Katy Perry + Russell Brand Friends Were Shocked by Split

Russell Brand shocked the world by filing for divorce from Katy Perry, his wife of just 14 months, especially since the duo seemed so happy and in love and had just made a public appearance where they held hands and looked at one another lovingly. Outsiders and pop culture pundits weren’t the only ones with jaws agape. Turns out the couple’s inner circle was equally as surprised by the split. A pair of sources has revealed some key details that might help fans understand the break up or be further confused by it!

A source close to the couple told PEOPLE: “I was shocked when I found out. I was really surprised that Russell filed for divorce so quickly – especially at Christmas time.” The source didn’t go as far as to say that he or she believed the Perry-Brand relationship would last forever (which, uh, is what marriage is supposed to mean) but expected it to last more than a year and two months. The source finished, “I thought they would be together for a long time. Maybe not forever – but definitely not just 14 months.”

The source did acknowledge that Perry and Brand were “always laughing” and “very affectionate. They seemed like they were really in love.”

That’s exactly what we thought, so perhaps there is more going on here than meets the eye. Guess we’ll have to wait until Perry grants her first interview on the subject to Oprah or Katie Couric.

A second source, who claims to have spent time in the couple’s presence, admitted that both parties “took marriage very seriously.” Despite their stance on the institution, things disintegrated. The second source stated, “These aren’t people who give up. I always thought they would work on their marriage if they had trouble.” Does that mean that Perry and Brand had been having issues for quite some time and couldn’t overcome them?

The mystery about why the heck Perry and Brand split only deepens.