Bizarre reason Will Smith and Phillip Schofield aren’t getting divorced from their wives despite splitting up

A partner of 40 years admitting he is gay followed by the revelation he’s had an affair with a much younger male colleague would be more than enough for most wives to start divorce proceedings immediately. 

However, far from seeking a decree nisi with utmost haste, Philip Schofield’s loyal wife is one of a growing band of SNODs – people who are separated from their spouses but remain legally married, and intend to stay that way.  

And she’s not the only one, with Jada Pinkett Smith and Will Smith secretly separating in in 2016 but never filing for divorce, as well a string of high society couples, including the Duke and Duchess of Rutland.

Meanwhile, Danny DeVito and his wife Rhea Perlman split in 2017 and they’re perfectly happy to stay married and be friends without what she described as the ‘yucky stuff’ that comes with legally ending their union. 

Speaking to FEMAIL, dating coach and relationship expert Kate Mansfield said: ‘In many cases, celebrity couples choose to separate without divorcing due to a combination of emotional, financial, and social factors.

‘Staying legally married can provide a sense of stability and continuity, especially when children are involved.

‘It allows couples to navigate their personal dynamics without the added pressure of legal proceedings and public scrutiny, often resulting in a more amicable relationship.

‘Additionally, remaining married can help preserve their public image and financial agreements, making it a practical choice amidst the complexities of fame.’

Experts have revealed why a growing number of celebrity couples are choosing not to divorce, despite being separated, including Philip Schofield and wife Stephanie Lowe (pictured)

Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith (seen in 2022) separated in 2016, but never filed for a divorce

‘Separate life paths’: Dan Aykroyd and his wife Donna Dixon announced in 2022 that they were separating after 39 years of marriage, though they remain legally married

Danny DeVito and Rhea Perlman split in 2017 but never filed for divorce (seen in October 2008)

Crucially, many of the high profile couples who have decided against divorce are middle aged, or older, with grown-up families. 

While younger pairings might want the freedom to pursue other partnerships or have children, older couples are more likely to value stability and close friendship.  

‘When couples have been together for a long time, they may be ready to end their marriage or change the nature of their relationship but not necessarily want the pain of a divorce,’ relationship therapist Rhian Kivitis explained. 

‘Their relationship can shift into a respectful and supportive friendship, within which they share children, grandchildren, social connections and the legacy they have built together.’

Philip Schofield and Stephanie Lowe

Philip Schofield came out as gay in 2020, and he remained married to Stephanie but separated later that year

Stephanie appeared alongside Phillip and their two daughters in his Channel 5 documentary which aired this week 

Philip Schofield may have parted ties with his glamorous showbussiness job, but his wife Stephanie Lowe has remained a constant in his life. 

The former This Morning host wed Stephanie in 1993, and the pair share two daughters together – Molly, 31, and Ruby, 28.  

In 2020, when Philip came out as gay, he and Stephanie stayed married but separated later that year. 

Stephanie poignantly told The Sun at the time: ‘I will still be there, holding his hand. Everyone should be proud to live their own truth.

‘Our family have also been so supportive and will help us going forward. Although this is difficult for us all, I support Phillip in taking this brave step.’ 

But Stephanie’s world came crashing down in May 2023 when Philip’s affair with a much younger ITV male colleague came to light.

He resigned from This Morning and ITV and said that he was ‘so very sorry’ to Stephanie for being unfaithful.

Despite his infidelity, they have not legally divorced, with sources close to the couple saying previously that she ‘still loves him’ deeply and will always remain in his ‘support system’ with their daughters Molly and Ruby.

This week, she appared alongside her daughters in the first episode of Phillip Schofield: Cast Away on Channel 5, the presenter’s first TV gig since he lost his job on This Morning last year.

In the show their daughter Molly described how here parents are ‘still best friends’ and said that the whole saga had brought them all closer together.  

‘After so long together, Steph and Phil co-dependent,’ a source told MailOnline this week. They would rather be a united front and stay together’, adding that if they broke up it would ‘create even more drama’ for them and their daughters. 

On the topic, relationship expert Kate Mansfield agreed that the couple seem to want to prioritise family stability after a tumultous year, in which Schofield was left suicidal because of the public backlash when his affair was revealed. 

She explained: ‘Philip Schofield and Stephanie Lowe’s decision to separate without divorce may stem from their long-standing partnership and shared history. 

‘Their choice reflects a desire to maintain a supportive co-parenting relationship, particularly for their daughters. 

‘By remaining married, they can navigate their new dynamic without the legal complexities that come with divorce, allowing them to focus on their family’s well-being.’ 

Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith

Pictured from L to R, T to B: Jaden Smith, Trey Smith, Will Smith, Jada Pinkett Smith, and Willow Smith

Pictured: Will Smith posed with his pregnant wife Jada Pinkett Smith at the fourth annual Blockbuster Entertainment Awards in 1998

Despite secretly separating in 2016, Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith have no plans to divorce.

