Justin Trudeau’s ex-wife Sophie Grégoire reacts to his relationship with Katy Perry

Gregoire Trudeau, an advocate for gender equality who studied commerce at university, was working as a reporter when she met Trudeau in 2003.

Sophie Grégoire, ex-wife of former Prime Minister of Canada Justin Trudeau, has spoken out for the first time about her ex-husband’s romance with Katy Perry.

The 50-year-old opened up about how she has handled the heightened attention around Justin Trudeau’s new relationship and the scrutiny that comes with his public life. Speaking on the Arlene is Alone podcast, Grégoire said she remains focused on maintaining her composure despite the renewed spotlight.

“We’re human beings and stuff affects us. Normal. How you react to stuff is your decision. So I choose to try to listen to the music instead of the noise,” said Grégoire, who announced her separation from Trudeau in 2023. “I’m very aware that a lot of public stuff out there can be triggers.”

“What I do with it is my decision. The woman I want to become through this is my decision,” she continued. “Does that mean I don’t have emotions? That I don’t cry, scream, laugh? No. Especially that I’m a super tender heart, right? But it’s my decision after that, between the emotion and the reaction.”

“I’ll let myself be disappointed by someone, I’ll let myself be angry, be sad,” she added. “And I know for a fact how important it is, as a mental health advocate, to feel those emotions.”

While she allows herself to process difficult feelings, Grégoire said she avoids staying in a “reactive mode” that could lead to more stress or judgment.

“I’m also learning at 50 that people will meet life as where they are inside of them,” she said. “It’s your choice to see that and be like, ‘How am I going to let that affect my happiness?’”

Grégoire’s remarks come weeks after Trudeau and Katy Perry went public with their relationship in Paris, where they were seen leaving the Le Crazy Horse venue hand in hand on Perry’s birthday. Their romance first drew attention in July after they were spotted dining together in Montreal, followed by Trudeau attending Perry’s concert with his daughter the next night.

Before their separation, Grégoire Trudeau was known for her work as a gender equality advocate, having previously studied commerce and worked as a reporter when she met Justin Trudeau in 2003. The pair married in 2005. As Canada’s prime minister at age 43, Trudeau — alongside Grégoire — quickly became a global media favorite, with international outlets highlighting their polished public image.