Onetime pals Neil Young and Jackson Browne were driven apart by screen beauty Daryl Hannah — and a gaping gulf remains, RadarOnline.com has learned.
Neil, 77, began dating the 62-year-old Splash star in 2014 on the heels of his split from wife Pegi, and the celebrity couple tied the knot four years later.
But Daryl’s explosive ten-year relationship with Jackson, 74, has cast a long shadow over the friendship of the rock legends. In 1992, Daryl shocked the world when she emerged in public with black eyes, a swollen lip, and a broken finger — and did nothing to dispel rumors that sensitive singer-songwriter Browne was the culprit.
The Running on Empty balladeer denied playing any role in her injuries and was later cleared of any wrongdoing by local police. Still, the rumors dogged Jackson, who took legal action to remove references to the alleged assault in a 2003 TV biopic on Daryl’s subsequent boyfriend John F. Kennedy Jr.
With no lost love between Hannah and Browne, the Heart of Gold singer Neil was caught in the middle.
“Neil and Jackson were pals and they have a lot of musical friends in common,” explained a source. “Jackson even earned Neil’s gratitude by performing for free at his annual Bridge School benefit for physically challenged children.”