Jennifer Lopez’s Friend Leah Remini and Angelo Pagan Divorce After 21 Years

Leah Remini and Angelo Pagan have made the difficult decision to end their marriage after 21 years, a move that has left many fans stunned.

Having been together for 28 years, the pair shared the news through a heartfelt joint statement on Instagram, explaining the reasons behind their decision.

Leah, known for her role in King of Queens, and Angelo, whom she wed in 2003, were cherished by fans both on and off the screen. They share a 20-year-old daughter, Sofia Bella. The announcement comes shortly after Leah’s close friend Jennifer Lopez ended her marriage to Ben Affleck, adding an emotional layer to the news.

Their joint statement began with a reflection: “Well, here we are. After 28 years together and 21 years of marriage, we have decided to file for divorce.” Despite the sadness, Leah and Angelo expressed optimism, believing this step is right for them both.

“This decision came after a lot of thought and care, and as hard as divorce is, we are approaching this with a positive outlook because we know it’s what’s best for us,” they shared. The couple, who faced numerous challenges together, including Leah’s public departure from Scientology, insisted their bond remains strong, even as their marriage ends.

“We are proud of how we have worked through this together,” they continued, acknowledging the difficulty while expressing hope for the future. They emphasized that while their marriage is ending, their friendship and co-parenting relationship will remain strong. “Yes, we’re sad, and we’ve got some figuring out to do as we continue to move forward into our new normal—together still in many ways, and apart in some new ones.”

Leah and Angelo have always been open about their relationship, sharing their lives with fans through their reality show Leah Remini: It’s All Relative, which aired for two seasons on TLC in 2014. In their statement, they expressed a desire to continue this transparency.

“So, the big question—why? To put it simply, we both changed, as people do, and we got used to playing roles that didn’t fit us anymore,” they revealed candidly. “After a lot of effort and consideration, we’ve decided to take this step, which reflects who we are today. Our bond is still strong—it’s just evolved into something different.”

The couple stressed that their marriage was far from a failure. Instead, they view it as a success, filled with beautiful memories and shared experiences. “We think a marriage that lasted this long and created so many beautiful memories, especially raising our incredible daughter, is something to celebrate,” they wrote, adding that they are excited to create new memories, albeit in a different way.

In a touching conclusion, Leah and Angelo expressed gratitude for the life they built together: “We want to be as transparent as we can be here because, for years, we shared our marriage so publicly, whether it was on our specials on VH1 or our reality show,” they noted. They hope their story can provide comfort to others navigating similar paths, emphasizing that relationships can change or end without being seen as failures. “We’ll keep sharing snippets of our lives as we navigate this new chapter,” they assured fans, signing off with, “Love, Leah & Angelo.”

To accompany their message, the couple included side-by-side photos—one from the early days of their relationship and another from more recent times, showcasing their journey together.

Leah and Angelo’s love story began in 1996 when they met at the Cuban nightclub El Floridita in Los Angeles, where Angelo was performing. Leah, not yet famous from King of Queens, instantly fell for Angelo, describing their meeting as “love at first sight.” Their romance blossomed, and by Christmas Eve 2002, Angelo had proposed. The couple wed seven months later in a beautiful ceremony at the Four Seasons Hotel in Las Vegas.

Over the years, Leah embraced Angelo’s three sons from a previous relationship—Angelo Jr., Alex, and Nico—and supported him as he joined Scientology, a religion that significantly impacted Leah’s life until she left it in 2013. Their daughter, Sofia Bella, was born in June 2004, completing their family.

Source: Variety