When Fergie and Josh Duhamel first got together about about a dozen years ago, I thought “this won’t even last a year.” At the time, she seemed like the messy one, and he seemed like he was more of a straight-arrow type. Years later, and I now think they’re both pretty messy and I’m astonished that they were able to hold it together for eight years of marriage. Fergie and Josh announced their split on Thursday, and please don’t take this as a signal that love is dead. If anything, this shows you that love (and looking the other way at your partner’s sketchy extracurriculars) can actually win out for eight years, against all the odds.
After eight years of marriage, Fergie and Josh Duhamel are going their separate ways, they confirm to PEOPLE exclusively.
“With absolute love and respect we decided to separate as a couple earlier this year,” the couple said in a joint statement. “To give our family the best opportunity to adjust, we wanted to keep this a private matter before sharing it with the public. We are and will always be united in our support of each other and our family.”
The couple — who share a 4-year-old son, Axl — have been honest about the joys and challenges of parenting together.
“I have no idea what I’m doing half the time,” Duhamel previously told Ellen DeGeneres. “She’s definitely more evolved than I am, and more patient,” he said. “But I feel like I’m much more – you know, having a kid when I was 40 years old is much different than having one at 22, so I’m a little bit more mature than I was then.”
While Fergie, 42, and Duhamel, 44, haven’t been spotted in public recently, they looked like a happy family while celebrating their eighth wedding anniversary in January.
When I was looking for photos of them as a family, I found some from June of this year, with Fergie and Josh taking Axl to church in LA. So… whatever happened between them, they really aren’t at each other’s throats. And whatever happened, they’re keeping it out of the press right now, which is good. Seriously, I still can’t believe they got together and managed to stay together for this length of time. It’s remarkable.
Photos courtesy of WENN.
Has Fergie’s face always looked like that? It looks very…tight…especially in the eye area.
She’s gotten work done but it’s been that way for a while now
Apparently she wasn’t around her son recently, I read that she was back to drugs and partying and I noticed she lost weight. I hope I’m wrong…
The pictures of her with their son are few in the past two years. There are countless pictures of him with his father. I always thought she was away a lot touring.
She was on the breakfast club high as a kite! Slurring her words and couldn’t get her thoughts out. He’s gross, always cheated on her! Never understood their attraction to each other, he used to be gorgeous and I’ve never found her attractive in the face.
She doesn’t look well and hasn’t for a long time. Whatever happens, she needs to concentrate on her health first.
I was also surprised by their marriage but 8 years is a long time. As long as they keep it amicable for the kid. Apparently they were trying for a second child which can be straining if it’s not working.
And don’t forget she stayed with him after he cheated on her. I think they had only been married for a year or two when the waitress, dancer or whatever she did for a living revealed the affair.
Oh yea he totally cheated on her and they had only been married like two months I believe. I’m surprised it lasted this long.
They also dated for five years before they got married.
Didn’t he leave his pregnant gf to get with Fergie?
They’re both attractive and rich, I can’t muster much sad for them, they’ll rebound just fine.
Any guesses on who those rebounds will be?
I’ve seen people comment this on multiple articles and I would love to know as well!
The story I remember him telling is that he actively campaigned to get the BEP on his TV show so he could meet Fergie coz he thought she was so cute. And then she thought the same. Which doesn’t sound like he had a pregnant gf – or else he totally had one and is super gross not just to have done that to her but also tell that story for years in the press as a meet cute with his wife.
yeah i rememeber after they met, or went public, mags were printing quotes from josh saying he thought fergie was “fine” and his”dreamgirl”. i think if he K*fed’ed his relationship it would be documented.
I don’t think he had a pregnant girlfriend but he was once engagement to someone not in the biz
I have a soft spot for AMC alums, so I’ve always liked Josh. He looks a little rough in the church photo. Their little boy is adorable. Nice they can keept it somewhat together for him.
Leonardo “Leo” du Pres FOREVA!
