Five years later, Sara Gilbert and Linda Perry’s divorce journey has come to an end.
According to court documents acquired by Us Weekly, the divorce between the former spouses was finalized on Thursday, December 19. Gilbert, aged 49, initiated the legal process to separate from Perry, aged 59, in 2019 after being married for five years.
In the original divorce papers obtained by Us, Gilbert stated “irreconcilable differences” as the grounds for their separation and specified August 13, 2019, as their date of parting ways. In her filing, Gilbert requested joint custody, both legal and physical, of their 9-year-old son Rhodes. (Gilbert is also a parent to Levi, 20, and Sawyer, 17, from her past relationship with Ali Adler.)
Perry reflected on the breakup to Us in January 2020 by saying, “I mean, it’s life, man. Life is happening and you’re witnessing it. You know, this is a moment in life and people will get to witness it and I’m not. … I’ve had an incredible journey and I’m still on an incredible journey.”
She added: “Things that end doesn’t mean they’re over or they’re bad. It’s just you’re evolving into a different place and that’s kind of how I’m looking at it.”
Gilbert and Perry were declared legally separated in October 2021, the same month they reached a custody agreement for their son. The two were granted joint custody over Rhodes and would split time with him 50-50, in court docs obtained by Us. The duo agreed that neither would pay child support, in addition to settling financial issues and spousal support.
News of the pair’s divorce finalization comes two months after Gilbert filed an uncontested dissolution of marriage on October 24.
The exes began dating in 2011, one year after Gilbert publicly came out as a lesbian. “I can’t believe anyone cares,” Gilbert stated on a November 2011 episode of The Talk. “All these articles are out that I’m in a new relationship … I go online, and it’s on CNN … It’s weird.”
She continued: “I do want to share [my news] with you… But I want to do it on my terms, in full hair and makeup.”
Nearly six months after they tied the knot in March 2014, Gilbert announced she was pregnant with her and Perry’s first child. After refusing to have a cinderblock broken on her stomach during The Talk’s September 2014 “Face Your Fears” week, Gilbert informed her cohosts and viewers of her pregnancy news. The announcement came as a surprise to her castmates, who jumped from their seats and hugged Gilbert in excitement. She gave birth to Rhodes in February 2015.
In November 2019, Perry exclusively told Us that she and Gilbert had no plans to continue expanding their family. “Sara can’t have any more kids,” she shared at the time. “That part’s done. We barely squeaked out this one.”
Noting that she loves kids, Perry told Us: “I’m always doing panels. I’m always trying to teach kids. My artist friends are always bringing their 13-year-olds to my studio, like, ‘OK! Do your thing!’ So it’s fun. There are always kids. There’s always somebody that needs you.”
