“The Most Difficult Decision of My Life” – Scott Wolf and Wife Kelley Split After 21 Years of Marriage

In a statement to PEOPLE, Wolf said the couple’s three children will continue to be their priority as Kelley, who first announced the news on Instagram, said she felt “peace knowing that I’ve done everything I can to walk this path with integrity and compassion”

Scott and Kelley Wolf are going their separate ways.

On Tuesday, June 10, Kelley, 48, announced in an Instagram post that she and the Party of Five alum, 57, have split after more than two decades of marriage. Alongside an image of a lion, she shared a lengthy message about their relationship and her hopes for the future.

“It is with a heavy heart that Scott and I are moving forward with the dissolution of our marriage,” she wrote. “This has been a long, quiet journey for me—rooted in hope, patience, and care for our children. While I will not speak publicly about the details, I feel peace knowing that I’ve done everything I can to walk this path with integrity and compassion.”

“Scott Wolf is one of the best fathers I’ve ever known and one of the best partners a woman could have the privilege of sharing life with,” the caption continued, referring to their three children, Jackson, Miller and Lucy. “He is kind, thoughtful, funny, and beautiful in spirit. We both look forward to an extraordinary life centered around the most extraordinary children. My priority has always been their wellbeing—and my own healing. That will never change.”

She concluded: “I am stepping into a chapter of peace, freedom, and protection—with grace. Thank you to the many friends, family, and professionals who have held space for me with love. Please respect our privacy during this time. May we all remember: healing isn’t loud. It’s sacred. 🤍”

Wolf shared a statement with PEOPLE, saying, “”After 21 years of marriage, I have made the most difficult decision of my life, and filed for divorce from my wife Kelley. Our children have always been, and continue to be, the loves of our lives and our every priority, so I kindly ask for privacy at this time as we help guide them through this new chapter.”

The announcement comes less than two weeks after the pair — who met in 2002 and tied the knot in 2004 — marked 21 years of marriage.

One year ago, Kelley shared a story about almost leaving the relationship in a post commemorating their 20th wedding anniversary.

Scott and Kelley Wolf.Astrid Stawiarz/Getty
She recalled telling her then-husband: “I love you. I love you more than I’ve ever loved anybody. I almost loved you enough to stop loving myself. But I remembered that nothing in life is going to last if I leave myself behind. I can see the future of that scenario and one day you’ll wake up and wonder what happened to that girl and I won’t even remember who she was. Well, I had promised her that I would never ever leave her again. so when you’re ready, I’ll be here, but I will not stick around while somebody tries to excavate fault in me.”

She went on to explain that while she “was ready to walk out the door,” Scott fought to stay together.

“He said, ‘You are really going to leave. I believe you. I can see it. I can feel it. And there is no chance in hell I am going to let that happen, so let’s do this,’” Kelley then recalled. “Let’s do this hard part, the uncomfortable part. The part where I have to look in the mirror and see my old pattern where I have tried to find fault in somebody in the hopes that I would prove that nobody can really do the hard stuff and stick around.’”

“And that day, I won’t go into all the details, but we went into the cave. Together,” Kelley later confessed. “And when we came out, you couldn’t find two people more bonded, more connected, and more clear about the promise we were about to make to each other.

Scott and Kelley Wolf with their kids.Kelley Wolf/Instagram

Scott also made a post for the milestone occasion, gushing over how “inspired” he was by the The Real World: New Orleans alum.

“20 years later, with our three beautiful children, several generations of fur babies, and what feels like a lifetime of adventures and experiences together, I love you now more than ever,” the post read in part, before he hinted at hard times in their relationship as well. “As blessed as we have been and are, we have surely been tested these last few years. You continue to be the force of light and love and life that makes it all make sense. You are the rock of our family, and even when pushed beyond what sometimes even feels possible, you have always found a way to hold on to who you truly are, and who and what you love the most.”

He later added: “May our lights continue to shine together forever. ❤️❤️”