Jennifer Hudson and David Otunga’s relationship seemed promising at first, but it ultimately ended in a swirl of heartbreak, accusations, and legal battles.

Their love story began in early 2008 when Jennifer, already a rising star from “American Idol,” was introduced to David, a Harvard Law graduate and reality TV personality known as “Punk” from VH1’s “I Love New York 2.”

The chemistry was immediate, and by September—on Jennifer’s 27th birthday—David proposed with a sparkling Neil Lane diamond ring.

Just a month after their engagement, Jennifer planned to visit her mother in Chicago, but David convinced her to visit him in Florida instead. That decision proved fateful: while Jennifer was away, her mother, brother, and nephew were tragically murdered by her brother-in-law.

Jennifer later credited David with saving her life, saying she likely would have been at home during the attack if not for him. Through her devastating loss, David remained by her side, offering support and planning distractions, like a trip to Six Flags, to help her cope.

In August 2009, Jennifer and David welcomed their son, David Jr. Although rumors swirled about a wedding, the couple never made it down the aisle.

They reportedly planned to marry in October 2010, but the ceremony was quietly canceled, and doubts about their future together began to surface. As the years passed, the media—and even friends—questioned if the wedding would ever happen.

By 2014, cracks in their relationship became more visible. David was notably absent from Jennifer’s major events, including her album release party, the Tony Awards, and other high-profile appearances.

Jennifer fueled speculation during a 2014 interview with Wendy Williams, admitting she didn’t believe in divorce and wanted to be “completely sure” before marrying. She did, however, give David a ring for his birthday to show he was “taken.”

Jennifer’s desire for marriage occasionally resurfaced, especially after attending friends’ weddings, but the couple remained engaged for nearly nine years without tying the knot.

During an appearance on “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” in 2017, Jennifer insisted she wasn’t in a hurry to marry, saying, “He’s not going anywhere.” Ellen, unconvinced, pressed her about their happiness, to which Jennifer simply replied, “Yes.”

Seven months later, the couple’s breakup became public—and it was anything but amicable. Jennifer was granted full custody of their son and obtained an order of protection against David, accusing him of pushing her while she held their child and alleging a history of emotional and physical mistreatment.

David denied all allegations, and after a lack of evidence, he was cleared of wrongdoing.

The drama didn’t end there. David accused Jennifer of cheating with music producer Mali Music, though Jennifer never addressed the rumors directly.

She later claimed David was leaking stories to the press to damage her reputation and made him sign a confidentiality agreement. She also requested a gag order, which the court granted, ensuring their private matters stayed out of the public eye.

After years of legal wrangling, Jennifer and David finally reached a private custody and child support agreement in July 2019.

Their relationship, once filled with promise, ended in a storm of accusations and court battles—a reminder that even fairy-tale romances can have messy endings.