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Kim Gordon and Thurston Moore’s Divorce: The Truth Comes Out

Kim Gordon and Thurston Moore.
Kim Gordon and Thurston Moore. Photo: Will Ragozzino/Getty Images

A profile in the latest issue of Elle reveals some juicy details about Kim Gordon and Thurston Moore’s heartbreaking divorce. “We seemed to have a normal relationship inside of a crazy world,” she said of her marriage. “And in fact, it ended in a kind of normal way—midlife crisis, starstruck woman.”

Wait, another woman? That cad. Obviously this is just one side of the story, but here it is:

Some years ago, a woman Gordon declines to name became a part of the Sonic Youth world, first as the girlfriend of an erstwhile band member and later as a partner on a literary project with Moore. Eventually, Gordon discovered a text message and confronted him about having an affair. They went to counseling, but he kept seeing the other woman. “We never got to the point where we could just get rid of her so I could decide what I wanted to do,” Gordon says. “Thurston was carrying on this whole double life with her. He was really like a lost soul.” Moore moved out. Gordon stayed home and listened to a lot of hip-hop. “Rap music is really good when you’re traumatized,” she says.

Expressing pity for one’s ex is the best revenge, isn’t it? Gordon says it’s taken a while to sort things out, mainly because they’ve had to divide up their record collection, but she’s okay — if you call starring in Hedi Slimane’s Saint Laurent ads, starting a new band, and being idolized by women everywhere just “okay.”

Kim Gordon and Thurston Moore: Truth Comes Out