Why Did Justin Hartley & Chrishell Stause Divorce?

(Image credit: Michael Kovac/Getty Images)

published 19 June 2020

Two years after they got married, fan-favorite couple Chrishell Stause and Justin Hartley suddenly filed for divorce. Not only was this a shock to their fans, but apparently it was a shock to Stause as well—and details about why the couple split have been few so far. We'll see Stause next on season 3 of real estate reality show Selling Sunset (premiering on Netflix August 7), and if early indications are any sign, we might actually get some of the details we've all been waiting for. This Is Us actor Hartley never actually appeared on Selling Sunset, but Stause talked about him in both seasons 1 and 2. But the super-in love couple seemed like they were blissfully happy—and then, suddenly, not so much. What happened? And how much will Selling Sunset tell us about all the drama?

Stause and Hartley's surprise divorce was filed in November 2019.

Here's context if you're unfamiliar: Hartley filed for divorce from Stause on November 22, 2019, citing irreconcilable differences. This, apparently, was a huge shock for Stause.

According to a source, the divorce left her "reeling"—on top of the sudden news, she moved out of the house they shared together. “Yes, they’d had some problems, but she certainly never thought he would just go and suddenly file for divorce, and not even try to save things,” they said.

“He’s reached a new level of fame thanks to the show and he doesn’t want to close many doors right now, and that’s not necessarily the path Chrishell is looking to take,” they added. “She thought babies would happen soon after they got married, but it just hasn’t worked out.”

The source also shared that the divorce filing made her feel like “Justin never took their marriage seriously at all,” adding, “Justin has already been married, and divorced, once before." [Hartley has one child from a previous marriage.]

And thus far, that's about as much as we knew regarding the reasons behind the split. Stause posted a cryptic quote about people changing, but didn't offer much by way of explanation about it.

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The end of Selling Sunset season 2 had an epic Chrishell-Justin teaser.

So after the finale, a card appeared that read, "Still to come," followed by the tease to end all teases: The news of the divorce breaking, and Stause's reaction.

“I’m just kind of in shock with it all,” Stause is then heard telling friend and co-worker Mary Fitzgerald.

"He just blindsided you?" Fitzgerald asks.

Stause nods.

"It's just a lot all at once because everybody in the whole world knows," she adds, breaking down in tears. "I love him so much. This was my best friend. Who do I talk to now?"

But apparently there might be more to the story: "She knows why this happened," Davina Potratz says. OH BOY.

Thus far, there's no season 3 trailer, but if that is any indication, Stause has some thoughts and would love to share them. I think viewers can expect to see the show explore what happened—to what degree, it's not clear, but it's guaranteed to be juicy.

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Katherine’s a contributing syndications editor at Marie Claire who covers fashion, culture, and lifestyle. In her role, she writes stories that are syndicated by MSN and other outlets. She’s been a full-time freelancer for over a decade and has had roles with Cosmopolitan (where she covered lifestyle, culture, and fashion SEO content) and Bustle (where she was their movies and culture writer). She has bylines in New York Times, Parents, InStyle, Refinery29, and elsewhere. Her work has also been syndicated by ELLE, Harper’s Bazaar, Seventeen, Good Housekeeping, and Women’s Health, among others. In addition to her stories reaching millions of readers, content she's written and edited has qualified for a Bell Ringer Award and received a Communicator Award.

Katherine has a BA in English and art history from the University of Notre Dame and an MA in art business from the Sotheby's Institute of Art (with a focus on marketing/communications). She covers a wide breadth of topics: she's written about how to find the very best petite jeans, how sustainable travel has found its footing on Instagram, and what it's like to be a professional advice-giver in the modern world. Her personal essays have run the gamut from learning to dress as a queer woman to navigating food allergies as a mom. She also has deep knowledge of SEO/EATT, affiliate revenue, commerce, and social media; she regularly edits the work of other writers. She speaks at writing-related events and podcasts about freelancing and journalism, mentors students and other new writers, and consults on coursework. Currently, Katherine lives in Boston with her husband and two kids, and you can follow her on Instagram. If you're wondering about her last name, it’s “I go to dinner,” not “Her huge ego,” but she responds to both.