Tori Spelling Admits Staying with Ex-Husband Dean McDermott Was a 'Disservice' to Their 5 Children

Tori Spelling is opening up about her former marriage to Dean McDermott.

On the Tuesday, Dec. 10 episode of her podcast Misspelling, Spelling, 51, admitted that while she initially stayed with her ex-husband, 58, for the sake of their children, she has come to learn staying as long as she did was a "disservice" to them. The former couple, who divorced in June 2023, share five kids: Liam Aaron, 17, Stella Doreen, 16, Hattie Margaret, 13, Finn Davey, 12, and Beau Dean, 7.

“On my part, at least, the want of kids, just always wanting their parents together, I think kept me from making what was outwardly a better decision for them than what they saw between two partners," the Beverly Hills, 90210 alum began to explain.

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Related: Tori Spelling Says Her Life Is 'Not Stable' as She Reveals Guilt Over Bringing Her 5 Kids on 'Roller Coaster' with Her

At the time, Spelling only had parents Candy and Aaron Spelling's relationship to look to for guidance, which she admitted ultimately steered her in the wrong direction.

"My parents were married over 25 years, up until my dad passed,” she said. “I saw a family always together, and so it was different and I always thought that as bad as things might be between my partner and myself, it’s better to have their dad in the house, than in a different residence.”

She continued, “I think that kept me in the relationship far too long, and it ultimately, I feel, did a disservice to my kids.”

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Spelling said she and McDermott were having relationship issues before they welcomed any children, but the proud mom says she will "never regret" working through those beginning challenges.

"I think he and I both were in a place where we might have separated or divorced before Beau was born,” she said. “But we worked on our relationship, stayed together and I’ll never regret not leaving then. I’m sure he wouldn’t either because we wouldn’t have had Beau.”

Still, Spelling admitted, "There’s still times where I’m like, ‘Oh gosh, it would be so nice to have that extra set of hands.'"

However, she knows just how “rough” their relationship was for her kids to see. “It was very disjointing.”

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