Sometimes, I feel like I’m the only person who remembers Leah Remini’s VH1 documentaries. I realize that I’m dating myself terribly, but they were so good! She did one about her wedding to Angelo Pagan and a second documentary when she was pregnant with their daughter. Angelo came across as a seriously good guy, loving and supportive, in both of the documentaries. Those documentaries are a huge part of why I’ve always supported Leah and her marriage to Angelo. Well, it’s all over. The marriage, that is. After 21 years, Leah and Angelo are divorcing.
Leah Remini and husband Angelo Pagán are going their separate ways after more than two decades of marriage. The King of Queens alum, 54, and the entrepreneur announced their decision to end their marriage after 21 years in a joint Instagram post on Thursday, Aug. 29.
“Well, here we are. After 28 years together and 21 years of marriage, we have decided to file for divorce,” the announcement began. “This decision came after a lot of thought and care, and as hard as divorce is, we are approaching this with a positive outlook because we know it’s what’s best for us. We are proud of how we have worked through this together.” While they figure out their “new normal,” they said they will still continue “celebrating holidays together, watching our favorite tv shows together, and gathering as a family.”
“So, the big question—why? To put it simply, we both changed, as people do, and we got used to playing roles that didn’t fit us anymore. After a lot of effort and consideration, we’ve decided to take this step, which reflects who we are today,” they wrote.
“Our bond is still strong—it’s just evolved into something different. We think a marriage that lasted this long and created so many beautiful memories, especially raising our incredible daughter, is something to celebrate. From our perspective, this marriage was a huge success. And now, we’re looking forward to creating even more cherished moments—just in a different way.”
Remini and Pagán said they wanted to be “as transparent as we can be” since they shared their marriage “so publicly” on TV over the years.
“We are sharing this unknown territory with you all as we take our first steps into this next stage of our lives publicly,” the statement continued. “We would love for everyone to have more access to different kinds of relationship stories and not feel so isolated in navigating the changes that millions of couples make every year. We hope our journey can inspire others to see that relationships—whether they change or end—aren’t failures. We’ll keep sharing snippets of our lives as we navigate this new chapter.”
After nearly three decades together, they couldn’t make it last for the final stretch? That’s so sad to me. It also feels notable that their daughter is 20 years old and presumably out of the house. This is an empty-nest divorce too, in my opinion. I also think there’s probably been significant stress on the marriage because Leah so publicly split with Scientology and CoS has come after her in many ways in recent years. Anyway, this makes me so sad. It’s also kind of crazy that Leah and her BFF Jennifer Lopez are both getting divorced at the same time.
Photos courtesy of Avalon Red.
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- Leah Remini and 'Angelo Pagan Los Angeles premiere of 'Fully Charged' presented by Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey held at the Staples Center Los Angeles, California – 21.07.11,Image: 324813295, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: , Model Release: no, Credit line: – / Wenn / Avalon
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- Leah Remini and Angelo Pagan The 32nd annual Carousel Of Hope Ball held at The Beverly Hilton hotel – Arrivals Los Angeles, California – 23.10.10,Image: 356305866, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: , Model Release: no, Credit line: – / Wenn / Avalon
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- Angelo Pagan, Leah Remini at the 20th Annual DesignCare Gala, Private Estate, Malibu, CA 07-14-18 David Edwards/DailyCeleb Photo via Newscom,Image: 515633705, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: WORLD RIGHTS – Fee Payable Upon Reproduction – For queries contact Avalon.red – sales@avalon.red London: +44 (0) 20 7421 6000 Los Angeles: +1 (310) 822 0419 Berlin: +49 (0) 30 76 212 251 Madrid: +34 91 533 4289, Model Release: no, Credit line: David Edwards / Avalon
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- Leah Remini and husband Angelo Pagan attend The 32nd Annual Carousel Of Hope Ball at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on October 23, 2010 in Beverly Hills, California. Picture by,Image: 543973004, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: WORLD RIGHTS – Fee Payable Upon Reproduction – For queries contact Photoshot – sales@photoshot.com London: +44 (0) 20 7421 6000 Florida: +1 239 689 1883 Berlin: +49 (0) 30 76 212 251, Model Release: no, Credit line: Derek Ross / Avalon
Empty nester divorces are happening more and more these days. The final stretch may be a final stretch but as the statement said, people change (and many do grow – I am looking at you Affleck) and why stay in a role that really one has out grown. Plus, the child is a grown adult. And when you have the money to do it and still live comfortably, why not.
I really liked them together as well – wishing them all the best. Also crazy how JLo and she can lean on eachother now.
Agreed. Plus the ‘final stretch’ could be very long, forty years maybe! That’s a lot of life to live with someone that neither person wants to be romantically partnered with anymore.
Honestly? Good for them. It sounds very much like they’ve done a lot of work, both separately and together) to arrive at this decision. Wishing them the best in “the final stretch”.