Leo and Greenlee!! Loved them!
So much better than Greenlee and Ryan – ugh.
yeah i started watching again because of him
She looks rough in the church photo too or at very sad.
I always thought they were an odd pair. They sure did make a beautiful baby though!
I always thought they would break up
Hmmm… does anyone else remember when he cheated on her? Tigers don’t change their stripes and yada yada.
I actually really liked her new singles. I wish she got more attention. More Black Eyed Peas records would be welcome, too.
“Tigers don’t change their stripes” True!!!!! And yes I can’t believe nobody is bringing up the fact that he cheated on her before. Like I imagine the fact that he cheated on her played a big role in the eventual decision. Like that kinda stuff doesn’t go away.
What happened to Fergie? That first album was HUGE and then nothing. I know she tried the movie route for a few years and that didn’t pan out. I know she has new singles out now but i haven’t heard any of them. I just wonder why the momentum went out so quickly.
Good question. Although when I look at her and listen to her music, she screams mid 2000s to me. I wonder if she’s been trapped in that era. That being said I haven’t actively listened to her new stuff.
it was her label. i heard about it last year. she put a lot of money in this album.
They were once on that Oprah show on OWN where she goes to your house. Her divorced parents were there. Dad was ill. Fergie had bought him a home and a winery, and the love between Josh and Fergie was sweet and with the parents, who even though divorced, were a family. Fergie and Josh lived close to her dad. I saw a whole different side to them as a couple.
It’s sad.
Didn’t he cheat on her in the first year with the stripper? Yea not shocked at all about this one. Sorry but I just don’t think you can come back from your husband having a public affair with a stripper, her giving horrible details to the press, during the first year. You’re settling for some reason. She probably stayed cause she wanted a kid and then didn’t want to leave because of the kid but I have no doubt he was probably still cheating on her.
I remember something about this! He cheated on her then they renewed their vows. After that, I didn’t really hear anything from them. Then this. Maybe they never fully recovered from that.
Duhamel is actually a good actor.
I kind of forgot about them. That’s sad for their kid, hope they can keep things good for him.
They always seemed like a very odd pair.
And Fergie needs to stop jacking her face, etc. She is one of the most unnatural looking people in the world of celebs. I don’t even remember what she used to look like or what she would look like without all the work. She seems like she’s always looked overdone. I’d love to see what she looks like without all the make up, the fillers, the orange tans, etc. I bet under all of that she is very beautiful.
Something is going on with Fergie. The way her face has changed again? The divorce? The breakup with the BEP? Reportedly, she’s been off doing her own thing for a couple of years.
A friend of mine is related to Josh through marriage pretty closely, he’s spent time with Fergie and Josh and their son in North Dakota (rural shit, bonfires, ATVs, etc) over the years and always had good things to say about Fergie, so I don’t think she is as high maintenance as she seems.
Still love her (as Stacey) from kids incorporated!!!
When I was a little kid I loved Kids Incorporated so much that my “imaginary friend” became Stacy from the show. It was just a few years ago when I found out that Fergie was Stacy. How many other people can say their imaginary friend grew up to be a successful pop star?! 😉
It looks always seemed as though he talked her into having a child and seemed that he wanted more when she didn’t. He seemed more domestic than her. Fergie never seemed as though she wanted the marriage home life with kids life.
I never understood the appeal of Fergie. Her face has always been so distracting, and I never forgave her for ruining BEPs. They were outstanding before she came along, and then they become a pop sellout mess.
They were one of the oddest pairings in the celebrity world and eight years is a surprise, but this isn’t.
Im so very sad for Stacy. LOVED her on Kids Inc. I hope she’s not back on Meth or struggling with any other substances again.
Divorce isn’t easy, & I’m sending love her way. I hope her and her son are able to find the happiness they deserve.
K-I-D-S! Kids Incorporated FOREVER!!
Fergie’s new single is actually really good! I’m surprised at how much better her new album is compared to her hits from a few years ago.