The One Keith Urban Divorce Rumor That’s Too Crazy to Be True

One extra-sensational rumor about Keith Urban and Nicole Kidman‘s divorce is giving us whiplash.

It’s been two weeks of mostly media-generated reports that try to get to the root of what went wrong for the celebrity couple. Anonymous sources seem to be working overtime to feed magazines and entertainment websites seeds of truth from which a sequoia-sized rumor can sprout.

Previously, I did my best to break down the truth about Urban and his guitarist Maggie Baugh. During an episode of Talkin’ Country LIVE, team ToC separated fact from fiction using the only firm source there is: Kidman’s 36-page divorce filing.

There seems to be a real hole in the market for truth and sanity, so don’t be surprised as I debunk a Keith Urban rumor too good to be true: the “cocaine clause.”

What Is Keith Urban’s “Cocaine Clause”?

Depending on which entertainment news outlet you prefer, the cocaine clause in Keith Urban and Nicole Kidman’s prenuptial agreement offers him either $600,000 or more than $900,000 for every year he stays sober.

That’s about $11 million total, paid by Kidman to Urban (never clear is when he was to be paid this sum).

In recent years, the country superstar has grown more comfortable talking about his sobriety journey amid trusted company. His drug problem was real, and he really did go to rehab after Kidman staged an intervention.

One problem with this rumor is the source.

When you Google “Keith Urban Cocaine Clause,” the London Evening Standard pops up first, but they only source “reports.” Fortunately, they link to Radar Online, who boasts about providing a bottom to this media echo chamber.

Most outlets do their best to attribute a juicy piece of news like this to someone. People magazine has published dozens of Kidman-friendly divorce stories citing an anonymous source. Names are always better but at least they’ve talked to someone.

Radar Online’s source for this “report” is “reports.” I’m not joking. They are sourcing the ol’ rumor mill.

Dozens of entertainment news outlets and tabloids have run with this piece of reporting, all eventually getting back to the Radar Online piece.

Dozens more haven’t, however, including Taste of Country, People and TMZ, an outlet that’s much more reputable than they get credit for being.

Still, if TMZ thinks a rumor-centric story stinks, you really have to question it.

Keith Urban and Nicole Kidman Prenuptial Agreement

The Cocaine Clause is said to be pulled from Urban and Kidman’s prenuptial agreement, but that document is not visible online, nor has anyone claimed to have seen it.

A prenup is not mentioned in Kidman’s divorce filing, either, although it’s clear the two have established several trusts with rules on how to split assets in the event of a separation.

The amount of money transferred per year also strikes me as odd.

In 2019, Forbes shared that Urban made $35 million, making an additional $600K about 1.6 percent. To put that in normal person terms, it’s a $1,300 bonus check on your $80,000 paycheck — nice but not life-changing.

Finally, the logic of this is befuddling. Why would Kidman agree to this? If a relapse was a concern, just threaten to leave him and take half his money.

I put this point last to allow someone with training a chance to explain to me how a punitive system isn’t effective, but you have to admit, the plan feels strange.