Jennie Garth, Peter Facinelli Divorce: Jennie Will 'Always Be In My Life,' Facinelli Says (VIDEO)

A week after filing divorce docs, Peter Facinelli opened up about how he and soon-to-be ex-wife Jennie Garth are faring.

"Jen and I are doing really well," Facinelli told Kelly Ripa while co-hosting "Live! With Kelly" on Wednesday. "She'll always be in my life. I love her -- we're just going to have a different relationship."

Facinelli, who Garth has said was the one to initiated the divorce, told Ripa that the divorce has been "very painful," but that the couple is focused on staying "dedicated to being great parents" to their three daughters, Luca, 14, Lola, 9 and Fiona, 5.

"It's very painful to break up with somebody especially after you've been together for 17 years and you have kids -- it's even more painful when it's played out in the media," the "Twilight" star said. "I've tried to stay really quiet about it for the sake of my kids."

Facinelli wed Garth in January 2001, after meeting on the set of the TV movie “An Unfinished Affair” in 1996. The pair announced their breakup on March 13. A day later, they released a joint statement denying "hurtful" allegations that infidelity had caused their split.

Watch the video above to hear what else Facinelli had to say.

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Comments

[ariala]

05:12 PM on 05/13/2012

If he still loves her and he is not cheating, whatever happened to
for better or for worse. People who stay married say they go
through changes. Life is full of changes. I'll pray for Kelly.
An interview I heard today shows her breaking down. She
doesn't seem to be doing fine to me, and I don't blame her.

[melodisong2]

12:34 PM on 04/05/2012

He is soooooooooooo cheating. He'll be remarried by this time next year to the 'replacement'.

[denicci1977]

08:18 PM on 04/04/2012

Makes no sense how people can say they have a great relationship and love that person, but want to get divorced. If it was tnat great and so much love, you would try counseling and figure out whatever the problem is. 17 years is a long time. People treat marriage and divorce like buying underwear. It is more to vows than just dressing up and saying it. What happened to for better or worse and give and take ?

[pwjohannes]

02:50 PM on 05/04/2012

Most people marry with the best of intentions. However, there may come a time when the differences are too great, or that one spouse doesn't have the same commitment level they started with.

And sometimes, no matter how hard you try, it just doesn't work anymore. I suspect if the couple didn't have children it might have ended sooner. People with children often stay married long after the bloom is off the vine.

[OtayPanky]

03:53 PM on 04/04/2012

That was hilarious! Thank you so much!