Jennie Garth Opens Up About Addiction Battle and Path to Recovery
Former Beverly Hills, 90210 star Jennie Garth has revealed the depths of her personal struggles following the collapse of her marriage to actor Peter Facinelli. In her forthcoming memoir, I Choose Me, set for release next Tuesday, the 54-year-old actress details a harrowing period of substance abuse that led to a life-threatening incident.
A Descent into Self-Medication
Garth describes how the emotional fallout from her 11-year marriage to Facinelli, which ended in divorce in 2013 after separating in 2012, triggered a dangerous coping mechanism. The actress admits to drinking heavily and consuming excessive pills one night, resulting in a medical emergency that required stomach pumping. This incident served as a wake-up call, prompting her to seek professional help.
Her path to sobriety included a stay at The Canyon at Santa Monica, a rehabilitation center in California. Through this treatment, Garth learned to stop self-medicating and address the root causes of her pain. She reflects on this dark period with candor, stating the emotional turmoil "eked out into all aspects of my life."
Emotional Turmoil and Personal Revelation
In an interview with People magazine, Garth explained how her grief and anger manifested physically and emotionally. "I noticed my light really dimming. I wasn't putting off good vibes. I could see it in the mirror," she confessed. The actress, now an empty nester, described feeling tormented for years before reaching a pivotal moment of clarity.
"There was a weird switch where one day I just said, 'I don't want to carry this anymore,'" Garth revealed. "It's impacting my relationships and how I feel about myself. I've got to let it go. I've got to forgive him." This decision to release her bitterness marked a turning point in her recovery journey.
Reconciliation and Reflection on Past Relationships
Remarkably, Garth and Facinelli have recently reconciled, with the Twilight actor appearing on her iHeartRadio podcast in 2024. During the conversation, Facinelli described their marriage as feeling "a little bit like an arranged marriage" and admitted he might not have stayed as long without their three children.
Garth herself acknowledged she "could have been better" about co-parenting their daughters Fiona, Lola, and Luca, rather than remaining bitter. The couple's relationship began unconventionally in 1995 on the set of ABC movie An Unfinished Affair, while Garth was still married to her first husband, Daniel Clark, whom she divorced the following year.
Current Relationships and Moving Forward
Despite their past difficulties, both Garth and Facinelli have moved on to new chapters in their personal lives. Garth will celebrate her 11th wedding anniversary with third husband David Abrams on July 11, though their marriage faced challenges including a legal separation from 2017-2019 due to miscarriages and IVF stress.
"I really wanted to give Dave a baby because he was young and all of his friends were having kids," Garth explained, acknowledging her tendency toward people-pleasing. "Once you really get to the core of what you want for your life? That's when everything seems to get easier."
Meanwhile, Facinelli is engaged to actress Lily Anne Harrison, whom he met on dating app Raya. She wrote and stars in his upcoming directorial feature Grace Period, an IVF-themed romantic comedy that also features former Twilight co-star Ashley Greene. The couple frequently brings their three-year-old son Jack to the film set.
Promoting Healing Through Memoir and Events
Garth is preparing to share her story more broadly through a 12-date book tour for I Choose Me, beginning this Saturday in Boston. Additionally, she will host her second annual I Choose Me event in Los Angeles on April 25, featuring former Beverly Hills, 90210 co-star Gabrielle Carteris.
While her acting career has slowed since her 2022 role in crime thriller Bad Influence, Garth has focused on personal growth, wellness, and her design line Me by Jennie Garth. Her memoir represents not just a recounting of difficult times, but a testament to the possibility of recovery and self-rediscovery after profound personal crisis.
