Tori Spelling reveals comment that led to Dean McDermott split

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Tori Spelling is navigating her split from husband and former reality TV co-star Dean McDermott by taking things “day by day.”

The Beverly Hills, 90210 alum petitioned to end her marriage of nearly 18 years in Los Angeles Superior Court on Friday, citing “irreconcilable differences.”

In court documents obtained by the Associated Press, Spelling, 50, said the two have been separated since June 17.

She is asking for sole physical custody and joint legal custody of their five children — Liam Aaron McDermott, 17, Stella Doreen, 15, Hattie Margaret, 12, Finn Davey, 11 and Beau Dean, 7. Physical custody determines with which parent the children primarily reside, while legal custody is who makes their major life decisions.

Spelling is also asking the court to order McDermott to pay her spousal support and to pay for her divorce attorneys.

Now, a source tells PEOPLE that the actress is adjusting to her new life the best she can. “It’s been pretty rocky for everyone, but Tori is finding her way,” the insider says.

“She’s getting used to being a single mom. She’s checking off boxes for her priorities,” they add of Spelling. “Her main focus was to find a new home for her kids, and they now have a rental. She takes things day by day for now.”

Last June, McDermott announced that the pair were ending their relationship in a statement that was shared to his Instagram.

“It’s with great sadness and a very very heavy heart that after 18 years together and 5 amazing children, that @torispelling and I have decided to go our separate ways, and start a new journey of our own,” he wrote in a message that was later deleted.

A source told Us Weekly that he and Spelling had a fight that spurred his announcement. 

Both parties have found love with new partners, but McDermott told Page Six last month that Spelling is still his “biggest fan.”

On her new podcast, misSPELLING, over the weekend, Spelling hinted that the duo had struggled for years, sharing the comment her ex made that caused their split.

“He said, ‘Ugh, I’m so sick of this. I have been picking up Tori Spelling’s s*** for 18 years.’ And I f***ing lost it,” Spelling said (per Entertainment Tonight). 

In a November 2023 interview with the Daily Mail, McDermott, 57, described their final confrontation telling the outlet he was “drunk and angry.”

“It was the night that I raged against her and the children and I saw the light, the final flicker of the flame go out in her eyes,” he said. 

mdaniell@postmedia.com