Drake Bell has lived much of his life in the public eye, first as a Nickelodeon star beloved for Drake And Josh, later as a musician, and more recently as a star who is trying to balance the media spotlight with personal challenges in his family. Once again, Drake’s personal life is in headlines, as some new reports confirmed that he has filed for divorce, two years after his wife, Janet Von Schmeling, began the proceedings.
Drake Bell and Janet Von Schmeling kept their marriage news away from the media
Drake and Janet privately dated for five years before taking the vows in 2018. But, rather than announcing their marriage, they kept it private until 2021. The couple went on to welcome a son, Wyatt, and for some time being they appeared to have a stable family life. But cracks began to emerge in their paradise, which was confirmed when the pair quietly separated.
Janet Von Schmeling officially filed for divorce in January 2023 in Los Angeles. At the same time, she sought the primary custody of her son, Wyatt, with only visitation rights for Drake. At the same time, she sought spousal support after their separation. It initiated a long series of legal proceedings for the duo. There is no other detail about what caused the split, but the official papers suggest ‘irreconcilable differences’ as the reason for the reason behind their split.
Why did Drake Bell file for divorce two years after his wife?
Janet Son Schmeling filed for divorce in 2023, but her case moved slowly in the court. However, in December 2024, the judge ordered Drake and Janet to meet and quickly end the matter. There is no confirmation about what happened in the meeting, but they did discuss the reasons for the delay. So, now Drake himself filed his petition in Seminole County, Florida. The details remain private. Sharing why Drake has filed the petition after two years, his manager, Juan Jose Rovirosa, wrote to People:
“At this stage, both of them are simply concluding that legal process. Their priority remains the safety and well-being of their son, and they are doing so from a place of love and respect.”
Drake Bell explained how he addresses his ex-wife in front of his son
The well-being of their son, Wyatt, has been a priority for both Drake and Janet. Earlier, when the actor appeared on the Unplanned Podcast with Matt And Abby, he explained how he and Janet make sure their son feels loved and secure despite the split. At the same time, Drake tries to ensure that his son knows he respects and loves Janet like earlier without having any hatred towards her. Sharing his approach, he said:
“When he’s like, ‘Oh, I miss mama, I miss mama. Oh, I love mama. [It’s like], ‘I love mama too.’ It’s all that I want him to hear. She’s the same way. I’m like, we always make sure if we’re upset at each other, he doesn’t hear it. We only praise each other. I only praise his mom.”
What do you think about Drake and Janet’s approach with their son acted their divorce? Let us know.
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