Frankie Muniz, best known for playing the titular role in Malcolm in the Middle, was forced to delete his original divorce announcement after facing intense backlash from fans. The 40-year-old actor and racing driver revealed that he and Paige Price are ending their six-year marriage, but his initial light-hearted post did not sit well with many followers.
Original Post Sparked Controversy
The original Instagram post featured a video of Muniz, Price, and their five-year-old son Mauz dancing together to We the Kings' 2007 hit "Check Yes, Juliet." The caption read: "Who says you can't stay best friends with your Baby Momma?" Fans criticized the post as inappropriate for a divorce announcement, prompting Muniz to remove it.
Price quickly came to her husband's defense in a comment that was later shared widely. She wrote: "Frankie, I am so sorry that you felt the need to delete an old fun video of our family because people are so cruel to you. This world is so f*****! Divorce is bad, sure - but we're two adults, it's not like we're excited about it but we're two adults who know how to be on the same team. I can't believe people would scrutinize that."
Support from Fans
Despite the backlash, some fans expressed support for the original post. One commented: "I'm glad I got to see the first one right before it disappeared. It was so cute." Another said: "I liked the first announcement better with you guys dancing [crying emoji]." A third added: "I thought the video was very sweet and hopeful. You guys are a great family no matter what and will always be family [heart emoji] hugs!"
Formal Statement
After deleting the original post, Muniz shared a more formal statement on X (formerly Twitter), which he also reposted on Instagram. He wrote: "Following a period of separation that we kept private, Paige and I have decided to move forward with ending our marriage. After 10 beautiful years together, we've grown in ways that made us realize our relationship feels most natural and strong as a deep friendship and as co-parents."
He continued: "We share an incredible son who remains the centre of our world, and we're both happier, stronger parents because of the love and growth we've shared. I'm endlessly grateful to Paige for everything she's done for me and our family. She put her own dreams on hold so I could chase mine, and she was always my biggest supporter. That foundation of respect and friendship isn't going anywhere."
Looking Ahead
Muniz emphasized that they remain committed to co-parenting and working together on Muniz Racing, his racing career. He concluded: "We're excited to keep building Muniz Racing together and to co-parent our boy with the same teamwork and love we've always had. We're closing one chapter with gratitude and opening the next with bright futures ahead, for us as individuals and especially for our son."
The couple, who married in 2020, have been together for a decade. Muniz asked for privacy, stating they would not entertain questions on the matter.
