Giada De Laurentiis was seen posing with both her ex-husband and her new boyfriend for the first time at her daughter's high school graduation. The 55-year-old chef attended the ceremony for her 18-year-old daughter Jade Marie De Laurentiis-Thompson on Thursday, where she was photographed alongside the two men.
In one image, De Laurentiis smiled next to her teenager and Todd Thompson, her ex-husband and the father of her child. The cook and the fashion designer were together for 25 years total and married from 2003 until 2015. Also present was the star with her daughter and her new boyfriend, Shane Farley, a television producer. They have been together since 2015 but have never married.
De Laurentiis shared the moment on Instagram, writing: 'She did it! What an unbelievable milestone for our girl, our world changer, our graduate. Keep shining Jadey, we love you more than you will ever know.' Thompson added: 'Wow! Can’t believe we have a Graduate! I am so Proud of our Jade!'
Jade also performed at the ceremony, singing with her band called The Hours. The chef frequently shares snaps with her only child on social media.
In 2024, De Laurentiis retired from The Food Network after 21 years as one of the network's biggest stars. She revealed she was burnt out, telling Rebecca Minkoff on her Superwoman podcast two years ago: 'I would switch gears without knowing it every seven years. So I did Everyday Italian for seven years, then I got pregnant, and I was like, OK, I can’t do that show anymore. I’ve got to do a reincarnation of the show because I’m now pregnant. I’m a different person.' She joined The Food Network in 2002 and over the years produced shows including Everyday Italian, which won her a Daytime Emmy for Outstanding Lifestyle Host, Giada's Weekend Getaways, Giada at Home, Giada Entertains, and Giada in Italy.
Walking away from all that terrified her. 'It took a while for me to make this decision because I was very fearful of leaving Food Network,' she said. 'Because when you’re a big fish in that pond and then you get out, who knows what’s gonna happen next? But I really started to become interested in the entrepreneurial sort of journey. And I realized I couldn’t do both.' De Laurentiis cited her 2015 divorce, her busy work schedule, and being a single mom as reasons she was burnt out and 'felt like the world was crumbling around me.'
The Food Network star, who had sinus surgery earlier this year, shares Jade with her ex-husband. 'So about two and a half years ago, I finally was like, okay, I'm gonna make the jump, and I'm gonna put my energy in Giadzy.' And so far, she doesn't miss it, which surprises her. 'I know, I should say yes. I think it’s because I got burnt out. I really worked so hard for so long. I got burnt out and I couldn’t see a path that was exciting anymore. I need excitement. And if I’m getting bored, my viewers are getting bored,' she explained.
