How Liz Hurley’s VERY close relationship with son Damian and Billy Ray’s children could tear the new lovers apart
THEY’RE so close that he calls her his “soulmate”, takes all her racy bikini pics and has even directed her in a lesbian sex scene.
So what then does Damian Hurley REALLY make of his mum’s new relationship with controversial rocker Billy Ray Cyrus? Here, friends reveal to us what happened when the two loves of Liz’s life came face to face.
Damian, 23, and Billy, 63, met for the first time when the country music legend was cast as Liz’s love interest in the 2022 film Paradise in Christmas.
Friends close to the mother and son tell us the youngster was instantly impressed with Billy and spotted their chemistry.
“Damian has met Billy and is a really big fan of his. They hit it off when they hung out on set,” the pal told us.
“All he wants is for his mum to be happy and he saw their spark straight away and is delighted they are now giving it a go.”
While Liz and Damian’s closeness is of course a blessing, pals of of the 59-year-old are worried it could cause ructions in her new romance, especially considering Billy is now estranged from his own children, including pop superstar Miley.
Just last year Damian raised eyebrows when he directed his own mum in a lesbian sex scene, declaring it was the sexiest he had ever seen her and he is famously the snapper behind some of her raciest bikini shots ever.
The friend continued: “Damian has always been and will continue to be Liz’s number one.
“She has raised him alone for 23 years and his blessing is the most important thing to her.
But they warned: “In the past Liz’s relationship with Damian has taken its toll on some men.
“Billy is deep down a family man but is currently struggling with a number of issues.
“Everyone is a bit worried that his own troubled relationship with his kids could impact Liz and Damian. The biggest fear is that Billy will want Damian to take more of a back seat.”
Over the weekend Elizabeth revealed her new romance for the first time – with a snap of her and Billy kissing.
Damian was one of the first to comment, showing both his approval and excitement.
It’s perhaps not such a surprise though considering Liz and Damian’s incredibly close, and at times bizarre, relationship – with her calling her son her “soulmate”.
Over the years fans have seen a number of the actress’s romances play out – but it’s her relationship with Damian that has been the most constant.
Recently, the lad described Liz as his “partner in crime” and in interviews has said they are more “like siblings”.
Another insider added: “Some friends are concerned about how this new relationship will affect her dynamic with Damian. They are saying thank god it is now and not when he was younger.”
The saying ‘nothing can come between a mother’s love for her son’ has never been more true than it is for Liz and Damian, which does beg the question – where will Billy fit in?
I hate to say that it felt totally normal. I don’t know what that says about us
Damian on directing his mum in sex scenes
Damian was born in 2002, following Liz’s year-long romance with billionaire businessman Steve Bing, who died from suicide in 2020.
At a young age, Damian was introduced to the showbiz world and was quick to embrace his nepo baby status.
Liz shocked fans when it was revealed that her son took sexy pictures of her in a bikini for her Instagram account when he was just 15.
She hit back at critics, who felt it was inappropriate, insisting he was “really good at it” and helped put her at ease while taking the saucy snaps.
“When we’re on holiday together, sure he’ll take some pictures,” Liz said while appearing on Watch What Happens Live After Show.
“And you know, he’s got a really good eye and he’s studying photography and it’s ridiculous.”
Liz praised her son again more recently, telling The Telegraph that being photographed by him made her feel more comfortable.
She said: “Who likes being photographed in bikinis? No one, even when you’re 22 and fabulous… but it’s relaxing knowing someone’s behind the camera who looks out for me.”
Damian, who called it “just business“, believes the pair working together in this way is only unusual to those who have not grown up in the public gaze.
“I was speaking to a lot of my friends who are also second-generation of parents in the industry,” says Damian, who counts Brooklyn Beckham, Kate Moss‘s daughter Lila and Jude Law‘s daughter Iris among his pals.
“They say exactly the same thing, that things to outsiders that may seem totally strange and extraordinary, for us we’ll just have grown up with in everyday life.”
Lesbian sex scenes
And something else that might seem very strange to us mere mortals – he directed Liz engaging in racy lesbian sex scenes for his 2024 debut film, Strictly Confidential.
The movie saw his mum snogging and being pawed at by her 20-something lover, played by Pear Chirava.
Far from finding the saucy scenes uncomfortable to direct, Damian told The Times: “I hate to say that it felt totally normal. I don’t know what that says about us.”
He revealed there were no intimacy coordinators on set because “everyone was very comfortable” and he was chuffed that his mum took on such a raunchy role.
“I don’t think she has ever been cast in a sexier part at this point in her career,” Damian added.
Their closeness has often been a hot topic of debate and Eamonn Holmes once said of it: “It’s weird. I’m sorry, it’s seriously weird.”
When I spoke to Liz a number of years ago, it was clear that Damian’s success and happiness was her priority.
She told me how he would join her on set and that he even helped her make work decisions.
She said: “We have the same interests, if he only liked rugby and cricket it would be more difficult. Right now he loves all aspects of movies and I would never discourage him from doing anything. He loves it.”
Billy’s family struggles
But while Damian might be on board for now, none of Billy’s six children have acknowledged the post.
The Cyrus family fell into a divisive feud in 2022 when it was announced that Billy Ray and Tish — who is pop sensation Miley Cyrus’s mum — were divorcing after 29 years of marriage.
The chasm widened when, just months later, Billy got engaged to and later married Australian singer Firerose, who is only four years older than Miley.
This family breakdown is one heartache Liz has been helping Billy address.
She has been urging Billy to take the same approach with his girls as she has with her son.
A source said: “Liz has been encouraging him to mend his fractured relationship with his daughter Miley, as well as his other children.
“Her closeness with Damian is inspiring.”
In recent weeks, Billy Ray has publicly reached out to both his youngest daughter Noah and to Miley in posts on social media.
But only time will tell if Liz truly can help heal the rift – or if a new one will form…