When I was a late teenager, one of my paternal aunts and uncle(by marriage & after 4 children), decided to divorce. Relatives were shocked. My Dad wasn’t. He said they loved each other as best friends just not in a romantic way. Before Goop and the “Unconcious Uncoupling”, mine and other peoples relatives, made it a real living thing. My auntie and her ex moved to the same city and were best friends. The exes hung out together and cared for each others children. It’s something I think about. Love. As possible
This is the 1st celebrity statement that feels real. Hope leah and jlo find their way to happiness and im in for a reality tv show featuring these 2 beautiful rich women, in their fifties, navigating being single & being mothers with older kids
I would so watch this. Epic would be an understatement.
This is a great idea!
Off-topic but I first knew of Leah when she was on those summer episodes of Saved by the Bell. She was great actually. But the whole thing was confusing. Why was Zach not with Kelly anymore? And then what happened to Leah after the summer? These are not deep questions but to my young Saturday morning self it was confusing😂
Those episodes were confusing! And like, majorly copying what 90210 was doing at the time, IMO (working at a beach club)
I remember Leah from a guest stint on Who’s the Boss and then her short-lived spinoff about models living together! (Can’t remember the title, though.) I’ve always been a fan
Living Dolls. She was great on that show!
Yes, Who’s The Boss was the first time I saw her and I loved that she had such a thick NY accent because I grew up on Long Island and everyone sounded like that!
I think Kelly had already dumped zack to go out with Jeff who ended up cheating on her or something like that so zack was free to pursue Leah’s character on the show
It may also be a case of them holding out until their daughter was an adult, and not necessarily an empty nester divorce.
So they’ve been together since about 1996? JLo got married for the 1st time in 1997 so Leah’s relationship with her husband has outlasted all of JLo’s marriages. Kudos to them for declaring their marriage to be a successful one. My parents divorced when I was in high school. They married just a few months after they met and were together 17 years. I consider their marriage a success, too, and not just because my personal existence stems from it.
Aww, this bums me out. That many years together is just SO long. There was definitely a lot of love there. (It’s similar to how I’ll feel when someone like Rachel Zoe inevitably announces the end of her decades-long marriage.)
I still watch the king of queens shows. She was great in that with Kevin james and Jerry stille r and what an ensemble cast.
This is actually (in my opinion) one of the best statements on a celebrity divorce I’ve read in my life. It’s full of grace, mutual respect, optimism, and is realistic about the fact that sometimes when you grow, you just grow apart. It doesn’t mean you have to hate your spouse, you just realize you have a different dynamic now.
I especially love what they say about not viewing this as a failure because they had soooo many good years together. I feel like if people treated divorce more with this mindset vs a “omg I failed” mindset a lot more people wouldn’t be so afraid of “pulling the plug” on their own unfulfilling marriages. Good for them.
Totally agree. What a beautiful statement.
I also think this is beautiful. Silver divorces are on the rise. A lot of people are getting to their 50s and 60s and reconsidering what they want out of their third acts and decide to exit marriages that are no longer working for them. If you are going to divorce after 20+ years, their love and respect for each other is the way to do it. Good luck to them!
It’s probably too soon to say this, but she and JLO can go out cruising. 🙂
I’m glad he was there to support her through all the s**t that went down with the cultists. I find her so brave, i loved her $cientology aftermath show with Mike Rinder. She really ended any viability of new people going into that cult.
Its one of those things where i want to say- i am sad for your loss, but happy for your decision and you getting the future you want.
I think divorce always has a sad element to it- no one gets married thinking- this probably won’t last. Everyone wants it to go the distance. But if it can’t- it is a wonderful thing to do (and sometimes a matter of the privilege of financial resources) to be able to get out. And the emotional gumption to say- i’d rather try for happiness than stay in this safe, no longer happy relationship- not everyone can do that.
Good for them.
And i saw above a pitch for a JLO/Leah single ladies reality show- i would watch the crap out of that.
I love their statement. It was realistic and honest. And life is short no one should continue in a relationship that no longer serves them and who they are in the current moment. They are both still young enough to find love again and to create a different path for themselves. So many people stay in marriages like this because they are scared to be alone or start again. I applaud them for having the courage to move on. Also, Kaiser I watched those shows as well – I especially remember the wedding series because it was so OTT.
I remember their reality show. I remember listening to Howard Stern on the radio at the time it was airing, and he made fun of the fact that Angelo was so normal. IIRC, Angelo and his family ran their own little restaurant in NY.
This makes me sad too. Leah is an amazing, strong person. Their joint statement reflects maturity and mutual respect. The opposite of the s*it show of the Affleck/Lopez divorce.
Hang on for the final stretch? They’re not 85!! They could have 20/30/40 years left – why stick with a unsatisfying relationship for that long just bc you’re over 50?
Yeah, I wouldn’t wish continuing in an unhappy marriage on anyone, but basically telling two people in their fifties that they may as well stick it out because they’ll probably be dead soon is not on. That could be 30-40 years of misery!
Plus, the wording of the statement makes me think that at least one of them has already found someone else and wants to go public.
