Josh Duhamel on Why He and Fergie Got Divorced

Josh Duhamel disclosed that he has “made peace” with the reasons why his marriage to Fergie ended.

In a new interview with the In Depth With Graham Bensinger podcast, the Transformers star, 50, reflected on his past marriage to the former Black Eyed Peas singer, 48.

Duhamel noted that a big factor in the split came down to their difference in lifestyles. 

“I don’t think I ever really got comfortable with all of it,” he said, referring to how intense Hollywood can be. “I just missed the simplicity of who I really am, you know?”

“I’m just not a guy who is comfortable going to red carpets. Doing all the Hollywood stuff,” the Life as We Know It actor added.

Fergie filed for divorce from Duhamel in 2019 after eight years of marriage. They share one child together, son Axl, 10.

Duhamel tied the knot with Audra Mari, 29, in Fargo, North Dakota, in September 2022. The couple is currently expecting their first child together.

“I made peace with that part of my life. She and I have a great relationship,” he told Bensinger. 

“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.”

“I’ve got no hard feelings for it. I truly don’t,” Duhamel continued. “I’m very lucky that she’s a kind human.”

While adding that although he’s had success in Hollywood, it took him a long time to feel like he “fit in.”

“Hollywood and L.A. and that whole lifestyle can suck the soul out of you if you’re not careful,” Duhamel added.

The Safe Haven star revealed how his experiences in his past marriage are a drastic change from his present one.

“That’s why Audra’s so great for me. We’re both hardcore North Dakotans,” he shared after revealing that his lake house is a place where he “can get back to being who I really am.”

“We both love lake life,” he said of Mari.

Mari joined her husband and Bensinger for a portion of the interview and the couple shared they want to continue growing their family.

While jokingly referring to Duhamel’s sister previously stating that the Shotgun Wedding actor "always wanted to have eight or nine kids," Mari expanded on the idea.

"I will say, the age thing doesn't normally come into conversation, but it definitely does when speaking of having babies," the former Miss World America beauty queen added. 

"I really do believe he would have five more kids if he was even 40 right now. It's probably true. We'll definitely have a few though. Hopefully, God willing."

"That's the hope," Duhamel said.

They shared their baby announcement in September in a joint Instagram post.

The proud father has also openly discussed his co-parenting relationship with Fergie on several occasions.

“[We] had to be a positive example for Axl,” Duhamel said. “We just both wanted the same thing — and that is to create an easy place for him that isn’t awkward, or uncomfortable or pressure filled.”