Dr. Jen Armstrong filed for legal separation from husband Ryne Holliday for the sake of their family, Page Six can exclusively reveal.
“There was no specific catalyst for the filing. After their first trial separation in September [2021], Jen and Ryne were still in limbo and Jen felt like she needed to take this step to improve their family dynamic,” a source says.
“The issues they’ve been having are the same issues that played out on the show,” the insider continues. “But all is amicable and they are committed to keeping their kids stable and happy.”
Last week, the estranged couple proved this much while treating their children to a day of fun at Disneyland.
“What a ✨magical✨ day in Disneyland with the family! 🪄♥️😍 thank you @disneyland for the amazing tour and day filled with laughs, smiles, and pure magic!!!!” Armstrong captioned a carousel of family photos on Instagram. “Feeling like a little kid again! ♥️🖤🪄✨🍊”
The “Real Housewives of Orange County” star, 44, filed on May 13 in Orange County Superior Court, according to legal documents obtained by Page Six.
The cosmetic MD, who’s been married to Holliday for nearly eight years, listed their date of separation as Sept. 8, 2021, and noted “irreconcilable differences” as the cause of their split.
Armstrong — who shares twins Cece and Vince, 10, and son Robert, 9, with Holliday, 42 — is requesting legal and physical custody of their kids with visitation granted to the stay-at-home dad and business owner.
Back in February, Armstrong told Page Six that her first separation from Holliday was ultimately “healing” for the pair — after their marital woes were captured on “RHOC” Season 16.
“I’m just going to be honest. We actually separated. We separated and then lived life without each other,” she said at the time. “Sometimes I think you need to get a little shaken up before you really appreciate the other person.”
As viewers witnessed, the Armstrong MD founder and Holliday fought over a mutual lack of appreciation for their differing roles in raising their kids.
“We really went into it not thinking that we were going to get back together,” Armstrong elaborated, noting that she ended up feeling optimistic about her future with Holliday.
“Ryne came back and he was very genuine and very kind and has been loving,” she explained. “That’s the person [I fell in love with]. I’ll take that person every day. I’m like, ‘Where’ve you been? Where’ve you been for the last 12 years? We missed you!’”
While a reconciliation remains to be seen, the “Real Housewives” rookie — who made her Bravo debut this year — says that she and Holliday hope to emerge stronger from their latest breakup.
“Ryne and I are taking some time apart to focus on ourselves and our children,” she said in a statement to People on Tuesday. “While we are very sad, we are hoping that we will heal and be even stronger as a family. We ask for patience as we navigate this new chapter in our lives.”
In March, Armstrong told Page Six that she and Holliday were unloading their $6 million Newport Beach, Calif., estate to find a fresh start.
“We are hoping our new home is a place for a clean slate … to work on our marriage and family,” she said.
However, when speaking to Andy Cohen during the “Orange County” reunion that aired in April, Armstrong suggested that Holliday might not be included in her next move.
“It’s fair to assume that Ryne will be moving with you?” Cohen, 53, asked, to which Armstrong replied, “I mean, time will tell.”
“But you’re joking, of course?” the host then followed up, prompting the Bravolebrity to respond, “Yeah … we’ll see.”