Former Bachelor Andrew Firestone and his wife Ivana are calling it quits after 17 years of marriage.
The businessman and politician, 50, who appeared in season three of the dating show, made the announcement in a since deleted post on Instagram Sunday, per the US Sun.
The Daily Mail can exclusively reveal that Ivana, 47, filed for divorce nearly a month before the former reality star broke the news on social media.
On August 7, the mom-of-three filed a petition for dissolution of marriage in Santa Barbara County, California, citing 'irreconcilable differences' as grounds for divorce.
She is requesting joint legal and physical custody of her and Andrew's children: Adam, 16, Anja, 14, and Shane, 11. She also is requesting they both have child visitation rights.
According to the peititon obtained by the Daily Mail, the model and actress is requesting spousal support from The Bachelor alum and is requesting him to pay for her attorney's fees.
Former Bachelor Andrew Firestone, 50, and his wife, Ivana, 47, are going their separate ways. Andrew announced the news in a since deleted post on Instagram on Sunday. Ivana filed for divorce on August 7, the Daily Mail can exclusively confirm (Pictured in April 2024)
Five days later, Andrew filed his response, in which he agreed that they should have joint legal and physical custody and both be granted child visitation rights.
He also agreed that she should receive spousal support from him and that he should pay her attorney's fees.
Both parties did not have an exact date listed for their date of separation and informed the court that they will need time to determine their community and separate properties.
The exes have a court hearing next month to discuss divorce matters.
Taking to Instagram over the weekend, Andrew wrote, 'After much reflection and many hours of counseling, we have decided that we can best serve our children and honor that commitment to family by moving forward separately as co-parents.
'While this was not an easy decision, we remain united in raising our children with love, stability, and the values we share.'
Andrew did not list a reason for the decision to end their marriage, but said the two were committed to being 'a family, cheering from the actual and proverbial sidelines for our children’s — and each other’s — happiness and success.'
Looking for the silver lining, he wrote, 'Seventeen years of marriage is an achievement we deeply honor, as it brought us three extraordinary children and forged lifelong, generational bonds and friendships that will always endure.'
The pair are parents to Adam, 16, Anja, 14, and Shane, 11. Andrew told the Daily Mail, 'I'm very very protective of our kiddos and there's not much else we're ready to share right now'
Andrew, who is the great-grandson of Firestone Tire & Rubber Company founder Harvey S. Firestone starred in season three of The Bachelor
In an exclusive statement to the DailyMail, Andrew revealed why he deleted the shock split post after the news was shared with the public.
'I shared it and I just didn't think it needed to be extended beyond that. I don't think my kids need to continue to see it,' he shared.
'It wasn't anything other than... it's not something that once people saw it, they need to see it again.'
After not realizing deleting the post could mean other things, such as fans questioning his reason behind posting it, he insisted, 'That probably shows my lack of awareness on social media norms.'
When asked for additional comment on his divorce, he said, 'I'm very very protective of our kiddos and there's not much else we're ready to share right now.'
Ivana seemed to subtly confirm the news on social media, sharing a snap as she reclined on a chaise lounge looking over the ocean.
'She’s working on three things right now: herself, her life, her future. She is ME ✨' the Wedding Crashers actress wrote.
Firestone got engaged to Jen Schefft at the end of season three, but the romance was short lived and they separated about three months later.
Andrew and the Wedding Crashers actress met in 2005 and got engaged two years later; Pictured in New York City in 2005
The couple tied the knot in July 2008; Pictured in Santa Barbara, CA in 2008
That breakup resulted in Jen becoming 2005's The Bachelorette.
She went on to marry her fellow Chicagoan Joe Waterman in 2009 and they are parents to two daughters.
Andrew met Ivana while he was with friends at the Four Seasons Hotel in 2005. They got engaged two years later and walked down the aisle during a three-day celebration in July 2008.
'We’re so happy right now we can hardly stand it!' the couple said in a statement following their nuptials, according to US Weekly. 'It is so special to be able to share this momentous day with our family and friends.'
Andrew is the great-grandson of Firestone Tire & Rubber Company founder Harvey S. Firestone.
He is a founding principal in StonePark Capital, focusing on the acquisition and development of hospitality investment opportunities, focusing on hotels.
Ivana, born, Ivana Bozilovic, was born in Belgrade, Yugoslavia, now part of Serbia and grew up in Chicago after her family moved to the US.
Her last acting job was in the short film Always Never There in 2016, per IMDB.com.
