Fortune Feimster and Wife Jax Smith Announced Their Split After 10 Years Together

Fortune Feimster and Jacquelyn “Jax” Smith have announced that they’re ending their marriage after a decade together. The couple shared the news with fans in a heartfelt post on June 2 via Fortune’s Instagram, making it clear that the decision was not an easy one.

“Together, we have made the difficult decision to end our marriage,” the joint statement began. They explained that they had already been separated for a while, choosing to keep things private while they dealt with personal family health struggles.

A Message of Love and Respect

Even though the announcement was emotional, the message stayed focused on the love and respect they still share for each other. “While we are sad to see this chapter of our lives come to a close, we wish each other nothing but the best as we move forward,” they wrote.

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They also asked for privacy during this time, thanking everyone for understanding and support. The post was signed simply, “From Jax and me.”

From Love at First Sight to Marriage

Fortune and Jax’s love story started in June 2015 at Chicago Pride. It was just one day after the Supreme Court’s landmark ruling that made same-sex marriage legal in the United States. Fortune described their first meeting as “love at first sight.”

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They met in a parking lot during the event and ended up running into each other all night. There was an instant spark, and Jax later said they felt a sense of “ease with each other” from the very beginning.

A Long-Distance Love That Led to Big Sur

Their relationship grew over time, even while dealing with long distance. In January 2018, Fortune proposed during a trip to Big Sur, California. The couple got engaged and continued building their life together.

They chose to get married in October 2020 during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. While many couples postponed their weddings, Fortune and Jax kept things simple and intimate. They had always dreamed of marrying that year, and didn’t want to wait.

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A Strong Voice for LGBTQ+ Relationships

Fortune has always used her platform to normalize LGBTQ+ relationships. When promoting her 2022 comedy special, she shared how she and Jax had the same ups and downs as any other couple. “We happen to be gay but our story is not much different from other people’s,” she said.

She even joked about their engagement story being relatable to straight couples. “I get a lot of men coming up to me after shows being like, ‘Oh my God, the proposal was the most nerve-racking thing,’” she shared.

Their split is heartbreaking, but their message reminds everyone that relationships, no matter how strong, sometimes come to a natural close. Still, the love and history they shared will always remain a big part of their story.