Peter Facinelli and Jennie Garth Divorce: Did Distance Break Up the Marriage?
Jennie Garth spoke out about her failed marriage to Peter Facinelli, the divorce, and the major factor that led to the two lovebirds becoming strangers: the distance.
Jennie Garth's marriage to Peter Facinelli in 2001 seemed great: the couple had three children, Luca, 14, Lola, 9, and Fiona, 5, so when the "Twilight" actor initially asked for divorce, she was hesitant, according to People magazine.
"I was very resistant," said Garth of the impending divorce. "I didn't want it to happen."
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Garth had to come to term with the facts, however. Though she starred on sitcom "What I Like About You" soon after the pair wed in 2001, it was canceled four seasons later, and Garth's career was waning. In comparison, Facinelli's career was taking off, as he stars in "Nurse Jackie" on HBO and in the "Twilight" series as Carlisle Cullen.
The distance between the pair's careers was only exacerbated by the distance needed to travel for Facinelli's acting roles. In 2010, Garth moved to Santa Ynez Valley in California, while Facinelli commuted from Vancouver and New York City.
"He would do everything he could to fly back every weekend," Garth told People. "[But] it took a real toll on our marriage."
Some alleged that Facinelli had developed an extramarital relationship with a mystery Canadian woman during that time. Publication Scallywag & Vagabond reported that Garth "knew" about the relationship, but that the two stayed together for "the sake of the children."
That reported was later disproved by both parties, who stated at the time of their divorce announcement that they still "share the same deep love and devotion to our children." Garth would eventually come to accept it.
"It took me some time to come to peace with it," said the actress.
Now, she looks forward to a new future- she will appear in a new reality show, "Jennie Garth: A Little Bit Country" on CMT starting April 20.
"I've gone through my darkest parts and I'm coming out of it," said the 39-year-old actress. "I'm okay. I don't know what the future holds, but then [again] I've never been a planner. And maybe that's a good thing."
