Hilary Duff recently shared candid insights into her challenging divorce from first husband Mike Comrie during an appearance on the Call Her Daddy podcast.
Marriage and Separation Timeline
The 38-year-old actress and singer was still married to the 45-year-old retired NHL player when she began recording her fifth studio album, Breathe In. Breathe Out., alongside her future second husband, Matthew Koma, in 2013. The couple separated in 2014 after less than four years of marriage, with their divorce finalizing in 2016.
Duff explained, “It just got to a point where it wasn’t going to be.” She noted that Comrie accepted the decision amicably, adding, “I think he was good with it because I was like, ‘Here’s this, this, this.’ And he was like, ‘Great.’ This was before conscious uncoupling was a thing.”
Reflecting on the emotional toll, especially influenced by her parents’ contentious split, Duff emphasized the collaborative nature of the decision: “I’m not just like, ‘I up and left.’ It was a collaborative thing that needed to happen. But you gotta fight for yourself and it doesn’t matter that you have kids. Your kids are going to be okay.”
Co-Parenting Their Son Luca
The former couple shares 13-year-old son Luca Cruz Comrie, whose 14th birthday they will celebrate on March 20. They recently attended his soccer match in Beverly Hills on January 13, demonstrating their commitment to amicable co-parenting.
Duff described the split as particularly tough with a young child: “That was a really tough call because we had not even a two-year-old kid.” She prioritized peace, stating, “I remember doing everything in my power to have it be peaceful and have us hanging out and spending time together. Every time we would trade, it wouldn’t just be a drop off, pick up situation, we would go to the park and hang or go have a meal. It was really important to me to do it in a way that Luca could feel comfy.”
She focused on stability for Luca: “It was a really scary time to just not want to f*** up your kid. You put all of your stuff aside and I had to deal with all of that later to just make sure that he was okay.”
Life After Divorce
Duff underwent extensive therapy while dating personal trainer Jason Walsh and Love Machine co-founder Ely Sandvik before marrying 38-year-old Koma. The couple, together for six years, raises daughters Banks (7), Mae (4), and Townes (21 months) in their $3.85 million five-bedroom Beverly Hills home.
Professional Comeback
The star, known for her role in Disney’s Lizzie McGuire (2001-2004) and its 2003 film spin-off, boasts 4.1 million monthly Spotify listeners. A pickleball enthusiast, she wraps up her sold-out Las Vegas residency at Voltaire in The Venetian Resort on May 22-24.
Duff launches her first world tour in nearly 20 years, the 57-date The Lucky Me Tour, on June 21-22 at iTHINK Financial Amphitheatre in West Palm Beach, Florida. Opening acts feature women-led performers: English synth-pop group La Roux, and Canadian artists Lauren Spencer Smith and Jade LeMac.