In October last year, Jada revealed that she and Smith have been secretly separated for more than seven years, telling Hoda Kotb on the Today Show that they made the decision after feeling ‘exhausted with trying’ to work on their marriage.

‘I think we were both still stuck in our fantasy of what we thought the other person should be,’ she explained of what caused them to drift apart.

In Pinkett Smith’s book, Worthy, she described the separation as a ‘divorce,’ but clarified they never filed any paperwork. 

‘It was not a divorce on paper. But it was a divorce,’ Pinkett Smith said.

In the interview, the mother-of-two, who admitted in 2020 that she’d had an affair with singer August Alsina, said she considered a legal divorce but could never go through with it.

‘I made a promise that there will never be a reason for us to get a divorce,’ she continued. ‘We will work through whatever. And I just haven’t been able to break that promise.’

She noted that no permanent decisions have been made about the future of her marriage, explaining that she and Will are ‘still figuring it out’.

‘We’ve been doing some really heavy-duty work together,’ she said. ‘We just got deep love for each other, and we are going to figure out what that looks like.’

Jada went on to praise her children – Jaden, Willow, and stepson Trey, 31, who Will welcomed during his first marriage to Sheree Zampino – for standing by her during this rocky time in her relationship.

‘My children, they’re little gurus. They’ve taught me a deep sense of self-acceptance,’ she said. ‘They love every part of me. The level of love, unconditional love that they have for me and their dad.

‘And it’s one thing to want to be the person that gives that unconditional love. And then there’s, to be the recipient of that.’

Relationship expert Kate Mansfield gave her thoughts on the relationship, explaining: ‘Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith have publicly discussed their unconventional approach to marriage, emphasising a deep emotional bond despite their separation.

‘Their choice to remain married allows them to maintain their family unit and continue their co-parenting efforts. 

‘It also reflects their commitment to personal growth and healing, as they openly explore their individual journeys while still supporting one another.’

Danny DeVito and Rhea Perlman

Danny and Rhea are seen in 1980 co-starring in Taxi together; she played his love interest

Perlman (L) and DeVito and their family pose for photographers during the installation ceremony for actor Danny’s star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2011

Matilda stars Danny DeVito and Rhea Perlman split in 2017, but have not yet made any legal moves to divorce.

And while Danny, 79, and Rhea, 76, no longer share a romantic bond, the pair still enjoy a close friendship.

‘I’m not getting divorced,’ the actress told Andy Cohen on Watch What Happens Live in October 2020.

They wed in 1982 when Danny’s TV series Taxi was on the air and welcomed three children: Lucy, 41, Grace, 39, and Jake, 37. 

‘Danny and I have always loved each other, and we have three amazing children together,’ Rhea added.

‘And we really agree on almost everything important and so, you know, we were together for 40 years. Forty years is a long time!’ she added. ‘You might have to do something else! It’s OK!’

The two split in 2012 and looked headed for divorce but then they got back together in 2013. 

Now they’re just friends after splitting for good in 2017, but she feels that they are in a better place, she told Cohen.

‘It’s much better 1727978369 because all the tense stuff is gone,’ she said. ‘It’s not in your face. I’m not in his face. He’s not in mine.’

‘There was a hard transition through the kids and everything, but everybody’s got a good relationship with Danny and with me and with each other and that’s all we care about,’ said Rhea.

She also talked to the New York Post in 2018 about the split, saying: ‘There’s a lot of love and history,’ she offered. ‘We agree on enough things, so why [ruin] that with the yucky things that come with a divorce?’

And in March 2019 he told People: ‘We’re friends. We’re happy. Everybody’s happy.’

Discussing Danny and Rhea’s marriage, relationship expert Kate Mansfield said: ‘Danny DeVito and Rhea Perlman’s decision to separate while remaining married highlights their enduring friendship and mutual respect. 

‘Having spent decades together, they likely value their history and the comfort of their marital bond, even as they pursue separate lives. 

‘This arrangement allows them to focus on their shared experiences and legacy while minimizing the emotional upheaval that often accompanies divorce.’

The Duke and Duchess of Rutland

Mother-of-five Emma Manners, 57, married David Manners (pictured together in May 2004), 61, the 11th Duke of Rutland, in June 1992 after meeting at a dinner party in 1990. The couple continued living on the estate, which features in The Crown, after their marriage broke down

The Duke and Duchess share five children, including their daughters Lady Alice, Lady Eliza and Lady Violet Manners (pictured with their mother in September 2018)

 Emma, chief executive of the estate, and David, who are still officially married, both live in the 200-year-old stately home (pictured) in separate towers, and each have found new lovers

In 2021, the Duchess of Rutland opened up about her relationship with her estranged husband the Duke of Rutland, insisting the pair are still the ‘very best of friends’ nine years after their marriage broke down.

Mother-of-five Emma Manners, 61, married David Manners, 65, the 11th Duke of Rutland, in June 1992 after meeting at a dinner party in 1990.

