Leah Remini and Angelo Pagán Announce Their Separation

Leah Remini and husband Angelo Pagán are going their separate methods after greater than 20 years of marriage.

The King of Queens alum, 54, and the entrepreneur introduced their determination to finish their marriage after 21 years in a joint Instagram submit on Thursday, Aug. 29.

“Effectively, right here we’re. After 28 years collectively and 21 years of marriage, now we have determined to file for divorce,” the announcement started. “This determination got here after quite a lot of thought and care, and as arduous as divorce is, we’re approaching this with a constructive outlook as a result of we all know it’s what’s greatest for us.”

The assertion continued, “We’re pleased with how now we have labored by means of this collectively.” Whereas they determine their “new regular,” they mentioned they may nonetheless proceed “celebrating holidays collectively, watching our favourite television reveals collectively, and gathering as a household.”

“So, the massive query—why? To place it merely, we each modified, as individuals do, and we obtained used to enjoying roles that didn’t match us anymore. After quite a lot of effort and consideration, we’ve determined to take this step, which displays who we’re at present,” they wrote.

“Our bond continues to be sturdy—it’s simply developed into one thing totally different. We predict a wedding that lasted this lengthy and created so many stunning reminiscences, particularly elevating our unbelievable daughter, is one thing to rejoice. From our perspective, this marriage was an enormous success. And now, we’re trying ahead to creating much more cherished moments—simply another way.”

Remini and Pagán mentioned they needed to be “as clear as we will be” since they shared their marriage “so publicly” on TV over time.

“We’re sharing this unknown territory with you all as we take our first steps into this subsequent stage of our lives publicly,” the assertion continued. “We might love for everybody to have extra entry to totally different sorts of relationship tales and never really feel so remoted in navigating the adjustments that thousands and thousands of {couples} make yearly. We hope our journey can encourage others to see that relationships—whether or not they change or finish—aren’t failures. We’ll preserve sharing snippets of our lives as we navigate this new chapter.”

The actress first met Pagán in 1996 when he was acting at El Floridita, a Cuban membership and restaurant in Los Angeles.

The couple later wed in 2003 and welcomed a daughter, Sofia Bella, on June 16, 2004. Pagán additionally has three sons — Angelo Jr., Alex and Nico — from a earlier relationship.

“For me, it was love at first sight,” Remini recalled throughout a 2010 interview for Redbook journal.

In 2019, she opened up about their first assembly throughout an look on the short-lived discuss present RuPaul, saying, “I noticed him throughout the room and was like, ‘Rattling! What time do you get off?'”

“It was like every thing fallacious, like every thing that you shouldn’t do as a woman is ask a man when he will get off work, hit it actual fast, and it was quite a lot of that … I used to be like a groupie,” she jokingly added. “It was simply actually dangerous, all dangerous seems to be.”

Remini was additionally frank in regards to the ups and downs the pair confronted throughout their relationship.

“It is an exquisite love story as a result of we did have a tough time initially,” she defined. “We did not meet beneath the perfect of circumstances. We obtained counseling and it was not a straightforward street. So I am saying these items to be humorous, as soon as once more, however the reality of the matter is he’s my rock.”

Over time, Remini and Pagán labored collectively on numerous events, together with on her hit sitcom The King of Queens, the place Pagán made a number of visitor appearances.

Extra not too long ago, Remini revealed on her X (previously referred to as Twitter) and Instagram accounts that she earned an affiliate’s diploma from New York College (NYU) in March.

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Subsequent to a photograph of her diploma, Remini expressed that she started the “terrifying journey” three years in the past “on the age of fifty after solely having an Eighth-grade schooling.”

“After three years of arduous work, lengthy nights, tears, and wanting to surrender so many instances, I’ve earned an affiliate’s diploma from NYU. I am now engaged on my bachelor’s diploma,” Remini introduced.