After years of a less-than-close relationship, Jennie Garth found herself turning to her ex-husband, Peter Facinelli, when she and her current husband, Dave Abrams, had to evacuate their home during the devastating Los Angeles wildfires in January. It was a moment that brought back a lot of memories for the family and highlighted a newfound understanding between Jennie and Peter.
“It was just the natural choice,” Jennie, 52, told E! News in an interview published on Monday, February 10. She went on to explain the situation: “The girls were like, ‘Let’s go to dad’s.’ And I said, ‘Absolutely, get the dogs. Dave, you meet us there.’ And then we all just sat around together, watched the news, talked, and ate Chinese food. It felt very comforting and fuzzy and warm during a very scary time.”
A Look Back at Jennie and Peter's Journey
Jennie and Peter, 51, were married for nearly 11 years before deciding to part ways in 2012. Despite the split, they share a bond as parents to three wonderful daughters: Luca, 27, Lola, 22, and Fiona, 18. The Beverly Hills, 90210 alum mentioned that their time together during the Eaton Fire evacuation likely stirred up some happy memories for their girls.
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“I’m sure they had some pinch-me moments where they were like, ‘What? My mom and my dad are standing in his kitchen eating banana bread together,’” Jennie joked. “I’m sure it was surreal for them at times, but I know they loved it and it made them feel good.”
Reconnecting Through Vulnerability
Jennie credits Peter’s appearance on her “I Choose Me” podcast in November 2024 for helping them clear the air and reconnect as people, rather than just as a divorced couple. “It really cleared the air for us in a lot of ways, to reconnect as just people, instead of like a divorced couple, the mom and the dad and not agreeing on stuff,” she confided to the outlet.
“I like Peter. He likes me. I mean, obviously we were together for 17 years. And I love his fiancée and his new son. It’s just nice to be open and be easy,” she said of their newfound understanding of one another.
Peter's New Chapter
Peter has been with fiancée Lily Anne Harrison since 2016. The couple got engaged in 2020 and welcomed their son, Jack, in September 2022. Jennie and Dave, 43, discussed their evacuation and how they ended up at Peter’s home during the January 11 episode of her “I Choose Me” podcast.
“It’s been a weird week … a weird start to 2025 to say the least,” Dave explained. Jennie added, “I thought this was going to be a good year — we were going in strong and so excited for what was going to come and this just came out of nowhere,” referring to their evacuation during the Eaton Fire that destroyed more than 9,400 structures in the foothill community of Altadena, California.
