Just like fellow famous person Kendra Wilkinson, Brooke Burke Charvet, best known for co-hosting Dancing With the Stars from 2010 to 2013, also filed for divorce last Friday afternoon. Brooke, 46, married actor David Charvet in 2011. They have two children together: daughter Heaven Rain, 11, and son Shaya Braven, 10. Brooke also has two older teen daughters from her first marriage, to plastic surgeon Garth Fisher. She recently wrote an essay for Modern Mom magazine about Neriah, her oldest child, turning 18 and how it was hard to let her go. Brooke also wrote an essay about the end of her marriage. It’s a kind of vague statement about how she needs to let go and how the end of her marriage wasn’t scandalous, but I found it touching and wanted to talk about it.
Hi,
I have always used ModernMom as a place to have honest, real conversations with other women. I have struggled with trying to find worthy words to speak to this life change my family is going through but I do want to share my personal thoughts.You may have heard that David and I are divorcing. We have tried to keep our separation private for some time out of respect for our children and family. Although I believe this is a positive change, I am deeply saddened because I loved being married. It took me a long time to differentiate between giving up and letting go, and even longer to recognize when it was time to do so. We are still a family full of love, simply redefining our dynamics. I believe this is a necessary decision for my entire family unit.
There was nothing sensational that caused this divorce and nothing scandalous will surface, please believe that we are just finding new ways to remain a loving family.
Big life decisions are hardest when made for the right reasons. It is sometimes painful to be strong and embrace change. I believe in letting go of ideas and dreams when the time is right. I am in that space right now as a woman and a mother, listening to my heart. I am approaching this with gratitude and unconditional love.
Thank you for the outpouring of love and support in the last days.
Xo,
Brooke
[From Modern Mom via US Weekly]
That made me sad like Channing and Jenna’s statement made me sad! Without getting into specifics, I’ve experienced something similar and while it’s hard you still have children and you still need to see that person and communicate with them. The relationship becomes something different and there’s a freedom and a new chapter in that, but you still have to say goodbye to the past. I really like how she explained that she’s letting go, not giving up, and how being strong can be painful but it leads to growth. This is an impressive way to frame it. Of course it probably sucks behind the scenes and she’s putting a gloss on it, but it’s nice to think of it in this bittersweet way too.
photos credit: WENN
In the motorcycle picture he looks like Sebastian Stan.
I was just coming down here to say this. They look like brothers.
I think that may have been a pic from the Apprentice (Aubry edition?). Anyway she was leading a promo for Kawasaki and her idea was for her to be up front and him to sit in the back. He made such a big ass deal about sitting in the back. He was yammering about how Orangino would not approve of a man sitting behind a woman (!?!) blah blah blah. All the time he was ranting she was wheedeling for him to cooperate. I actually felt sorry for her then because she married a jerk.
Either she divorced him because of his neanderthal behavior or she doesn’t want to be Melania 2.0 (he had intentions of running for Congress. Not sure if he actually did it).
I don’t recall your details but I absolutely remember that apprentice episode. He flat out refused REFUSED to have his pictured snapped simply sitting behind her on a motorcycle. It was extremely uncomfortable for everyone.
Yep, I have found the one issue on which I am like an old conservative. Why get a divorce? Work through it!
I’ll go eat my peanut brittle now.
Because sometimes separating can make people happier in the long run. Sometimes one partner has no interest in changing or working things out. Sometimes no compromise exists. Sometimes relationships become unhealthy or abusive.
:::whispers::: I agree with you.
:::even softer whisper::: And peanut brittle is delicious. Save me some.
That is all!
I agree with @betsy…. like didnt she see that in the 6 year engagement …. the signs were there. There is no need to get married BUT STILL people do even when they see shit signs….
Hollyweird got people feeling like its cool to get divorced (no offense to divorcees its not an attack on your choice), like yeah we just went through a break up no biggie time to let go… That sounds like a quintessential bf/gf breakup… just be in a relationship or engaged or watev not married… like that ish kills me lol
I don’t know, when I was engaged to be married, my fiance and I argued occassionally, had disagreements occassionally. When i got married, it almost immediately became abusive and frequent. It Happens
@ ash – I think I get what you’re saying. It appears Hollywood treats the breakup of a marriage in the same vein as someone who is dating breaking up. If that is the attitude, then why marry? Why not just date/live together and part when it no longer suits you.
IMO – Marriage is something to be done if you’re in it for the long haul and committed to staying in it good and bad (not abusive) and working through whatever issues arise. If you’re just in it until it no longer feels right or until you feel it’s time to move on, then don’t get married.
Just curious….did anyone ask?
they didnt LOL…. but its a new way celebs can get ahead of the narrative…which at this point just sounds like one big vomit induced hug fest. Why must they feel the need to assure the public who have no input in their real lives, that they are ok and friendly and best buds and super tight and never letting go and rising to the occasion and etc. etc LOL just stop.
She writes with such tenderness. I jumped to the link about her daughter turning 18 and it made the Mama in me weep.
On the motorcycle, that is a scene from Celebrity Apprentice. Brook’s team was to film a commercial (I can’t remember what for) but the concept was for Brooke to be driving the motorcycle, with David on the back. He was not aware, and when he found this out there was an awkward scene where he flat out refused to let her drive with him on the back. He got his way and she rode on the back. To me he was a controlling, egotistical man-baby, Brooke was very nice and handled the situation gracefully but he came across really pathetic. Your wife is the one on the show! It’s her commercial! Let her have her moment! It all panned out and i believe that her team won… but what a tool.
I totally remember this and feeling like any dude who treated his wife like that must be a difficult ego to live with day in and day out.
Thanks for letting me know Regina. The photo agency described it as a photo from the set of a reality show they were shooting, but they didn’t specify Celebrity Apprentice. I looked to see if they had a reality show together but they don’t.
Oh no. Thats some fragile man-baby crap.
What a baby.
Yep I remember that episode. He came off as so horrible.
What a baby. I wonder if he’ll ask for spousal support? Doe he work?
That was so very heartfelt and mature. I never fully understood her career (she was one of those famouss-ish people where I always wondered what she actually does besides being kind of a spokesmodel), but man has she (or her PR folks) impressed me today.
I’m right about her age, and I can totally understand what she’s saying. She’s being a good grown up right now.
These people are sooo off my radar. I’m happy if they’re happy.
My initial thought from the headline… they filed for divorce to remind people that they exist…
Once again, another Hallmark card divorce announcement. We’re divorcing, nobody noticed so here are my beautiful thoughts……ok. She has been seeing husband number 1, at least on a professional level, as I saw her on a cooking show and it took me the longest time to figure out who she was, she was tightened up and not an unsightly wrinkle visible.
I thought the guy in the picture was Jason Priestley..
Anybody having issues with this website directing you somewhere else?
What a lovely way to talk about separating/divorcing. Leaving a relationship with such grace and dignity is always the goal but often the hurt and pain of being “in it” can cloud your judgement.