Hollywood star Channing Tatum is finally opening up about one of the most difficult chapters of his life — the end of his marriage to Jenna Dewan.
After a long and drawn-out six-year legal battle that was only settled in 2024, the actor says the breakup left a lasting impact on him both personally and as a father.
From Love Story to Divorce
Tatum, now 45, and Dewan, 44, first crossed paths on the set of Step Up in 2006, where their on-screen chemistry quickly turned into real romance.
They married in 2009, welcomed their daughter Everly in 2013, but shocked fans when they announced their separation in 2018.
What followed was years of legal wrangling over custody and finances, especially around the Magic Mike franchise, which grew into a billion-dollar empire.
“It Was a Painful Break”
In a new interview with Variety, Tatum revealed just how much the split took out of him.
While preparing for his role in Roofman, where he plays a man estranged from his daughter, he admitted he could easily relate to that pain.
“Jenna and I are good now, but it was a painful break to have that fall apart, especially being so young,” he shared.
“We tried to keep it together for about a year and a half, but we knew it wasn’t working.”
Most of all, he says sharing custody of Everly has been the hardest part: “It’s really tough not to have your daughter half the time.
I wish I could just have her all the time.”
Why They Grew Apart
In an earlier interview with Vanity Fair, Tatum was candid about how the relationship changed over time.
“We fought for it for a really long time, even though we both sort of knew that we had grown apart,” he admitted.
“When you become parents, the differences between you are magnified. It’s screaming at you every day — how you parent, how you see the world.”
He described the separation as terrifying at first: “This whole plan that you had just turns into sand and goes through your fingers.
You’re like, ‘Oh, what now?’” But looking back, he believes it was necessary for his personal growth.
The Fight Over Magic Mike
One of the biggest sticking points in the divorce was money from Magic Mike.
Dewan’s lawyers argued that Tatum’s franchise — which spawned two sequels, a reality show, and a hit Las Vegas residency — was built on assets from their marriage and could be worth billions.
Tatum pushed back, insisting he always planned for her to share in the proceeds and that most of the money came in after they had separated.
In court filings, he stressed that he had never hidden financial records or cut her out of business decisions.
Moving Forward With Co-Parenting
Despite the long battle, both agreed to 50/50 custody of Everly in 2020.
Dewan has since built a new life with actor Steve Kazee, with whom she shares two more children.
Tatum, meanwhile, moved on with singer Jessie J for a time, then later with actress Zoë Kravitz.
That relationship ended in 2024, when the couple called off their engagement.
Love and Life After Divorce
While Tatum remains uncertain about marriage, he admits he’s a romantic at heart — though relationships don’t come easy for him.
“In business, I have no real fear of things falling apart,” he explained.
“But when it comes to the people I love, I try too hard. I don’t know if I’ll ever get married again.”
Back when they first announced their split in 2018, Tatum and Dewan made it clear there was no scandal behind the decision, writing: “Absolutely nothing has changed about how much we love one another, but love is a beautiful adventure that is taking us on different paths for now.”
Years later, Tatum admits the journey was messy, painful, and transformative — but also exactly what he needed to become who he is today.