The Real Housewives of Orange County alum Alexis Bellino is getting a divorce after 13 years of marriage.
Though it has been a few years since she was on RHOC, the news about Alexis and Jim took a number of fans by surprise. People wondered where they went wrong.
In a joint statement, the divorcing couple is confirming their divorce — and explaining it.
In a joint statement to Us Weekly, Alexis and Jim Bellino hope to clear the air.
“It is with heavy hearts,” the statement begins. “That we inform the public of our mutual decision to end our marriage.”
That can be a difficult choice to make, and sometimes it is just as difficult to announce.
The statement continues: “But it’s important to us that you know we made this choice together, with love.”
That sounds amicable! That’s very promising.
She says they see it as right for them, “and as the best decision for our children’s future.”
The statement from Alexis and Jim, who just last year enjoyed a romantic getaway in Venice, Italy, continues.
“We hold one another in the highest regards as spouses, and especially as parents,” the statement reads.
So they want it clear that this isn’t a situation of spite or hatred.
“We have agreed,’ they announce. “On 50/50 custody of the children,”
So it doesn’t sound like they plan on waging a custody battle.
They’re telling fans this “and we ask that you respect our privacy by not theorizing about the reasons for our divorce.”
So we’re not meant to believe that they’re both assassins from rival organizations and have only just learned of this. Gotcha.
“In recent days and weeks,” the statement continues. “There has been a lot of negative discussion about our marriage and why it is ending.”
“Outside of the news of our decision to part ways,” Alexis and Jim say. “There is nothing provocative, alluring, or sordid about the dissolution of our marriage.”
That is often the case. Marriages can begin and end for very mundane reasons.
“Quite to the contrary,” the statement says. “We strongly support each other just as we have since the beginning of our relationship.”
It sounds like they’re just no longer compatible as partners.
“Our marriage was a good one,” Alexis and Jim say. “But we were never perfect people or spouses.”
The statement then goes on to claim that “no one is” perfect. If that’s true, how do they explain Janelle Monae?
“And in this respect,” the statement says. “We were a lot like millions of other married people.”
In other words: flawed.
“And,” the statement says. “Just like millions of other married people, we simply grew apart over times.”
Hey, it happens.
“There is no ill will or bad blood between us,” they reiterate.
“And maybe that’s why,” they say. “Absurd rumors about our marriage and future together began when we filed for divorce.”
Their argument, here, is that if they’d really been having problems, then there would have been rumors before their divorce.
(We don’t know if we necessarily buy that logic)
“We ultimately want you to feel happy for us,” the statement reads. “Respect our privacy during this difficult time, and pray for our mutual benefit as we weather this storm.”
Alexis and Jim give a shoutout to those lending them emotional support.
“To the fans who have supported us since the beginning, we’re grateful for how you cheers us on,” they write.
“We ask that you continue to cheer,” the statement concludes. “As our lives and the lives of our children change and ultimately improve as a result of this difficult decision.”
That is a very reasonable request.
Let’s hope that their divorce remains as amicable and thoughtful as it appears in this joint statement.
