Grey's Anatomy star Jesse Williams' ex wife Aryn Drake-Lee breaks silence on public split: 'My worst nightmare'
Grey's Anatomy star Jesse Williams and Aryn Drake-Lee were in a relationship for over 13 years before they split in 2017.
And amid their ongoing bitter divorce and custody battle, Aryn has spoken out about their very public split to People: 'I resisted it for the last 10 years, having a public profile, and then I got dragged into it against my will. It was possibly my worst nightmare. And then it played out, and now I'm better off for it.'
The 37-year-old said to the magazine about any speculation surrounding the reason for the demise of their marriage: 'Much of what they say is wrong. But I'm not interested in a tit-for-tat, because that's just never ending.'
Happier times: Grey's Anatomy star Jesse Williams and Aryn Drake-Lee were in a relationship for over 13 years before they split in September 2017. And amid their ongoing bitter divorce and custody battle, Aryn has spoken out about their very public split to People magazine: 'It was possibly my worst nightmare. And then it played out, and now I'm better off for it;' pictured on October 13, 2013 in Los Angeles
Adding: 'People believe what they want to believe because it's easy.'
Aryn and Jesse, who were together for over a decade, have two children together: Sadie, five, and Maceo, three.
Since both filing for divorce in April of 2017, they have been in a bitter custody battle.
Aryn told the magazine: 'When the divorce process started I had two nursing babies, and I am the one that ran our household for the 14 and a half years that he and I were together in the same house.'
Throwback: The 37-year-old said about any speculation surrounding the reason for the demise of their marriage: 'Much of what they say is wrong. But I'm not interested in a tit-for-tat, because that's just never ending;' pictured on January 18, 2012 in Los Angeles
She continued: 'And for our children, and for the creation of the businesses that we built together when I left my career in New York for us to move to California to pursue his, and then as a result built it... I knew, as the one that was really holding it all together, that I didn't have a lot of room to fall, even though I was falling.'
After their split, Aryn told People that individuals who she thought were her friends disappeared - seemingly choosing him.
Although it was 'a real slap in the face to see who was around us and why,' Aryn called it a 'blessing in disguise.'
Explaining that it 'cleared a pathway' and made her realized how she wanted to live her life.
Speaking on Hollywood, Aryn said she never wanted to be part of that or have it as part of her value system: 'I never felt comfortable for me because of how superficial it was.'
The way they were: She continued: 'And for our children, and for the creation of the businesses that we built together when I left my career in New York for us to move to California to pursue his, and then as a result built it... I knew, ad the one that was really holding it all together, that I didn't have a lot of room to fall, even though I was falling'
It became clear to her when their 'friends' all disappeared following her split from Jesse.
According to E! News, Aryn has requested he pay $100,000 in attorneys' fees in the case, as well as $110,000 for professionals to perform forensic accounting in their financial dispute,
He has asked a Los Angeles court to block her bid for the extra $210,000.
The Chicago native, who portrays Dr. Jackson Avery on the stalwart ABC drama, told the court he's already put in excess of $270,000 toward Drake-Lee's attorney fees, which the court has past acknowledged was fair.
Last summer, the court ordered Williams to pay in excess of $50,000 per month in child support to Drake-Lee, who also receives $50,695 in spousal support.
Drake-Lee, according to The Blast, says the actor owes her nearly $1 million in past due support.
Drama: He has asked a Los Angeles court to block her bid for the extra $210,000; pictured February 13, 2015 in NYC
Aryn and Jesse met when he was a high school teacher in Philadelphia and she was a real estate broker; They dated for over five years before tying the knot in 2012.
His breakout role came in The Sisterhood Of The Traveling Pants 2 in 2008, and he joined the cast of Grey's Anatomy in 2009.
Williams filed for divorce from Drake-Lee in April of 2017, ending a five-year marriage that began in September of 2012. He's subsequently been romantically linked to sports reporter Taylor Rooks, and actresses Minka Kelly and Taylour Paige.
In 2017, Jesse spoke out about rumors that he allegedly cheated on Aryn with Minka during Jay-Z's Footnotes for 4:44.
He is heard saying: 'I was in a relationship 13 years, 13 real years, not 5 years, not 7 years - 13 years. All of a sudden mother-f****s are writing think-pieces that I somehow threw a 13-year relationship. Like, the most painful experience I've had in my life with a person I've loved with all of my heart - that I threw a person and my family in the trash because a girl I work with is cute.'
One week after he split from Aryn, Jesse was linked to Minka; they had previously worked together on a video game; both denied the cheating allegations.
They split in January 2018 after one year of dating.
StarL His breakout role came in The Sisterhood Of The Traveling Pants 2 in 2008, and he joined the cast of Grey's Anatomy in 2009; pictured on the show
He is now in a relationship with Taylour.
Aryn, who is a former real estate agent, has started a new project - a podcast with pal Trian Long Smith.
The duo launched a new podcast for moms called BBSARETRASH; Aryn said the goal of their new venture was to 'empower women to find their voice' and also 'find the connection and community that they're seeking.'
She explained to People: 'I think a lot of women are still in the place where we're pretending like we can do everything, And it's not realistic, and it's not holistic, and it's not sustainable.'
Their podcast launched on May 12.
Currently: He is now in a relationship with Taylour Paige; pictured on May 5, 2019 in NYC
