Penn Badgley says he and wife Domino Kirke almost got divorced after two miscarriages
Actor Penn Badgley describes how frequent miscarriages almost led to his separation from his wife Domino Kirke, and his experiences of isolation, ultimately reflecting the need for greater openness about family growth and pregnancy loss.
Hollywood star Penn Badgley has opened up about the challenges he and wife Domino Kirke faced after two consecutive miscarriages almost ended their marriage. The actor, known for his roles in ‘You’ and ‘Gossip Girl’, revealed these experiences in his book ‘Crushmore’ and on the Totally Booked podcast. Badgley described how the couple felt isolated while coping with their grief in a society that rarely addresses such experiences. Now co-parenting three children with Kirke’s son from a previous relationship, Badgley has reflected on how their family dynamics have evolved.
In an excerpt from his book, Badgley describes the strain the pregnancy loss placed on their relationship, explaining the deep emotional impact and isolation both he and Kirke experienced: “My wife and I were close to separating, as many people do after such a loss. Largely because we felt so isolated in a culture that doesn’t talk much about these things or know how to support people going through it.” Is.”
Badgley has talked about how the trauma of each miscarriage resurfaces during future family planning, especially in moments like looking at sonograms. He and Kirke worried that their cycle of loss would never end, and this worry influenced their approach to starting a family.
Their journey was also shaped by the fact that Badgley had no biological children at the time, while Kirke was already mother to his son, Cassius. This dynamic affected their reactions to the abortion and the emotional burden it placed on each of them.
Speaking on the impact of miscarriage, Badgley described how widespread and painful such losses can be: “They happen all the time, and they can be really, really painful. Well, I would say they’re universally painful. Maybe not everyone is totally allowed to feel that way.”
Over time, the Badgley and Kirke family grew. They had a son, who is now four years old, and later became parents of twins. Reflecting on this, Badgley shared, “It’s funny because I wrote it before the twins were born, and now I feel like I am, and I want to say this lovingly, but I feel like I’m drowning in children,” highlighting the change in her earlier experiences of loss.
With four children, Badgley notes that her feelings about past losses have changed. He mentioned how, looking back, now given his busy family life, it is difficult to fully understand the sense of loss he once felt.
During his public discussions, Badgley has stressed the need for greater openness and support around abortion. By sharing his family’s story, he hopes to contribute to a broader understanding of the emotional realities faced by many couples who experience pregnancy loss.