Tori Spelling Divorce Confession: Why Her Marriage To Dean McDermott 'Should've Ended Sooner'

Tori Spelling is breaking her silence about the emotional end of her relationship with Dean McDermott. In a raw and revealing confession, the Beverly Hills, 90210 alum admitted that her marriage 'should've ended sooner.'

Spelling also opened up about the struggles, regrets, and lessons learned from nearly two decades together.

A Love Story That Turned Painful

Spelling and McDermott's relationship began in 2005 under intense public scrutiny. The two met while filming Mind Over Murder, sparking a whirlwind romance that led to marriage just months later. Over the years, they welcomed five children — Liam, Stella, Hattie, Finn, and Beau — and appeared to be the picture of a Hollywood family.

But behind the scenes, cracks had started to form early on. Speaking candidly on her new podcast, misSPELLING, Spelling admitted that red flags appeared within the first few months of marriage.

'It should've been over a lot sooner,' she revealed (via Us Weekly). 'I saw things that made me uncomfortable, but I wanted to believe in the fairytale.'

Years of Struggle and Silence

The actress confessed that she stayed in the relationship far longer than she should have — partly for the sake of their children and partly out of fear of public judgment.

'I kept thinking things would get better. I didn't want to be labelled as a failure. I thought love meant staying no matter what,' Spelling said.

Their relationship faced multiple public challenges, including Dean's infidelity and reports of financial strain. Despite the hardships, Spelling often defended her husband in the media and tried to keep the family together. However, she now admits that doing so took a toll on her emotional health.

'I completely lost myself. I was a mom first, a caretaker second, and somewhere in there, I forgot who Tori was,' she said.

The Turning Point

In April 2024, Spelling filed for divorce from McDermott, citing irreconcilable differences and listing June 2023 as their official separation date. The couple has since reached a settlement, with Spelling requesting sole physical custody of their children while sharing joint legal custody.

The decision, though painful, brought a sense of relief. She said that she decided to file for divorce because she has finally decided to choose herself and not out of anger.

'For the first time, I'm not living in survival mode,' she said.

Dean McDermott's Response

McDermott, who has spoken publicly about his struggles with addiction and self-destructive behaviour, admitted the split was inevitable. He described their relationship as 'toxic for both of us' but expressed deep love and respect for Tori as the mother of his children.

'She deserves happiness, and so do I. We just couldn't find it together anymore,' he told the Daily Mail.

A New Chapter for Tori Spelling

Today, Spelling is focused on healing and rediscovering her identity outside of marriage. Through her podcast, she's using her platform to speak openly about self-worth, motherhood, and moving on from emotional pain.

'I stayed for too long,' she admitted. 'But maybe that's part of my story — learning that it's never too late to choose yourself,' she said.