Josh Duhamel, renowned for his roles in “Transformers” and “Life as We Know It,” has candidly discussed the reasons behind the end of his marriage to former Black Eyed Peas singer Fergie in a recent interview on the “In Depth With Graham Bensinger” podcast. The 50-year-old actor shared that he has come to terms with the factors that led to their separation.
One significant aspect contributing to their split, according to Duhamel, was the stark contrast in their lifestyles. He admitted, “I don’t think I ever really got comfortable with all of it,” referring to the intense world of Hollywood. “I just missed the simplicity of who I really am, you know?”
Duhamel elaborated, expressing discomfort with the glitz and glamour of Hollywood, saying, “I’m just not a guy who is comfortable going to red carpets. Doing all the Hollywood stuff.”
Fergie filed for divorce from Duhamel in 2019 after eight years of marriage. The former couple shares a son, Axl, who is now 10 years old. In September 2022, Duhamel married Audra Mari, 29, in Fargo, North Dakota, and they are currently expecting their first child together.
Reflecting on his past marriage, Duhamel emphasized, “I made peace with that part of my life. She and I have a great relationship,” and he added, “There wasn’t anything wrong with it. We had a great time. I think we kind of outgrew each other and had very different interests.” He also expressed his gratitude for Fergie, saying, “I’m very lucky that she’s a kind human.”
Despite his success in Hollywood, Duhamel admitted that it took him a long time to feel like he truly “fit in” and cautioned against the soul-draining nature of the Hollywood lifestyle.
In contrast, he highlighted the differences between his past and present relationships, emphasizing the shared North Dakotan roots he has with Audra Mari. Duhamel described his lake house as a place where he can reconnect with his true self.
During the interview, Mari joined her husband to discuss their plans for growing their family. While jokingly referencing Duhamel’s sister’s statement that he “always wanted to have eight or nine kids,” Mari expanded on the idea, saying, “I really do believe he would have five more kids if he was even 40 right now,” expressing their hope for more children.
The couple shared their baby announcement on Instagram in September, and Duhamel has openly discussed his co-parenting relationship with Fergie, emphasizing their shared commitment to creating a comfortable and pressure-free environment for their son, Axl.
