APPLETON, Wis. — Actor Josh Duhamel has opened up about the challenges he faced in his marriage to singer Fergie, revealing that he often felt overshadowed by her stardom during their decade-long relationship. In a candid interview on The Megyn Kelly Show that aired on March 25, Duhamel, 53, described the union as a "huge shift" in his life, attributing much of the adjustment to Fergie's massive fame at the time.
Duhamel and Fergie, whose real name is Stacy Ann Ferguson, married in 2009, the same year she achieved two Billboard No. 1 hits with the Black Eyed Peas' "Boom Boom Pow" and "I Gotta Feeling." The couple welcomed their son, Axl Jack, in 2013, but separated in 2017 and finalized their divorce in 2019. Duhamel has since remarried former Miss World America winner Audra Mari in September 2022; the pair share a 2-year-old son, Shepherd Lawrence Duhamel, and announced in March that they are expecting a daughter.
During the interview, host Megyn Kelly probed Duhamel about the dynamics of their fame disparity, asking if there was ever tension over "whose star [was] bigger." Duhamel admitted, "Yeah, probably," before elaborating that it stemmed more from his own ego than from Fergie. "It’s probably my own ego more than anything. I don’t think it bugged her as much as it probably did me. But she was a massive star at the time!" he said.
He further confessed that the marriage left him feeling like he was "in [Fergie’s] shadow a lot of the time." Despite the difficulties, Duhamel emphasized the positive aspects of their post-divorce relationship. "We have a great relationship," he noted, highlighting their successful coparenting of Axl. "We parent our son, Axl. She’s a great mom."
Duhamel praised Fergie as a "very normal person" and a "good mom," adding that she gets along well with his current wife. "Fergie is a very normal person, at the end of the day. A good mom. We have a great relationship. She and my wife [Audra Mari] actually get along great," he shared. This amicable dynamic extends to their family interactions, which Duhamel described as peaceful and free of conflict.
"I want to make sure everybody is just copacetic. I just want peace and I don’t want any in-fighting between anybody. They’ve been very civil, thankfully, in the way they approach this thing. … It could be ugly but, thankfully, it’s not," Duhamel continued. His comments underscore a commitment to harmony, especially as he builds a new family with Mari.
The announcement of Duhamel's second child with Mari came via Instagram on March 5, when she posted, "Adding a little girl to our story. We can’t wait to meet you." Fergie responded publicly with warmth, commenting, "Welcome the cuteness! 💖💖." This gesture aligns with Duhamel's portrayal of their blended family relations.
Duhamel has spoken sparingly about his divorce from Fergie in the years since, but he touched on it again during a March appearance on The Skinny Confidential podcast. There, he reiterated Fergie's wholesome nature, saying, "Fergie is also very wholesome, believe it or not. Especially since she sort of stepped away from it all." He described her as "a great mom. Very kind, very nonconfrontational, thank God. We have a good relationship. She and Audra have a great relationship."
We’re just very different. Fergie and I, we just have different views of the world. And that’s OK, you know. But I have no regrets about that. We have a beautiful son. But [Fergie and Audra] are just very different in a lot of ways. But also, both really great women. They really are.
This reflection highlights the fundamental differences that contributed to the end of his first marriage, while expressing no bitterness. Duhamel, known for roles in films like Transformers and the TV series Las Vegas, has maintained a steady career in Hollywood, but his marriage to Fergie thrust him into a spotlight intensified by her music success.
Fergie's career with the Black Eyed Peas peaked in the late 2000s, with the group selling millions of albums and dominating charts. Their 2009 album The E.N.D. alone produced multiple hits, cementing her as a pop icon. Duhamel, who rose to fame around the same period with his soap opera work on All My Children and subsequent big-screen roles, found himself navigating a partnership where his wife's celebrity often took center stage.
According to reports, the couple's separation in 2017 was amicable, with both issuing joint statements emphasizing their focus on coparenting. "After much love and consideration, we have made the difficult decision to separate," they said at the time, without citing specific reasons. Duhamel's recent disclosures provide more insight into the personal adjustments he made during their union.
Now, as Duhamel prepares for the arrival of his daughter, he expressed deep contentment in his current life. "I’m extremely happily married now to my wife, Audra. We have a beautiful son and a little girl on the way," he told Kelly. This optimism contrasts with the ego-driven struggles he recalled from his past, suggesting personal growth over the years.
The actor's willingness to discuss these intimate details comes amid a broader trend in celebrity interviews where former couples reflect on high-profile splits with candor. Duhamel's story echoes those of other entertainers who have navigated fame imbalances, such as musicians married to actors or vice versa, often leading to public speculation about relational strains.
While Duhamel has not detailed specific incidents from his marriage, his admissions offer a window into the less glamorous side of celebrity relationships. Fergie, who has largely stepped back from the music industry since 2017 to focus on family, has not publicly responded to Duhamel's latest comments. However, her supportive social media interaction suggests continued goodwill.
Looking ahead, Duhamel is set to star in upcoming projects, including the action thriller Shotgun Wedding co-starring Jennifer Lopez, which was released in 2023. His personal life, meanwhile, appears stable and expanding, with the upcoming birth marking a new chapter. For now, the former couple's emphasis on coparenting and mutual respect serves as a model for other separated celebrity parents.
In Appleton, where community values often prioritize family harmony, Duhamel's narrative resonates as a reminder that even in the glare of Hollywood lights, personal peace can prevail. As he and Mari await their daughter, the actor's reflections on past shadows underscore a journey toward balance and fulfillment.