EVERYONE IS STILL GRASPING JONATHAN SCOTT TRAGEDY

Alongside his brother Drew, Jonathan Scott earned millions of fans around the world for his starring turn presenting the smash hit reality TV show Property Brothers.

But the brotherly dream team isn’t the only relationship in Scott’s life that inspired his fans and hit headlines around the world. Fans were delighted when he started stepping out with TV producer Jacinta Kuznetsov, and it seemed that the two had truly found their soulmates in each other.

Image via @mr.silverscott/Twitter & @freshprincessof belaire/Instagram

So the world was surprised in 2018 when the pair announced that they were no longer together. What could have happened to this perfect couple to tear them apart?

Power Couple

To everyone who saw the two of them together, it seemed that Jonathan Scott and Jacinta Kuznetsov had a perfect relationship. The couple’s Hollywood good looks and obvious affection for each other led many to believe that they had a perfect relationship—so it was all the more surprising when they announced they had gone their separate ways.

Image via @freshprincessofbelaire/Instagram

But to those who knew them a little better, knew that there were things lurking in Scott’s past that could spell doom for even the strongest of relationships.

Dynamic Duo

It was clear from an early age that Jonathan and Drew Scott were destined to be entertainers. But that wasn’t the only skill they exhibited from their earliest years…

Thanks to the encouragement of their father, who had always made sure they were involved in the maintenance and repair of things around their house, the two of them grew up with an incredible understanding of property management.

And when they were 14 years old, the two boys moved with their father to Alberta, Canada, for a very exciting project—building their own home!

The foundations were well and truly built for a career in property entertainment—but a few obstacles still lay between them and superstardom.

Double the Fun

Many twins are known to have a special and unbreakable bond with each other, and Jonathan and Drew Scott were no different. Though many siblings may find their close relationships strained by their difference interests, the Scott brothers’ bond only became even stronger thanks to their shared interest in real estate.

They attended the University of Calgary together, and both graduated with degrees in business management.

The two were clearly destined for a glittering career in property—but the path they would take was not a conventional one.

Passion Project

While many of their peers were partying their way through college with frat houses and keg parties, the Scott brothers didn’t have time for such things—they were already busy with their plans for the future.

Already incredibly focused on their ambitions, the two clubbed together all their savings and purchased a house nearby their school. The brothers began fixing it up straightaway, eventually reselling the improved property at a healthy profit.

They now had their first taste of success—and this was only the beginning.

On the Way

After Drew and Jonathan Scott had graduated from the University of Calgary, they set about straight away building the essential foundations for a stellar career in real estate.

But Jonathan Scott hadn’t forgotten that his first taste of ambition had come from a very different place. As well as his love and skill for real estate, Scott also had a real passion and flair for performing—right back from his days as a magician.

Would he ever find a way to combine these two very different life dreams?

Double Act

Amazingly, Scott did find a way to combine his love of real estate management with his passion for performing and entertaining others.

As the two brothers continued to forge a successful career in property, eventually they caught the attention of various TV producers—who wanted more of these talented and charismatic real estate gurus.

Sure enough, the dynamic duo had soon landed their own reality TV show—the now mega successful Property Brothers.

But neither brother had any idea of the stardom that was to come—and the romantic adventures that would follow.

Fame and Fortune

It was no surprise to anyone who knew the Scott brothers that their TV show became an instant hit with viewers and fans. Not only were they incredibly talented and knowledgeable in their field, but they were also incredibly funny and charismatic, and the brilliant chemistry they shared with one another made them a joy for anyone to watch.

Before they knew it, they had spread into a veritable empire—with the Property Brothers releasing their own line of books, radio, music, and acting.

Their careers were going from strength to strength—but soon even more exciting things would happen behind the scenes.

Matters of the Heart

It seemed that Jonathan Scott was on top of the world. He had an incredibly successful TV career, and had finally managed to pull off his ultimate dream—to combine his passions of real estate with his love for performing. Not only that, but every day he got to go to work with his brother and best friend!

But behind the scenes, there was still one thing missing from this TV star’s dream life. He had everything he wanted—except a special someone to share it with.

Sudden Soulmate

Even though Jonathan Scott had what many would consider to be a dream life, he was still yearning for the one thing that remained to complete it—to fall in love with his soulmate.

Little did he know, a romantic adventure was just around the corner for him. In 2015, he attended a special event in aid of an animal rights charity, but once he arrived there something else was on his mind.

