While Fergie and Josh Duhamel’s split after eight years of marriage may have come as a surprise to many, a new interview suggests their relationship was over long before it made headlines.
“Honestly, it was just getting a little weird for us with all the romantic questions,” the singer told People on Tuesday, referring to the interviews she’s been doing to promote her new solo album, Double Dutchess.
“We’re great friends, we love each other so much, and it just got to the point where it was getting a little weird,” she added. “There’s no perfect time, so we just decided to do it.”
The ‘Black Eyed Peas’ singer, who shares four-year-old son Axl Jack with her former partner, said that they wanted to get adjust in private before sharing the news with the world.
“We just wanted to get adjusted in private. [And Axl’s school has helped as] we have a co-op so Josh and I would walk there several times before the school season,” she said of co-parenting with her now-ex.
She added: “It’s so great.”
The former couple are pictured with their four-year-old son, Axl Jack.
Earlier in the month, the pair confirmed news of their shock split with a joint statement.
“With absolute love and respect we decided to separate as a couple earlier this year,” the couple told People. “To give our family the best opportunity to adjust, we wanted to keep this a private matter before sharing it with the public.”
They added: “We are and will always be united in our support of each other and our family.”
The Battle Creek actor, 44, and the “Big Girls Don’t Cry” hitmaker, 42, have been open in the past about facing difficulties in their marriage.
Speaking with Allure, the pop star revealed that they had embraced couples therapy.
“He’s not afraid. He doesn’t feel like he’s not man enough,” she told the publication in 2015.
WATCH: Josh speaks about his darling son. Post continues…
She also spoke about making their jet-setting lifestyle — in particular, the grueling tours required in the music industry — work for their relationship.
“My husband and I made a two-week rule,” the “L.A. Love (La La)” singer said. “We’ve already talked about how we’re going to have to trade off. … He’s going to have to come on tour with Axl for a while, and then there’ll be a break. He’ll take a job; I’ll be on set with Axl. You know?”
Of course, the duo met on the set of American drama series Las Vegas in 2004.
“He wanted to get in my pants,” Fergie joked to the magazine. “We just grew. And we grew into realizing that we wanted the same things in life.”
She added: “We wanted the same path.”
We continue to wish Fergie, Josh and their family and friends all the very best.
