Jenna Dewan and Channing Tatum: Divorce and Lawsuit

It’s been nearly two decades since Step Up turned Jenna Dewan and Channing Tatum into Hollywood’s favorite dance duo — and a lot has changed since then. While their marriage ended in a divorce that stretched over six years, the headlines have often focused on the legal battle over the Magic Mike empire rather than Dewan’s own accomplishments. The divorce was finalized in September 2024, but the financial settlement only came to light in late 2025, revealing a split of retirement benefits and a waiver of spousal support.

Age: 44 (born December 3, 1980) · Children: 2 (daughter Everly, son) · Occupation: Actress, dancer, producer · Years active: 1999–present · Notable film: Step Up (2006) · Ex-spouse: Channing Tatum (m. 2009–2019)

The pattern: Dewan built a steady career in film and television, but Step Up remains her most iconic credit — and the one that tied her life to Tatum’s.

What happened between Jenna Dewan and Channing Tatum?

The couple married in 2009 after meeting on the set of Step Up in 2006, as reported by People (celebrity news outlet). They separated in April 2018 after nearly nine years of marriage. The divorce was initially finalized in November 2019 on grounds of irreconcilable differences, but the financial settlement remained unresolved for years.

Why did Jenna Dewan and Channing Tatum get divorced?

• Channing Tatum said in a 2018 interview with Elle (women’s lifestyle magazine) that they “just grew apart.”
• Both parties cited irreconcilable differences in court filings.
• The divorce proceedings became contentious over the Magic Mike franchise earnings, which Dewan argued were jointly acquired during the marriage.

Why is Jenna Dewan suing Channing Tatum?

In 2020, Dewan filed a lawsuit alleging that Tatum moved Magic Mike earnings into an irrevocable trust and transferred licensing rights to a third party without her approval, according to Yahoo Entertainment (news aggregator). Tatum denied the accusations in a legal filing. The dispute centered on whether the Magic Mike intellectual property and related assets were community property.

Who was the love of Channing Tatum’s life?

Channing Tatum has publicly referred to his daughter Everly as the “love of his life” in multiple interviews. In his 2021 book The One and Only Sparkella, he dedicated the story to her. He has not made similar statements about any romantic partner since the divorce.

Does Jenna Dewan have a baby with Channing Tatum?

Jenna Dewan and Channing Tatum have one daughter together, Everly, born in 2013, as confirmed by People. Dewan also has a son with her current husband, Steve Kazee, born in 2022.

How many kids does Jenna Dewan have?

• Two children: daughter Everly (with Tatum) and a son (with Kazee).
• She shares custody of Everly with Tatum under a private arrangement.

Who is Jenna Dewan’s current husband?

Dewan married actor and singer Steve Kazee in 2020. The couple welcomed their son in 2022. Kazee is known for his Broadway work and role in the TV series Shameless.

What this means: Dewan’s family life has moved forward, but the legal ties to Tatum remain through co-parenting and the unresolved financial settlement.

Was Channing Tatum a stripper in real life?

Yes. According to Wikipedia (online encyclopedia), Channing Tatum worked as a stripper at age 18 in Tampa, Florida. That experience directly inspired the Magic Mike film series, which he co-produced and starred in. The movies became a cultural phenomenon and a significant source of the wealth at the center of the divorce dispute.

The trade-off: Tatum’s real-life past built a franchise that made him a household name — but also became a legal battleground in his divorce.

What is Channing Tatum diagnosed with?

Channing Tatum has been diagnosed with ADHD. He discussed the diagnosis in a 2017 interview with People (celebrity news outlet), explaining that he manages the condition with medication and lifestyle strategies. There is no evidence that his ADHD played a role in the divorce.

What is Jenna Dewan’s career background?

Dewan’s career began as a backup dancer for Janet Jackson, as noted on Wikipedia. She rose to fame starring opposite Channing Tatum in Step Up (2006). Since then, she has appeared in films such as The Wedding Planner and Take Home the Prize, and currently stars in the ABC series The Rookie.

How old is Jenna Dewan?

Born December 3, 1980, Dewan is 44 years old as of 2025, per Wikipedia.

What movies has Jenna Dewan been in?

• Step Up (2006)
• Take the Lead (2006)
• The Wedding Planner (2001, uncredited)
• American Virgin (2009)
• 10 Years (2011)
• Let’s Be Cops (2014)

Timeline of events

• 2006 – Step Up released; Dewan and Tatum meet.
• 2009 – Married.
• 2013 – Daughter Everly born.
• April 2018 – Separation announced.
• November 2019 – Divorce finalized on paper.
• 2020 – Dewan files lawsuit over Magic Mike profits.
• 2020 – Dewan marries Steve Kazee.
• 2022 – Son born.
• April 2024 – Dewan requests testimony on all marriage-related financial issues (E! News).
• August 2024 – Tatum accuses Dewan of delay tactics (NBC Washington).
• September 2024 – Divorce settlement finalized; details remain sealed.
• November 2025 – Financial documents reveal retirement split and waiver of spousal support (People).

The implication: the legal battles over a multi-million-dollar franchise may still have unfinished business.

What we know and what’s unclear

Confirmed facts

• Divorce finalized September 2024 (NBC Connecticut).
• Retirement benefits split 50/50 from marriage years (People).
• Spousal support waived (NBC Connecticut).
• Future custody disputes to be handled privately with a judge (NBC Connecticut).
• Dewan and Tatum have one daughter, Everly.
• Channing Tatum worked as a stripper and has ADHD.

What’s unclear

• Exact dollar amount of the Magic Mike dispute.
• Whether the lawsuit is fully settled or still pending.
• How the ADHD diagnosis, if at all, affected the marriage.

Quotes from the principals

“We just grew apart. We both realized that we want different things. We’re still a family. We’re still great friends.”

— Channing Tatum, in a 2018 interview with Elle

“We are still a family. We will always be a family. We are committed to raising our daughter together in love and respect.”

— Jenna Dewan, in a 2018 Instagram post (as reported by People)

Both have consistently emphasized co-parenting. The legal battles, however, suggest a more complicated financial relationship.

Summary

Jenna Dewan’s divorce from Channing Tatum was never just a celebrity split — it was a protracted legal fight over the Magic Mike fortune, one that took six years to resolve. While the settlement finally split retirement benefits and waived spousal support, the core dispute over whether Tatum shielded assets remains unresolved. For Dewan, the outcome means she can move forward with her career on The Rookie and her family with Steve Kazee, but the chapter with Tatum — and the courtroom — may not be fully closed.

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