He had spotted a blonde beauty across the room, and he was instantly smitten at the sight of her.

But would he have the courage to speak up and meet this mysterious siren?

Girl Online

As the night drew to a close, Scott began kicking himself as he realized he had missed his chance. The party was over, and the mysterious blonde beauty was nowhere to be seen.

But he wouldn’t let this stop him following his dreams of love, so he asked around if any of the other guests had known her name. Once he found it out, he headed straight to social media to look up this mysterious Jacinta Kuznetsov.

But now he had found her online, did he have the nerve to send a message?

The Right Words

Scott was delighted to have finally found the mysterious girl that had caught his eye that night. But now that he had found her social media accounts, how would he find the perfect words to reach out to her?

He felt super nervous thinking about messaging her out of the blue like this. But, he also didn’t want to be a creep, just silently watching her on social media.

So, he plucked up his courage and finally messaged asking her out.

It was make or break time. Would she be charmed by his message?

First Date

Scott was amazed and delighted when Kuznetsov not only replied to his message, but responded agreeing to go out with him! The reality TV star was delighted to finally have a date with his dream girl from the charity gala.

Unfortunately, the date did not go according to plan—Scott, being pretty inexperienced in the dating game, kept asking her too many questions and not letting the conversation take its course naturally.

By the end of the date, Kuznetsov had had enough, and told Scott she was sick of his questions!

Was their love affair over before it had even begun?

Second Chance

Fortunately for Scott, Kuznetsov decided to give him another chance. The blonde bombshell agreed to go on a second date with him, so that the two could start again from scratch.

Scott was delighted, but now he was even more nervous than he had been the first time around. His behavior had really put her off last time—so now he had to seriously step up his game.

Would he be able to win her over and show her the real side to his personality?

Second Time Lucky

The truth was, Scott’s first attempt to woo Kuznetsov on their first date had gone so badly because he was simply trying too hard to make an impression, and direct things how he thought their date was “supposed” to go.

But in reality, these things need to happen naturally and take their course. So when he was finally able to relax and be himself, their second date was a huge success, and the chemistry between the two was clear for all to see.

And this would be just the beginning of a beautiful romance.

Loved Up

Before long, Jonathan Scott and Jacinta Kuznetsov had fallen for each other big time. Gone were the days where Scott put her off with weird and boring questions, and the two became incredibly comfortable with each other as they settled into their loving relationship.

Scott was delighted—with his glittering career and now a blissful home life, his life was finally complete.

But he wanted to be careful with this new precious gem in his life, so the couple were careful to keep the relationship quiet until they were ready to go public.

But soon the world was about to know the truth of their love.

Going Public

After the happy couple had enjoyed their romance for quite a while, eventually they felt ready to confirm to their fans and viewers the truth about their relationship.

The world went wild when both Scott and Kuznetsov confirmed on their respective Instagram pages that they were indeed officially a couple. Fans were delighted to see the two celebs sharing photos of each other on social media, clearly incredibly loved up.

Little did they know that there were more turbulent times to come.

Screen Time

And it wasn’t just on Scott’s social media pages that his beloved Kuznetsov started making high-profile appearances. Fans of the brothers’ super popular reality show Property Brothers were delighted to see her popping up on their screens from time to time, allowing another glimpse into the happy couple’s idyllic life.

Drew Scott’s girlfriend Linda Phan also began to make appearances, and it seemed the two brothers’ lives were truly perfect.

But, as is often the case, things were about to get a little more complicated behind the scenes.

Dream Holiday

It seemed that things were absolutely going according to plan for Jonathan Scott. Not only did he have a stellar career with his brother and best friend, fulfilling his greatest ambitions, but he was also completely in love with his dream girlfriend.

So it was no surprise when in December 2016 he decided to whisk his beloved away for a romantic Christmas holiday on the island of Maui. As word spread of the dreamy vacation, so did rumors of an impending engagement. Fans were on tenterhooks to see if they would return from this dream holiday with a special announcement.

Chilling Out

Scott and Kuznetsov clearly had the most dreamy of times on their romantic Christmas getaway to the tropical Hawaiian island of Maui. The two of them posted a series of loved-up pics, enjoying the beautiful scenery and some time alone with each other.

But despite the romantic setting and the lovely time they were clearly having, there was no sign of Scott having popped the question.

Fans were dumbfounded—just what was going on?

Their holiday pics spoke of love and happiness—but was there trouble in paradise?