The couple’s marriage broke down in 2012 after the Duke embarked on an affair with a woman who lived on his 15,000-acre estate, Belvoir Castle, in Leicestershire, which is known for featuring in Netflix’s The Crown.

Emma, chief executive of the estate, and David, who are still officially married, both continued to live at the 200-year-old stately home in separate towers. At one point they were both living there with their respective lovers.

Speaking to guest Lady Emma Ingilby of Ripley Castle, in North Yorkshire, on her podcast Duchess in 2021, the Duchess of Rutland said she was sad she and the Duke hadn’t ‘made their journey together’.

Emma said: ‘I am actually officially still married and the duke and I are legally separated, but it of course, always brings that little bit within one that we didn’t just make that journey together.

While the Duke and Duchess of York divorced in 1996, the pair still share a close friendship (seen in 2019)

Prince Ernst of Hanover and Princess Caroline of Monaco separated in 2009, but never officially divorced (seen in 2002)

‘But we are the very best of friends and lucky enough for me, he’s put me in charge of carrying on the mantle, together we run the estate and he’s entrusted me with the job.’

Discussing the breakdown of her marriage for the Daily Mail in 2013, Emma said making sure the family stayed together – living in the same place and even sharing meals – hadn’t been easy.

She wrote: ‘When I married David, Marquis of Granby and heir to one of Britain’s most distinguished stately homes, I expected life to be full of challenges. But this, by far, has been my hardest yet.

‘When a relationship collapses there is often fault on both sides. Mine was definitely devoting too much time to the business and the children and not enough to my husband. I suppose both gave me focus and a sense of achievement that was lacking in our marriage.’

The duchess and duke share five children: Lady Violet, who is helping to produce the podcast, and her siblings Alice, Eliza, Charles, and Hugo.

Discussing individuals that choose to separate but not divorce, family lawyer at Lowry Legal Lesley Smythe said: ‘Couples may choose to separate but not to divorce because children are involved, and they don’t want to destabilise their environment.’

She continued: ‘Wealthy couples may have financial reasons to stay together for example, they will lose money paying tax as a result of them splitting the assets. This is the polar opposite of some people in society who are staying together as they can’t afford to separate.’

The Duke and Duchess of Rutland’s relationship is not the only example in high society.

Princess Caroline of Monaco and her estranged husband Prince Ernst August of Hanover separated in 2009, but never formally divorced.

Meanwhile, the Duke and Duchess of York finalised their divorce in May 1996, but their close-knit relationship has meant they still live together at the Royal Lodge in Windsor.

The couple divorced ‘amicably’ in 1996 after pictures emerged of her kissing her financial advisor. She later said that they are the ‘happiest divorce couple in the world’.

A royal source told the Daily Mail’s Rebecca English: ‘Andrew and Sarah are virtually inseparable nowadays.’

The source added: ‘They have always been the most happily divorced couple anyone has ever known, but there seems something more to the relationship nowadays.’

Dan Akroyd and Donna Dixon 

Pictured: Dan Aykroyd and Donna Dixon at the premiere of Sony Pictures’ Ghostbusters at TCL Chinese Theatre on July 9, 2016 in Hollywood

The end: ‘After 39 years as a couple we are now on separate life paths. We remain legally married, co-parents, co-workers and business partners,’ the former couple wrote. ‘This is our choice in loving friendship’; seen in 2015 in Hollywood

In 2022, Dan Aykroyd and his wife Donna Dixon announced that they were separating after 39 years of marriage.

The 72-year-old Ghostbusters star and his 67-year-old wife are now on ‘separate life paths,’ they said in a statement to People at the time.

Despite going their separate ways, Aykroyd and Dixon remain legally married, and insist that they still have a ‘loving friendship.’

‘After 39 years as a couple we are now on separate life paths. We remain legally married, co-parents, co-workers, and business partners,’ the former couple shared in their statement. They added: ‘This is our choice in loving friendship.’ 

The couple were introduced on the set of the cult comedy Doctor Detroit, which Dan led, and Donna played a supporting role in. They shot the film in 1982 and married in 1983 – the year of its release.

The couple would continue to be co-stars in subsequent films, including the omnibus horror film Twilight Zone: The Movie (1983) — though they weren’t featured in any scenes together — and the comedies Spies Like Us (1985), The Couch Trip (1988) and Exit to Eden (1994).

Commenting on their relationship, relationship expert Kate Mansfield said: ‘Dan Aykroyd and Donna Dixon’s choice to separate but remain married reflects a pragmatic approach to their long-term relationship. 

‘With a shared history spanning decades, they may prioritize their friendship and mutual respect over the legal formalities of divorce. 

‘This decision allows them to support one another while pursuing individual interests, all while maintaining the stability of their family structure, particularly for their children. 

‘Their continued bond can facilitate a positive co-parenting environment, showcasing that love can take many forms.’