By Russ Weakland and Nola Ojomu For Dailymail.Com
19:49 07 Mar 2024, updated 19:55 07 Mar 2024
- Former couple share two children: son Benjamin, 14, and daughter Vivian, 11
- Brady also shares son Jack , 16, with ex-girlfriend, actress Bridget Moynahan
- READ MORE: Gisele Bundchen breaks down in tears over ‘death of a dream’ Tom Brady divorce – but star remains coy on finding love again
Tom Brady was reluctant to get a divorce from his ex-wife Gisele Bündchen because he feared having to endure the same co-parenting struggles he faced in the wake of his split from Bridget Moynahan, insiders have claimed.
The NFL legend, 46, and Brazilian beauty Gisele, 43 – who have two children together, announced they were getting a divorce in October 2022 after 13 years of marriage.
But despite both moving on with new partners, Gisele broke down earlier this week as she likened their divorce to ‘the death of a dream’ and admitted raising Benjamin, 14, and Vivian, 11, in separate homes has been challenging.
Now, sources have claimed Tom didn’t want to end the marriage as he was scared of suffering a repeat of the ‘stressful’ experience of trying to raise children with another former partner.
‘Tom would actually agree that co-parenting hasn’t been easy,’ an insider told DailyMail.com exclusively. ‘There has been a lot of love lost in their relationship and navigating through that and their careers and finding new love has not been easy.
‘It is safe to say that Tom and Gisele never expected to break up.’
Tom also shares Jack, 16, with his ex-girlfriend Bridget. The pair split in December 2007, just months before he started dating Gisele.
The source continued: ‘He never wanted to divorce, especially since his relationship with Bridget ended, and dealing with that to get to a place of good co-parenting took some time. To do it all over again has been stressful.’
The source insisted that the former couple would be able to find their groove eventually, adding: ‘It is just a sad situation because family is so important to both of them and to not be a complete family sets many struggles moving forward.
‘Like everything, they will get there, because they aren’t getting back together, but Gisele and Tom have gone through a bunch of sadness to be where they are now, which is leaps and bounds better than it has been.’
The estranged couple reportedly feel they are reaching a particularly ‘interesting’ time as co-parents as their children become young adults.
‘As much as it is not ideal, they are both determined to get there somehow,’ they said. ‘They both agree that the benefit of their kids is what matters, and [Gisele] wasn’t lying when she said they have good days and bad days. It is a process, especially in the public eye.’
Clearly struggling with the fallout from their divorce, Gisele broke down during an interview with Good Morning America on Thursday.
Anchor Robin Roberts asked how she was doing, to which Gisele replied, ‘well, when you say…’ before breaking down.
She then turned away from the camera and said: ‘Sorry, guys. I don’t know. Can I have a little moment?’
Robin also asked the Brazilian beauty how she has been juggling co-parenting with Tom, to which she responded: ‘I think there’s easier days than others, and I can only control what I do.’
Last month she admitted that life as a single mom has had its challenges, during a conversation with Harper’s Bazaar for her covergirl spread in the February 2024 Joy Issue.
She suggested that her and Tom parent ‘two different ways’ and that this can cause tension between herself and their children.
‘Sometimes, I get pushback, especially because now they’re in two different homes and there are two different ways,’ she revealed.
‘But I feel like I owe it to my kids, because of what my mom taught me.’
The former Victoria’s Secret Angel went public with her new love Valente when they were spotted kissing in Miami on Valentine’s Day in exclusive video obtained by DailyMail.com.
In the clip, the pair were seen putting on a romantic display near the supermodel’s home in Miami – marking the first time they had been spotted kissing in public.
Despite their lack of public displays of affection, the pair are said to have been dating since June, with Page Six reporting they were first spotted together more than a year ago.
Rumors that they were an item started to swirl in November 2022, just weeks after Tom and Gisele confirmed their divorce, when Joseph was photographed on holiday with the supermodel and her children in Costa Rica.
The pair have also enjoyed trips to their native Brazil together.
She has remained tight lipped about their relationship and failed to mention Joseph during her recent interview with GMA.
‘Where my heart is now is where I am right now,’ she said. ‘I’m living my truth, and I’m not apologizing for it.’
She later added that her experiences with love have made her realize ‘what I want and what I don’t want.’
Elsewhere, Tom has moved on with supermodel Irina Shayk, 37 – although a source told Page Six that he is trying to focus much of his energies on ‘kids and work’, while denying rumors that he was already considering tying the knot again.
‘Anything that says he wants to get married again is just made up,’ the insider claimed.
DailyMail.com has contacted representatives for Tom and Gisele for comment.
James Parker is a UK-based entertainment aficionado who delves into the glitz and glamour of the entertainment industry. From Hollywood to the West End, he offers readers an insider’s perspective on the world of movies, music, and pop culture.
