Tori Spelling and Dean McDermott Michael Kovac/Getty Images for BCRF
Dean McDermott has no time for social media trolls – especially on the subject of his estranged wife, Tori Spelling.
After McDermott, 57, went Instagram official with recent girlfriend Lily Calo on Wednesday, May 17 – and Spelling, 51, showed her support by liking the photo – a social media user took to the comment section to write down, “The incontrovertible fact that Tori liked that is mind-boggling!”
McDermott then defended the Beverly Hills, 90210 alum in a reply.
“It’s because she is a highly evolved and compassionate loving person, which is so much more [than] I can say for the trolls commenting on this post,” he wrote. “Tori has a boyfriend. People get divorced and are higher apart [than they are] together. That’s life. I’ll pray for happiness for all of the haters.”
Tori Spelling and Dean McDermott have been making headlines since their scandalous start. When the pair met in 2005, McDermott was married to Mary Jo Eustace, with whom he shares son Jack, and Spelling was married to Charlie Shanian. “It was love at first sight. I fell so hard … Then I noticed he had a […]
Fans of the Canadian actor were quick to praise his response. “Well said. I wish only the highest for the each of you and whatever directions you go in,” wrote one Instagram user.
One other added, “Bravo 👏 👏👏 Be completely satisfied all of you💞 Love doesn’t end due to a bit of paper.”
McDermott’s comments about Spelling mark an amicable milestone of their relationship, because the pair have weathered many ups and downs in the general public eye since exchanging vows in 2006. The previous couple, who share sons Liam, 16, Finn, 11, and Beau, 6, and daughters Stella, 15, and Hattie, 12, sparked split speculation several times over the course of their 17-year marriage. (McDermott also shares son Jack, 25, with ex-wife Mary Jo Eustace.)
In June 2023, McDermott surprised followers after posting after which deleting an announcement saying that the duo had called it quits.
It was later revealed that the date of his social media post coincided with the date of separation listed on the divorce filing, which Spelling initiated in March, citing irreconcilable differences.
Nevertheless, on Monday, May 13, McDermott filed his own paperwork, giving a distinct separation date than his estranged wife. In her filing, Spelling said the couple separated on June 17, 2023, but McDermott listed their separation date as July 7, 2023, in response to documents obtained by Us Weekly.
McDermott also requested joint physical and legal custody of the couple’s five children while Spelling, in her filing, sought sole custody.
Despite their ongoing legal issues, Spelling and McDermott look like in a civil place of their relationship as they navigate their recent normal.
While speaking with singer Sara Evans during an April episode of her “Misspelling” podcast, the actress opened up about her reference to McDermott’s recent beau.
Tori Spelling and Dean McDermott. Michael Kovac/Getty Images for L.O.L. Surprise!
“My soon-to-be ex has a girlfriend — a live-in girlfriend — who has met the youngsters,” she said. “And I like her. I actually really like her. She’s supportive of him. They keep one another accountable. They’re sober.”
McDermott previously opened up about how his substance abuse issues were the first reason for his and Spelling’s split.
“Alcohol made me feel adequate. I began feeling adequate until it got to a degree where it didn’t — it ended up in isolation,” he told the Every day Mail in a November 2023 interview. “It ended up with me drinking a fifth of tequila every night, seven days per week and a handful of [prescription medications] by myself with a fantastic family in the opposite room.”
He added, “That’s what it led to and that’s what led to the brokenness and to what happened between me and Tori. I couldn’t do it anymore. I couldn’t live that life anymore. I used to be uninterested in the anger and the yelling.”
Tori, for her part, has moved on with promoting CEO Ryan Cramer.
“Tori met Ryan through work several months ago and she or he thought he was very charming and handsome,” an insider exclusively told Us Weekly in November 2023. “Tori is de facto excited in regards to the recent relationship and it doesn’t hassle her that folks say he looks so much like Dean.”
