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Actress and former reality TV star Tori Spelling has revealed that it was her teenage daughter Hattie who gave her the courage to end her troubled marriage to Dean McDermott.
Speaking candidly on her new podcast, misSPELLING, Tori shared intimate details about the final stages of her relationship and how her children — especially Hattie — played a pivotal role in her decision to file for divorce.
“Have You Ever Considered Being With Someone Else?”
Tori recounted a heart-wrenching conversation with Hattie, who hesitantly approached her mom about the state of her parents’ relationship.
“She was scared to talk about it initially,” Tori said. “But then she asked, ‘Have you ever considered what it would be like to be with someone else and not dad — and get treated right?’”
The moment marked a turning point for Tori, who said it opened her eyes to the impact the marriage was having on her children.
“We Could No Longer Hide the Fights”
Tori admitted that the environment at home had become toxic, especially for their five children. Despite efforts to protect them, the couple’s issues became impossible to conceal.
“It got to the point where it was worse for the kids to see us together,” she shared. “We could no longer hide what was happening — the fights, the tension.”
She also touched on her struggle with trying to maintain a facade for the sake of her children, while feeling increasingly lost in the relationship.
Dean’s Addiction Took a Toll on the Family
Tori didn’t shy away from discussing the deeper issues within the marriage. She described her ex-husband Dean as someone “going through a lot” due to his addiction issues, and acknowledged the emotional strain it caused.
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“He was an addict going through a lot, and a lot of it was taken out on me,” she revealed.
She emphasized how her children, especially Hattie, were aware of the emotional toll it was taking on her, despite her efforts to shield them.
“I Didn’t Like the Person I Was Becoming”
In one of the most emotional parts of the podcast episode, Tori reflected on how the relationship changed her — not for the better.
“I didn’t like the person I was,” she said. “I was trying to raise strong humans and just taking it and taking it.”
Realizing that her behavior was setting an unhealthy example for her children, especially her daughters, became a catalyst for change.
Official Divorce After 18 Years of Marriage
Tori Spelling and Dean McDermott, who share five children — Liam, Stella, Hattie, Finn, and Beau — were married for 18 years before officially beginning the divorce process.
Tori filed for divorce on March 29, 2024, putting an end to a long and often publicly tumultuous marriage that had been plagued by reports of infidelity, addiction, and financial hardship over the years.
