Before there was Scandal, before there was the secret wedding in Idaho, and long before the world knew her as Olivia Pope, Kerry Washington was just another young actress in love. Specifically, she was in love with David Moscow. You probably remember him as the kid who turned into Tom Hanks in Big or perhaps as David Jacobs in Newsies.
For a solid chunk of the early 2000s, they were one of Hollywood’s most promising "it" couples. They weren't just dating; they were engaged. They lived together for nearly five years. They were the couple people expected to go the distance, especially after surviving a literal natural disaster together.
But then, it just... ended.
Looking back, the Kerry Washington and David Moscow breakup didn't just change her relationship status; it fundamentally shifted how she approached fame, privacy, and her own identity. Honestly, it's the reason we know so little about her life today.
The Tsunami That Changed Everything
It sounds like a movie script, but it’s real life. In December 2004, Kerry and David were on vacation in Thailand. They had a beachfront hotel booked in a small village. On a whim—or what Kerry now calls her "intuition"—they decided to stay an extra night in Bangkok with her family instead of heading to the coast.
The next morning, the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami hit.
The village they were supposed to be in was obliterated. Their hotel was gone. Just... gone. Kerry has spoken about this moment as a massive wake-up call. It made her realize she needed to trust her gut more. It also, naturally, put a lot of pressure on their relationship. When you survive something that kills 300,000 people, you start looking at your own life through a very different lens.
Why They Actually Called It Quits
People love to hunt for a villain. They want to know "who cheated" or "what happened." But the truth between Kerry Washington and David Moscow was much more quiet and, frankly, more relatable.
By 2007, the engagement was off. Kerry later admitted that while they loved each other profoundly, they were doing "emotional gymnastics" to make the relationship work. They were exhausted.
There’s a specific detail she shared that hits hard for anyone who has been in a "wrong" relationship: she didn't even want to pick out a wedding dress.
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"When we were planning the wedding, I didn’t even feel like picking out a dress," Washington told Essence. "I let my intuition guide me. We realized that even though we love each other on a very profound level, we were doing emotional gymnastics to try to work things out."
They weren't fighting. They weren't hating each other. They just realized they were trying too hard to be people they weren't for each other. They called it a "mutual and amicable" split, which is Hollywood-speak for "we both knew it was over, and it hurt like hell."
The "Bridal Magazine" Trauma
One of the biggest reasons Kerry is so private now is because of a very specific, very awkward professional obligation. At the height of her engagement to David Moscow, she did a cover shoot for a major bridal magazine.
Here’s the kicker: magazines have long lead times.
By the time the magazine actually hit newsstands, the engagement was over. Kerry had to walk past newsstands for three months seeing her own face in a white dress, talking about a wedding that wasn't happening. That kind of public embarrassment leaves a mark. She has since referred to her life as "BN"—Before Nnamdi—and noted that the experience with David taught her to set a "different kind of boundary."
Where Are They Now?
David Moscow didn't stay in the limelight in the same way Kerry did. He eventually married Karen Riotoc in 2014 and has carved out a fascinating niche for himself. He’s the creator and host of From Scratch, a show where he travels the world to find the ingredients for a single meal from the source. It’s gritty, educational, and a far cry from the red carpets of the mid-2000s.
Kerry, as we all know, went on to marry Nnamdi Asomugha in 2013. They are so private that most people didn't even know they were dating until they were already married. She even used to pin her engagement ring to her undergarments to keep it a secret from the press.
Key Takeaways from the Split
- Trust the "Dress Test": If you’re planning a life with someone and you can’t even get excited about the milestones, listen to that feeling.
- Survival Changes Priorities: High-stress events or near-misses (like the 2004 tsunami) often act as a catalyst for ending relationships that are already on shaky ground.
- Privacy is a Choice: You don't owe the world your personal life. Kerry proved you can be a massive star and still keep your marriage for yourself.
- Amicable Doesn't Mean Easy: Ending a five-year relationship where you still "love each other profoundly" is often harder than leaving a toxic one.
If you’re currently feeling like you’re doing "emotional gymnastics" in your own life, take a page from Kerry’s book. Sometimes walking away is the most "pro-love" thing you can do for yourself and the other person. It doesn't mean the time spent was a waste; it just means it's time for the next chapter.
Actionable Insight: Evaluate your current commitments. Are you following your intuition, or are you doing "emotional gymnastics" to maintain a facade? If the milestones of your goals or relationships feel like chores rather than celebrations, it’s time to pause and check in with your gut—just like Kerry did in 2007.