purported affair was the source of tabloid fodder, and rumor has it he even fathered two children with her. The Kremlin has, of course, denied the rumors.

Putin and Alina Kabaeva

Deng, 47, meanwhile appears to be undertaking a "masterful bae upgrade" (h/t Slate) following her divorce from the 85-year-old media mogul in 2013. Murdoch reportedly filed for divorce after becoming suspicious of her relationship with former British Prime Minister Tony Blair. (Whether the rumors are true or not, we're beginning to think she has a type). 

The Chinese businesswoman infamously stopped a pie-thrower from attacking her then-hubby while he gave evidence in Parliament for the 2011 News Corp hacking scandal trial.

Wendi Deng and Rupert Murdoch at hacking trial in 2011

Murdoch himself has made headlines this year following his marriage just three weeks ago to supermodel Jerry Hall, aka Mick Jagger's ex-wife. (Boy, the list of famouses mentioned in this post just keeps getting longer).

Rupert Murdoch and Jerry Hall get married

For what it's worth, neither Deng nor Putin have commented on the rumors — or been photographed together, for that matter. Though Deng, who showed up to the Giambatista Valli last month with a 30-year-old date, was recently spotted looking penseive on a yacht last weekend... as you do.

Wendi Deng on a yacht

[Images via Daily Mail, Abmuku]

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