Tori Spelling and Dean McDermott Shock Fans with Unexpected Split After 17 Years: Read Exclusive Statement
Tori Spelling and Dean McDermott, who tied the knot in May 2006 and have five children together, have recently announced their separation after 17 years of marriage Discover the details surrounding their split
UPDATE 6/17/23 12: 21 p.m. — McDermott has deleted his Instagram post announcing the pair’s separation, several hours after his initial upload.
Original story continues below:
Tori Spelling and Dean McDermott have decided to end their marriage after being together for over a decade. McDermott, 56, took to Instagram on Saturday, June 17, to share the news along with throwback photos of the couple. He expressed his sadness and heavy heart, mentioning their 18 years together and their five wonderful children. Despite the separation, they plan to continue working together as loving parents and supporting their children during this challenging period. They kindly ask for privacy as they navigate through this situation and surround their family with love. McDermott expressed his gratitude for the support and kindness they have received.
Spelling, 50, has not publicly addressed the split, but recently appeared in public with her now-estranged husband for their daughter Stella’s 15th birthday party at the Beverly Hills Hilton. They were also seen together at the Stand for Kids Gala in Los Angeles, accompanied by their youngest four children - Stella, Hattie, Finn, and Beau. It is worth noting that Spelling and McDermott also have a son named Liam, who is 16 years old.
The couple got married in May 2006, shortly after Spelling finalized her divorce from actor and writer Charlie Shanian. McDermott was previously married to Mary Jo Eustace, with whom he has a 24-year-old son named Jack. Both Spelling and McDermott have been open about their infidelity in their previous marriages, with their affair starting on the set of Mind Over Murder in 2005.
By October 2021, a source revealed that Spelling desired a divorce but felt trapped in her marriage to McDermott.
The author of The Stori Telling book sparked even more speculation in November 2021 when she shared a family holiday card on Instagram that did not include her husband. The card's signature read, "With Love, from our farm to your home! Xoxo, Tori & Family." In a separate photo, the actress hung personalized Christmas stockings on the family mantle, but noticeably there was no stocking for McDermott. When an Instagram follower mentioned the actor's absence, Spelling responded by stating, "Fact: @imdeanmcdermott was filming his new feature film in Canada." Us later confirmed that the couple "spent Christmas as a family" and celebrated the 2021 holidays "together under one roof."
After the news of McDermott's infidelity broke, he took the initiative to seek help by admitting himself into a rehab facility. Restoring their marriage was a challenging journey for the couple, but they eventually managed to get back on track.
"I had expected Tori to just walk away from it all, and I completely understood why," the author of the Gourmet Dad cookbook shared exclusively with Us in November 2019, reflecting on how he and Spelling overcame their challenges. "But she surprised me by saying, 'I can't stop loving you. I still love you. You hurt me. I'm angry, but I love you. I can't just switch off those feelings.' ... Every relationship requires effort, and when you reach that point, you can't give up. You have to face it head-on and work through it. It's not easy."
The former Masked Singer contestant and McDermott have been open about their ups and downs over the years — and they haven't been able to shield their children from their past. In August 2020, Spelling shared that one of their daughters became "really upset" after stumbling upon stories about their struggles online. The actress from The Last Sharknado: It's About Time also admitted at the time that infidelity had always been her "greatest fear" even before McDermott's betrayal.
Before parting ways, McDermott provided some advice for couples dealing with comparable issues to those he and Spelling encountered during their marriage.
"Don't act impulsively," he advised Us in November 2019. "I acknowledge the tendency to react without thinking. I completely understand it. However, take a step back and evaluate your relationship beyond the influence of children, if applicable. Take a moment to pause, reflect, and consider the depth of your connection. If that spark, that shared bond, still exists, then make an effort to resolve your issues and find a way forward. It's not the end."
