Renée Zellweger recently reflected on her brief 2005 marriage to country star Kenny Chesney—and the rumors that followed their annulment. In a new interview with The Advocate, Zellweger addressed the speculation that arose when she cited “fraud” as the legal reason for ending the marriage just four months after their wedding.

The term sparked widespread gossip, including rumors about Chesney’s sexuality—something Zellweger says saddened her deeply. “It made me sad that people were using that as a way to be cruel,” she said. “Why is calling someone gay treated like a negative?”

She clarified that “fraud” was simply legal terminology, not a reflection of Chesney’s character. Asked if she felt compelled to defend him publicly, she responded, “Once you’ve said your piece, shouldn’t that be enough? There’s no dignity in sharing personal matters for public mockery.”

At the time, the couple issued a joint statement attributing their split to a “miscommunication of the objective of their marriage.”

Chesney later addressed the rumors on 60 Minutes: “It’s not true. Period.”