Mixed Messages

Fans were getting increasingly confused about the true status of Jonathan Scott and Jacinta Kuznetsov’s relationship. At some points it seemed like the two were destined to be together and committed to loving one another forever. But at other times, it seemed like they still regarded the relationship as early days and wanted to take things slow.

Even though they were clearly very much in love, fans began to suspect that there was a secret obstacle standing between them taking the next step.

But no one could have predicted what would end up being revealed.

Squad Goals

Even though fans were still confused about whether Scott and Kuznetsov were ever finally going to tie the knot, another piece of happy news was soon announced by the couple to the public.

Not only were Scott and Kuznetsov finally moving in together, but so were Drew Scott and his girlfriend Linda Phan!

Not only that, but the four of them were all going to live together!

Living with your twin brother and both of your romantic partners—dream scenario or a recipe for trouble? Only time would tell…

Shock Announcement

Even though many fans had wondered how the two happy couples would cope with shacking up all together, no one had expected the surprise bombshell that Scott and Kuznetsov were about to drop.

In early 2018, Scott posted a lovely picture of himself and Kuznetsov on Instagram—but in the caption, he shocked fans by confirming that he and Kuznetsov had decided to part ways. He announced that the split was amicable and that the two remained friends.

But many fans wondered if that was really true—and turned to see what Kuznetsov had to say about it.

Hidden Truth

As fans hurried over to Kuznetsov’s page to see her side of the story about the split, they were surprised to hear that she also had parted with Scott in an amicable and respectful way.

Everyone was amazed with the dignity with which they were both behaving—so unlike many public splits between celebrity relationships.

But one big question remained. If they still had so much love for each other, just what was it that had torn this happy couple apart?

The truth was, a dark secret of Scott’s past was about to come to light.

Secret Past

The truth was, there was something about Jonathan Scott’s life that the public had never known about before now.

As fans admired the loved-up social media posts from both him and Kuznetsov, and aspired to find a relationship as loving and open as theirs, they did not know that Scott was still bearing the scars of a previous relationship, one that he had never revealed to his fans.

Scott had in fact been married once before. He and his ex-wife, Kelsy Ully, had been married for two years before splitting in 2010.

Was this the reason behind his reluctance to pop the question to Kuznetsov?

Separation Anxiety

After Jonathan Scott and Jacinta Kuznetsov announced that they were parting ways, it was natural for fans and the media to wonder about what might be the real reason behind their breakup.

One particular rumor that began to spread around this time was that the relationship had been put under strain due to Scott’s deep bond with his twin brother.

Although they had initially moved into a house of four, the two couples had later moved apart, with Scott and Jacinta heading to Toronto.

Could Scott’s pining for his twin brother have put too much strain on the romantic relationship?

Down Time

Another rumor that began doing the rounds as to the true reason behind Scott and Kuznetsov’s surprise split, was that the celebrity lifestyle had simply become too much for the blonde beauty.

Although she had worked as a producer before getting together with Scott, their relationship catapulted her into the public eye in a way she could never have expected.

Could it be that the pressures of fame were simply too much for Kuznetsov, and put too much pressure on the relationship?

A Brave Face

As Scott tried to put the past behind him and move on with his life, a momentous event was about to happen that would cause him joy and sadness in equal measure.

About a month after he had split from Kuznetsov, Scott traveled to Italy to celebrate his brother’s wedding to Linda Phan.

Even though he was full of joy for his brother’s happy news, he couldn’t help but well up when he thought of his own heartbreak over the split with Kuznetsov.

Little did he know, there was still a reason to hope for the future—in more ways than one.

Moving On

Despite how difficult and heartbreaking it must have been for both Jonathan Scott and Jacinta Kuznetsov to part ways after being so very much in love, the two of them have both been incredibly inspiring in the way they have dealt with it and moved on.

The two of them are still friends, and in fact even still work together behind the scenes of Property Brothers.

To see a celebrity breakup with so much mutual respect and dignity is truly amazing—and has enabled them to both move on in ways neither of them had expected.

Keeping Busy

After Scott and Kuznetsov announced their separation, it wasn’t long before fans started wondering if we would see either of them stepping out with someone else.

But for Scott, his priority was to concentrate on his work, and let his heart heal fully before heading into any new relationships.

“Right now, I am pretty intimately involved with fourteen construction projects,” he joked in an interview with People magazine.

For Scott, he didn’t want to rush into anything new—but it was a very different story for Kuznetsov.

