Jennie Garth Talks About Putting Up a Happy Face During Relationship Fallout With Peter Facinelli

Jennie Garth reflected on her and ex-husband Peter Facinelli’s public personas following their 2012 divorce. Talking on Wednesday, July 24, about her QVC collaboration, the Beverly Hills, 90210 alum, 52, candidly discussed her once-contentious relationship with Facinelli, 50, after he appeared on two episodes of her podcast, “I Choose Me,” in June.

The episodes covered their divorce and co-parenting their three children.

“From the beginning, I had in the back of my mind the idea of having a conversation with Peter once I felt strong enough to move forward with it,” Garth told Us.

“It happened so easily. I was nervous to ask him, honestly, because it hasn’t been the easiest for us, and we’ve been putting up a good face for the world.”

She added, “It’s been very difficult. We wanted to finally tell the truth and let people know that this evolution could happen for us, and it’s a situation many people are dealing with.”

Garth and Facinelli were married from 2001 to 2012 and share three daughters: Luca, 27, Lola, 21, and Fiona, 17. Garth married Dave Abrams in 2015, while Facinelli is engaged to Lily Anne Harrison, with whom he shares a 21-month-old son, Jack.

“It’s something my family has struggled with, dealt with, and learned from over the years,” Garth said of her divorce. “We both wanted it to be a positive, helpful conversation. I had no idea where it would go.”

She jokingly noted, “I opened up the conversation, and Peter just started talking. I’ve never heard him talk that much. I think it was the first time he’s actually verbalized it to anyone.”

Almost a month after Facinelli appeared on her podcast, Garth shared with her audience that Facinelli had officially unblocked her on Instagram.

“Guys, we are officially friends now,” she said during the July 1 episode of “I Choose Me.” A few days later, Garth, Facinelli, and their daughters spent a day together on a boat, as shared on the actress’ Instagram.

“That episode really changed the dynamic in our family in such a great way,” Garth told Us. “And I never saw that coming. Life’s gifts are often unexpected.”

Despite the challenges of going through their post-divorce relationship, Garth said they are now on better terms. She even received an invitation to Facinelli’s son’s baptism, though she couldn’t attend. “It was a couple of days ago, but my daughters were all here,” she explained.