In a candid and emotional interview on Sherri Shepherd’s talk show, Jeannie Mai opened up about her recent divorce from Jeezy, marking the first time she publicly discussed the shocking split. This revelation came less than 24 hours after she posted a cryptic quote on social media alluding to the divorce, hinting at the personal turmoil she had been navigating.
The former host of “The Real,” now 44, spared no details in her conversation with Shepherd, sharing the profound pain she had been enduring during the breakup. She expressed her struggle to find solace and inner peace in the wake of the divorce, emphasizing that it’s a daily process.
Jeannie explained, “I’m not going to lie, it takes every day, to just really sit and just be quiet in your thoughts … take care of me.” Her words resonated with Shepherd, who alluded to her own experience with grief. Jeannie then revealed that she had taken a drastic step in her quest for self-healing – she “turned off every single device” in her home when Jeezy filed for divorce. It was a deliberate act aimed at allowing her to focus on her own voice and the truth she needed to find.
This profound revelation came a day after Jeannie had taken to Instagram to share a hand-written message on lined paper that read, “Sometimes, you need to take a break and disconnect to heal.” This post was the first indication of her reaction to her estranged husband’s decision to file for divorce. The couple, who had been married for two years, saw their relationship come to an unexpected end when Jeezy, whose real name is Jay Wayne Jenkins, filed for divorce in Georgia’s Fulton County Superior Court on September 14. He cited an irretrievable breakdown in the marriage with no hope for reconciliation.
In the divorce filing, Jeezy also requested joint legal custody of their daughter, Monaco, who was born in January 2022. During her appearance on Sherri Shepherd’s show on October 12, Jeannie spoke of her daughter as her “North star” during this trying period, expressing deep gratitude for her role as a mother.
Jeannie’s perspective on motherhood in the midst of a challenging divorce was moving: “I can definitely tell you that I don’t know if I would handle this the same way without [Monaco] because today, I’m able to look at her and I can say, ‘What would I advise you if you were in my shoes?’ It changes everything, so I’m so thankful to be a mom and I’m thankful to have her.”
As for Jeezy, he has largely remained silent regarding the divorce, offering only a cryptic Instagram post on the day he filed. In the series of photos, he leaned against a luxury car, accompanied by the caption, “Too focused on who I’m becoming to focus on who’s not coming with me.” This post elicited strong reactions from fans in the comments section, reflecting the surprise and disappointment over the marriage’s abrupt ending.
Jeezy and Jeannie first crossed paths in the fall of 2018 after he appeared on “The Real.” They began dating at the beginning of 2019 and exchanged vows in March 2021. Their daughter, Monaco, was welcomed into the world in January 2022. Jeannie Mai’s conversation with Sherri Shepherd has shed light on the emotional complexities of divorce and her journey towards healing and resilience. It’s a reminder that, in the face of adversity, inner strength and the support of loved ones can guide one towards personal growth and self-acceptance.