Honestly that was my thought, that there is a someone else in the picture and they are trying not to be ugly about it. Who knows, they may have been separated for a while and just kept it quiet.
@MSIAM I totally agree. I don’t by everyone should stay with one person for a lifetime regardless of how you evolve. I admire anyone who makes changes to enjoy a satisfied life. For me that would be a lover about 2-3 hours away for time together and time apart.
If they were together that long he must have been a Scientologist too right? She wouldn’t have been allowed to marry him otherwise? Did he leave when she did?
It’s been awhile since I read her book, but yes, I think they left together.
Angelo went into Scientology for Leah. Based on interviews she’s given, Angelo never actually believed in it. He converted, because he knew he wouldn’t have a place in her life if he didn’t. He left when she did.
An aside, because I obviously also immediately thought of JLo, but remember Leah and JLo are reportedly estranged since before JLo and Ben’s wedding – she tried to warn JLo (they met through Marc Anthony after Bennifer 1.0, so she heard it from JLo rather than experiencing it in real time) and JLo wasn’t having it. Leah reportedly wasn’t invited to the wedding – not just “getting her daughter ready for college” – and they’ve been on the outs since, so for the last 2+ years.
Leah and JLo reconnected back in June just after JLo tour was canceled .
It makes even more sense to me now that they recently reconnected/mended fences? She tried to warn JLo off Bennifer 2.0, she could see and hear the gossip about their impending split and her own marriage was ending so she could truly empathize in a way JLo might have appreciated (even if all Leah did was mention the upcoming divorce instead of an I-told-you-so). I hope they are able to support each other well. I also hope she enjoys this new single season and models and encourages JLo to do the same. That chick really needs to spend some time single and getting to know herself enough to be a bit more discriminate in picking more suitable partners.🫤
I have a few friends who are waiting for their kids to turn 18 to give their husbands the heave ho. This shouldn’t surprise anyone. I don’t think it was the case for Leah, but I have realized that some people have children with people they don’t have much in common with or even like very much, so when the kids grow up, they have nothing in common and it is best to part ways. I refused to settle, so I am still unmarried at 43, but I think this guy I see regularly has a crush on me because he keeps going out of his way to talk to me, so maybe something new will happen for me.
Andrea- hold out. I did and found an amazing mate/hubby.
I definitely am and hoping this guy that keeps chatting with me that I met materializes into something.
My mom and step-dad divorced after 22 years of marriage. I was grown, at the time, and stayed out of it but I do remember thinking that it was a heck of a long time in each of their lives that seemed “wasted.” I soon realized that was a dumb opinion and dumb way to look at it because I have SO many great memories growing up and my step-dad will ALWAYS be my Dad.
Leah has been on a journey of self discovery for awhile now since leaving Scientology and becoming one of their most convincing critics. She just received her undergraduate degree and I think I read that she is going on for her Masters. It may be that they both looked up and said “I only have so much time left and want to spend it with myself”. No harm no foul just time to move on to the next chapter of their lives.
She actually just got her associates and is going for her bachelors. For some reason I find that goal even more admirable. Perhaps because she’s not one of those celebrities accepting a fake honorary degree for which she didn’t open a book.
« After nearly three decades together, they couldn’t make it last for the final stretch? »
Kinda hate that statement. In our 50’s are we just expected to grow old and die? They probably made a great life together and we shouldn’t look at a later life divorce as a failure. Contrary it should be seen as them putting a healthy end to one chapter and deciding to do other things.
I loved reading that statement. The day I moved to college, my Mom moved into another bedroom. My parents were miserable together the last 15 years of their marriage, before she died. But didn’t divorce because of religion. It was so toxic and miserable for everyone. This separation is so healthy!!!
I just moved my kid into residence last week, so my husband and I are empty nesters now — and I’m not gonna lie, much as I love him, there’s definitely a few questions floating through my brain about how this next chapter of our lives together is going to go. It’s a weird feeling, suddenly being alone with someone you really haven’t been alone with for 20 years. A new normal to get used to. We are friends, we have common interests and goals, so I know we’ll figure it out.
But I can totally see how daunting that might look to someone who doesn’t feel close to their partner anymore — and I have a couple of friends who aren’t sure they want to stay with their husbands for another 30 years. The big difference between them and Leah Remini, or any other celeb? MONEY. Without a lot of it, divorce can really erode your personal wealth, and the nest egg you might have been planning to leave to your kids. Especially when one or both parents get remarried — as most men, in particular, do. Suddenly everything you worked so hard for over 20 years together isn’t totally yours anymore. A lot of divorced women end up having to live pretty simply in their later years. For some, it’s just not worth it, so they stick it out with their husband.
“The final stretch”?? She’s 56. Obviously no one knows how long they’re going to live but let’s assume the best: at 56 you’ve got a lot more time on earth and enough energy to start something new if that’s what you want.
I’m up for a LR and JLo romance! Forget them out cruising together; bring the heat!