Zooey Deschanel announces split from husband Jacob Pechenik after four years of marriage

(Image credit: FilmMagic)

Zooey Deschanel has announced that she’s split from her husband Jacob Pechenik, after four years of marriage.

The New Girl and 500 Days of Summer star confirmed the sad news via her rep, who announcing that the pair decided to go their separate ways as they’re better as friends and co-parents than life partners.

The statement provided to CNN read: ‘After much discussion and a long period of contemplation we have decided we are better off as friends, business partners and co-parents rather than life partners.

‘We remain committed to our business, our values and most of all our children. Thank you for respecting our privacy at this time.’

The couple, who got married in 2015, share two children – four-year-old daughter Elsie Otter, and two-year-old Charlie Wolf.

READ MORE: Divorce process for children: Child psychologist reveals the age children are most affected

A photo posted by on

After becoming a mum, the 39-year-old spoke about how having a little one changed her.

She told Redbook magazine: ‘Nothing can really prepare you for it because you never again have a day where you don't think of your kids first. At least for me, that's what I think of first thing.

'Like, “How are the kids doing? What do they need?” That's my first thought when I wake up in the morning and go to sleep at night. I'm always thinking of them.

‘I've changed completely. You don't realize what a sort of selfish existence you live in until you have kids.’

During the same interview, Zooey also opened up about her post-baby body, adding: ‘To expect someone to look like her pre-baby self immediately is odd, because you just grew a human and then birthed that human — there’s a lot that needs to go back to where it was. All your organs move around, for Christ’s sake!’

Zooey had previously been married to indie musician Ben Gibbard.

Mariana Cerqueira
Lifestyle Editor

Mariana is a lifestyle writer who has written for Goodto.com and My Imperfect Life. She joined the Goodto.com team as an intern after completing her journalism MA at City University. After six months spent writing about food, celebrity news, and family trends, Mariana left to write for Healthy Food magazine - but returned in 2017, to join the Future team once again. In her spare time, you’ll find Mariana in the kitchen cooking for her friends.