Channing Tatum Opens Up About Painful Divorce and New Beginnings
CHANNING TATUM SPEAKS OUT ABOUT PAINFUL DIVORCE FROM JENNA DEWAN: "IT WAS A HARD CHAPTER IN MY LIFE"
In a candid interview with Variety, Channing Tatum opened up about the devastating end of his six-year marriage to Jenna Dewan, revealing that it was one of the toughest periods in his life. The Magic Mike star, 45, and his ex-wife, 44, tied the knot in 2009 after meeting on the set of Step Up, but their romance came crashing down in 2018.
The couple's divorce was a contentious battle that lasted for six long years, with both parties fighting over financial details and custody of their 12-year-old daughter, Everly. But it seems Channing has finally found closure and is speaking out about the painful experience. In an exclusive interview with The Scholarly Note, he dished on the emotions he experienced during their breakup.
"It was a really tough time for me," Channing admitted, his voice laced with vulnerability. "We were young, and we thought our love would last forever, but it wasn't meant to be. We fought for it for a long time, even though we both knew deep down that we had grown apart."
Channing recalled the days leading up to their separation, saying, "It was super scary and terrifying. Your life just turns on its axis. This whole plan that you had literally just turns into sand and goes through your fingers and you're just like, 'Oh, shit. What now?'"
The actor confessed that he struggled to cope with the breakdown of his marriage, saying, "I wish I could have her all the time. It's really tough not to have your daughter half the time." He added that he's still adjusting to being a single father and navigating co-parenting.
But despite the pain, Channing insists that their divorce was necessary for him to move forward. "It was probably exactly what I needed," he said. "I don't think I would've ever done the work on myself in the way that I had to do it if we were still together."
The Magic Mike star has been open about his struggles with relationships and commitment, admitting that he's a "bit of a monogamist" but struggles with intimacy. "In business, I have no real fear of anything being destroyed," he said. "But heart things, when it comes to people I love, I have a really hard time."
Channing's candor about his divorce and relationship issues has sparked interest in the media, with many fans eager to know more about his personal life. As for his current romantic status, the actor has been linked to several women since his split from Jenna Dewan.
In 2020, Channing was spotted getting cozy with singer Jessie J, but they called it quits after just a year of dating. Then in October 2024, he shocked fans by announcing that he and actress Zoë Kravitz had broken off their engagement after three years together.
Meanwhile, Jenna Dewan has moved on with actor Steve Kazee, whom she met on the set of The Public Theater's production of Cabaret in 2019. The lovebirds announced their engagement in February 2020 and welcomed two children together.
As for Channing Tatum's future romantic endeavors, only time will tell. But one thing is certain – he's learned a lot about himself and relationships through his experiences. "Relationships are hard for me," he admitted. "But I'm willing to take the risk again because I know that love is worth fighting for."
UPDATE: Jenna Dewan has responded to Channing Tatum's interview, saying in a statement: "I'm grateful that we're on good terms and can co-parent our beautiful daughter, Everly. We both did what was best for us, and I respect his honesty about the challenges of our marriage."
