If you’ve ever sat through a binge-session of Selling Sunset, you probably remember the exact moment the world shifted for Chrishell Stause. It wasn't about a commission or a multi-million dollar listing in the Hills. It was that raw, blurry-eyed scene in a hotel room where she revealed her husband had filed for divorce.
The man on the other end of that filing? Justin Hartley.
✨ Don't miss: Jennifer Garner and Ben Affleck back together: What really happened with the reunion rumors
Back then, he was the golden boy of network TV, starring as Kevin Pearson on the massive hit This Is Us. They were the ultimate "soap opera to superstardom" couple. But the way it ended—via a text message, allegedly—turned a private heartbreak into one of the biggest tabloid mysteries of the decade. People still talk about it because it felt so sudden. One day they’re posting selfies at a charity event, and 45 minutes later, the TMZ alerts are hitting phones while Chrishell is still trying to process the "why."
Justin Hartley: The Man Behind the Headlines
To understand the dynamic, you’ve gotta look at where Justin was in 2019. He wasn't just some guy; he was a lead on the most-watched drama in America.
He and Chrishell met back in 2013. They were both soap veterans—he’d been on The Young and the Restless, she was a staple on Days of Our Lives. A mutual friend set them up, they talked all night at a concert, and that was basically it. They were inseparable. They got married in 2017 at a gorgeous ranch in Malibu. By all accounts, including Chrishell’s own words at the time, he was her "best friend."
Then came the "blindside."
In November 2019, Justin filed for divorce citing "irreconcilable differences." The weird part? He listed the date of separation as July 8, 2019. Chrishell disputed that, saying they were very much together until the day he filed in November. It’s a technical detail, sure, but it points to a massive disconnect in how two people saw the same marriage. Honestly, it’s the kind of thing that keeps fans up at night. How do you live in the same house and have a four-month gap in your "breakup date" perception?
Why Did the Marriage Actually Fail?
There isn't one smoking gun, but there are plenty of breadcrumbs.
- The Fame Factor: Chrishell hinted on Selling Sunset that Justin’s sudden "A-list" status changed things. Success is a hell of a drug, and sometimes it shifts the ground beneath a relationship.
- Family Planning: This is a big one. Reports at the time suggested Chrishell was ready to settle down and start a family immediately. Justin, who already has a daughter (Isabella) from his first marriage to Lindsay Korman, reportedly wasn't in the same rush.
- The "Under the Rug" Strategy: In later interviews, Chrishell admitted they had a habit of not addressing their problems. They'd fight, then just pretend everything was fine. You can only do that for so long before the rug gets too lumpy to walk on.
Life After the Split
Justin didn't stay single for long. By May 2021, he had married Sofia Pernas, another former The Young and the Restless co-star. If that timeline feels fast, you aren't alone in thinking so. Chrishell herself noted on the show that finding out he was with someone she "knew well" from back in the day actually helped her find closure. It made the pieces of the puzzle fit together, even if the picture they formed was painful.
💡 You might also like: Family Tree of John F Kennedy: Why Camelot Still Matters
Nowadays, Justin is still crushing it on screen. His show Tracker became a massive hit on CBS in 2024, and heading into 2026, he’s solidified himself as a reliable leading man. He’s often spotted with Sofia on red carpets, looking very much "at peace," as he described in a rare interview with Haute Living. He rarely talks about the Chrishell era. He’s moved on, focused on his career and his new marriage.
Where Chrishell Stands Now
If you were worried about Chrishell, don't be.
She took the "wedding ring money" and bought her own house—a literal "dream home" she’s bragged about on Netflix. She’s since found a totally different kind of love with Australian musician G Flip. They got married in Las Vegas in 2023 and have basically become the poster couple for "finding your person" in the most unexpected places.
She even joked about the Justin era recently. While filming The Traitors, she had to put her hand in a box of bugs and quipped, "This is worse than my first wedding." It’s that kind of dark humor that shows she’s truly through the woods.
Lessons from a High-Profile Fallout
What can we actually learn from the Justin and Chrishell saga? It’s not just gossip.
- Independence is non-negotiable. Chrishell has been vocal about this since the split. She now preaches that you should never lose your own sense of self or financial autonomy in a marriage.
- Communication over "Brushing." If you're fighting for months but pretending it's fine, the ending will always feel like a blindside to someone.
- Timeline is everything. When someone shows you who they are by how they leave, believe them. The "text message divorce" became a badge of resilience for Chrishell, helping her rebrand from "soap actress" to "relatable survivor."
If you’re following the drama to see if they'll ever reconcile or do a "tell-all" interview together—don't hold your breath. Justin has moved into the "serious actor" lane, and Chrishell has embraced the "lifestyle mogul" path. They are two ships that didn't just pass in the night; they collided and sailed in opposite directions.
To keep up with their current projects, you can catch Justin in Tracker or follow Chrishell’s latest real estate wins (and drama) on the upcoming seasons of Selling Sunset. Both have proven that while a public divorce is a nightmare, it’s not the end of the story—it’s just a really messy mid-season finale.