Popular Christian Author, Influencer Jen Hatmaker Announces Plans to Divorce

Popular Christian author, blogger and influencer Jen Hatmaker has announced a pending divorce from her husband of 27 years, Brandon Hatmaker. Founders of Austin New Church in Austin, Texas, the couple has five children and formerly hosted the HGTV series Your Big Family Renovation.

Hatmaker took to Instagram to share her news in a post that thanked followers for “the kindness you have shown these last two months,” adding, “I don’t know how to say this, and I still cannot believe I am even saying it, but Brandon and I are getting divorced. Although the details are ours alone, this was completely unexpected, and I remain stunned as we speak. I am shocked, grief-stricken, and broken-hearted.” She asked readers to “respect the privacy of our children and our extended family” and to “pray for us. Hold us so dear to your hearts.”

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I first thank you for the kindness you have shown these last two months. We are in a moment with no handbook and without a single clue how to navigate this privately, much less publicly. I don’t know how to hide grief, so I haven’t, and I am grateful for your absolute decency these last few weeks. I don’t know how to say this, and I still cannot believe I am even saying it, but Brandon and I are getting divorced. Although the details are ours alone, this was completely unexpected, and I remain stunned as we speak. I am shocked, grief-stricken, and broken-hearted. . Although this community is impossibly dear, beloved to me, in case you are an interloper who revels in the pain of another, I beg you to spare us your cruelty. We have suffered so greatly. (Hateful comments that harm our family will be deleted.) The kids and I are getting away to retreat for awhile, and I ask for your kindness…and for some room to breathe. Please respect the privacy of our children and our extended family. Our loss is not for public devouring. We are real people managing this in our real life in real time, and we are doing the absolute best we know how to do. . If you pray, pray for us. Hold us so dear to your hearts. We have felt your prayers these last few weeks. We have experienced your mercy. Thank you for being good to us. Know that we are deeply surrounded by love and have not been alone a single second in two months. Please help protect us and keep us safe as we try to heal and rebuild. . Yours, Jen

A post shared by Jen Hatmaker (@jenhatmaker) on Sep 7, 2020 at 9:11am PDT

In the past, Hatmaker has come under fire from the evangelical community, including LifeWay resources, who stopped selling her books and other resources, for her support of the LGBTQ community. Back in May 2020, daughter and podcast host Sydney announced that she is gay, with her mother pledging her continued support and love.

Hatmaker’s books include Interrupted: When Jesus Wrecks Your Comfortable Christianity (2014); For the Love: Fighting for Grace in a World of Impossible Standards (2015) and Fierce, Free and Full of Fire: The Guide to Being Glorious You (2020). {eoa}