Emmitt Smith & His Wife Patricia Smith Announce Separation After 20 Years

Emmitt Smith & His Wife Patricia Smith Announce Separation After 20 Years

Former NFL superstar Emmitt Smith and his wife Patricia Southall–Smith have decided to go their separate ways.  The announcement came on social media when they both posted the following message:

“We are publicly sharing that after much contemplation and prayer, we have decided to separate. We will continue to move forward with love and compassion for one another, as co-parents and friends. We will work together in the best interests of our children, our family, community, and businesses. As we take this journey toward the next chapter in our lives, we ask for privacy at this time.”

Pat Smith, the ex-wife of comedian/actor Martin Lawrence, married former Dallas Cowboys running back, Emmitt Smith in 2000. The pair share three children together ages 18, 16, and 9 in addition to one child each before their marriage.

In June, Patricia wished her husband a Happy Father’s Day.  She took to her Instagram to say,

THANK YOU for giving our children someone to love, honor, respect and admire!!! YOU are an AMAZING DAD!!!!
@emmittsmith22 @jasmin_lawrence @rheagensmith @therealejsmith @itskylarsmith #Elijah

 

Though the Smiths seem to be separating amicably, Patricia Smith mentioned in 2016 that  Dancing With The Stars almost cost them their marriage.

Of dealing with Emmitt joining Dancing With the Stars and his dance partner Cheryl Burke, she says,

I’m dealing with trust issues, self-worth. You’re dancing with this cute little 20-something-year-old. As much success as he had on the show, I really was happy for him, but I was getting more and more angry and more and more resentful because I was not fulfilling my own dreams. It caused friction.

She added,

For years, I lived with this thought of feeling like a failure. I felt so much shame because of decisions that I made in my life, really bad decisions that I made, mistakes that I made, a lot of losses. And so, I finally got to a place and realized that things happen in life for a reason – good and bad – and I learned that the things that happened for me that were bad in my eyes, actually were the things that God was using to build me to be the woman that he really wanted me to be.

What are your thoughts on Emmitt & Pat Smith’s separation? Let us know in the comments!