Jermaine Jenas and his wife, Ellie Penfold, have officially ended their marriage just six months after the BBC sacked the former footballer following a sexting scandal.
The former England midfielder was dropped by the broadcaster in August over allegations of workplace misconduct after sending explicit messages to two female employees.
At the time, Jermaine expressed hopes of salvaging his marriage with Ellie, whom he married in 2011. However, she took to Instagram on Tuesday to confirm they had officially parted ways.
In a heartfelt statement, Ellie wrote: “I never imagined I would have to share something so personal with the public, but given the situation, I feel it’s necessary.
“After 16 years together and four wonderful children, Jermaine and I have decided to part ways. We will remain friends and continue to co-parent. We kindly ask that you respect our children’s privacy during this challenging time. Thank you, Ellie.”
Since Jermaine’s dismissal from the BBC, Ellie had not shared any pictures with him on Instagram, and his absence from family celebrations, including Christmas, had been noticeable.