Wedding Bells

Even though Jonathan Scott decided to take some time for himself and focus on his work in the aftermath of his surprise breakup with Kuznetsov, for her the story was very different.

Despite the heartbreak and sadness over losing Scott, Kuznetsov found herself in love again sooner than she could ever have imagined—and recently announced her engagement!

Yep, that’s right—less than 7 months after parting ways with Scott, Kuznetsov confirmed she was engaged to her new boyfriend and long-term friend Will Allen.

Island Hopping

After everything Scott and Kuznetsov had been through together, no one could begrudge either of them a taste of true happiness.

That’s why fans were so especially delighted and inspired to see that the newly engaged Kuznetsov and Allen jetted off to the Caribbean island Roatan to celebrate their engagement.

“Will only answer to Ariel from now on,” she joked in a caption on one of her Instagram posts.

But their trip also had a more serious side to it.

Giving Back

When we look back and remember that Scott and Kuznetsov both met at a charity function, it’s no surprise to learn that the blonde beauty is still very much involved in fundraising and charitable giving.

Even on her vacation to celebrate her engagement, Kuznetsov took some time to highlight the problems that Roatan and the surrounding areas of Honduras have with poverty and education.

Scott must have been proud to see his former flame still inspired to do good for others.

Or at least he would be—if he wasn’t distracted by a new love of his own.

New Girlfriend

After taking some time for himself and allowing his heart to heal after the shock breakup from Kuznetsov, Scott finally opened up to welcome a new girlfriend into his life.

And that new girlfriend is none other than the much-loved New Girl star herself, Zooey Deschanel!

The two kept their romance under wraps for the early days of the relationship, but have since confirmed it with various loved-up Instagram posts.

“This amazing person makes me truly happy every single day and fills my life with love and joy,” Deschanel wrote about Scott on her Instagram page.

The New Girl

Scott kept his romance from the New Girl star hidden during the early days, but how did the two meet?

Scott and Deschanel met while filming an August 2019 segment of Carpool Karaoke where they teamed up with her sister Emily Deschanel and his brother Drew. There was an immediate connection between them, and they kept their relationship under wraps at first.

Even Jonathan Scott was surprised by just how quickly he moved on from Jacinta Kuznetsov.

“Pleasant Surprise”

Meeting Deschanel was a “pleasant surprise” for Scott and he wasn’t expecting to start a new romance so quickly after her split from Kuznetsov.

“It’s definitely special for me because I am the guy who raises the bar in what I’m looking for in a partner. I was caught a little off guard. It was definitely a pleasant surprise,” Scott shared with Us Weekly.

Like Scott, Deschanel was fresh off a split from her husband of four years, Jacob Pechenik, with who she shares a daughter and son. But the two hit it off instantly.

Instant Chemistry

When the two first met, their connection was immediate and they had instant chemistry. They also shared many interests.

“Jonathan and Zooey had instant chemistry when they met on set,” an insider explained to Us Weekly about the couple’s first time meeting while filming Carpool Karaoke. “They’ve bonded over their love of music, film, theatre—and Christmas carols.”

While their chemistry was undeniable, it was their similar interests and shared sense of humor that helped their romance blossom.

Shared Interests

Scott and Deschanel’s shared sense of humor and their shared interests led to them becoming a couple. They started “texting and talking on the phone and it blossomed from there,” an insider shared with Us Weekly.

Even though Scott and Deschanel weren’t looking for a relationship when they met, they bonded quickly and their relationship has been growing stronger by the day. They’ve had a whirlwind romance since meeting in August 2019!

Instagram Official

While the two kept their relationship private at first, they have since posted many lovey-dovey Instagram posts since they started dating. But fans went into a frenzy when they posted their first photo together in October 2019, making their relationship Instagram official.

Deschanel posed with Jonathan, Drew, and his wife Linda Phan in a Halloween-themed photo, leaping into Jonathan’s arms. Jonathan posted the photo on his Instagram, captioning it, "So much fun last night. That high-pitched scream totally wasn’t me!"

Before long, rumors started circulating that the couple was engaged.

Engagement Rumors

After dating for over a year, in November 2020, rumors started circulating that Jonathan Scott and Zooey Deschanel were engaged. But the Property Brothers star quickly shut them down.

“I’m pretty confident that I will ask my girlfriend to marry me before I tell a reporter,” Scott said during an appearance on SiriusXM’s The Covino & Rich Show.

Even though the two lovebirds aren’t engaged yet, that hasn’t stopped Scott from knowing just how lucky he is to have the New Girl actress in his life.

“Dating Up”

Scott has had nothing but nice things to say about his girlfriend Zooey Deschanel while they’ve been together. Following their two-year anniversary, he gushed about her to Entertainment Tonight saying, "And I know I am dating up! It means I just need to keep raising the bar and keep up with those expectations."

How sweet! But we have to wonder, does Deschanel ever confuse the Scott brothers? We know we sure have before.

Twinning

While we can see how the Scott brothers could be confused because after all, they’re twins, Deschanel doesn’t have that problem. The actress doesn’t think Jonathan and Drew look anything alike and their personalities are completely different.

“To me, they don't look alike at all," she said while on The Kelly Clarkson Show. "And their personalities are so different. So, like, to me, they just don't look alike."

There’s no doubt that the two make the perfect match and after being together for a few years, they were ready to take the next step in their relationship. They were about to make headlines again.

Homeowners

Scott and Deschanel were making headlines again for taking the next step in their relationship and buying a house together! Not long after, they started renovating it.

“When we first brought [Zooey’s] kids by the property, they dubbed it the Park House. And you know what happens when you name something, whether it’s a mangy stray dog or a beautiful home of your dreams? You keep it,” Jonathan wrote about the home in Drew + Jonathan Reveal. “The next thing you know, Zooey and I owned the Park House.”

But the couple faced a few setbacks while moving into their new home.

Forever Home

Due to the pandemic, Scott and Deschanel had a few setbacks with supply and construction delays. Despite those, they still make the perfect team and they’re total couple goals!

“We have each other, and we have time—the rest of our lives together in this house. Our house. Our dream home, where we’ll see the kids grow up laughing and adventuring in the yard, where we’ll play host to friends and family,” Scott revealed in an issue of Drew + Jonathan Reveal.

Reflecting on the Past

Scott and Deschanel make the perfect couple, but it wasn’t easy for him to move on after his surprising breakup from Jacinta Kuznetsov and he finally opened up to People about what drew them apart.

“She wanted to accomplish a lot of things in her life, and that did not involve following a partner around on the road as they pursued their career,” Scott told the news outlet.

After trying to compromise, staying together became nearly impossible, but that didn’t make the breakup any easier on him, especially when he found out that she was engaged less than a year later. So, how did he take the news?

Hit Hard

Shortly after their surprising split, Kuznetsov moved on to a new man and was engaged, which wasn’t easy for the Property Brother.

“I was upset, I won’t lie. I was not ready to date. It wasn’t even on my radar,” he shared with People. “But I’m a realist, and I knew that it was not for me to say when and who she would date.”

However, after some therapy and time to heal, he came to terms with the breakup.

Coming to Terms

A few years after their split, Scott is on good terms with his ex. While the breakup was difficult, he now knows that they weren’t meant to be. Even still, the two have remained friends and they are there for each other.

“Regardless of what we had, I’ve come to terms with the fact that we were not right as life partners,” Scott explained to People. “Though we don’t speak regularly, we are on good terms and both know we are there if needed.”

Early Beginnings

Let’s go back to the beginning to understand Jonathan Scott’s past and how this influenced the eventual fate of his relationship with Kuznetsov.

The Scott brothers grew up together just outside Vancouver, Canada, on a horse farm with their artistic and creative parents. Their parents encouraged them to follow their dreams and pursue independent lives from a young age, and it was clear that they both had what it took to make it in the bright lights of showbiz.

But no one could have imagined the journey that was ahead of them on the way to success.

Magic Man

The young Scott knew from an early age that he was destined for a career in showbiz, but at first it looked like his road to stardom would take a very different path.

Initially, Scott was determined to find fame as a magician, performing impressive card tricks and sleight-of-hand for enthralled fans. But on his way to the top, the young star-to-be learned more about the darker side of the showbiz world—and the budding magician had a sudden and unexpected change of heart.

Looking to the Future

Looking back at Scott’s romantic history, it’s fair to say he has had his share of ups and downs when it comes to matters of the heart.

Although he initially kept his first marriage under wraps, as he became more comfortable in the public eye, the TV star has begun to share more and more details of his personal life with his fans.

It is clear to see that despite their breakup, he and Jacinta Kuznetsov still remain close, and very much part of the family.

Edited by Vignesh Raja