For months, the narrative was simple and headline-ready: the divorce of superstar couple Tom Brady and Gisele Bündchen was caused by his decision to return to the NFL. However, the supermodel herself has now set the record straight, revealing a far more nuanced truth about their separation.
The Football Theory Debunked
In a candid 2023 interview with Vanity Fair, Bündchen directly addressed the widespread media speculation. She expressed surprise that the public simplified their complex relationship breakdown to a single issue. "Wow, people really made it about that," she said, referring to Brady's return to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. She clarified that this was merely "one piece of a much bigger puzzle" and that the situation was not so black and white.
Bündchen explained that the core issue was about personal evolution and diverging paths. The couple, who met when she was 26 and he was 29, shared initial dreams of building a family and a life together. "As time goes by, we realize that we just wanted different things, and now we have a choice to make," she stated. Her words painted a picture of a natural, though painful, drifting apart rather than a dramatic rupture caused by sports.
A Dance of Love and Authenticity
In her reflective comments, Bündchen emphasized that ending their marriage did not equate to an end of love. She framed a successful relationship as a collaborative balance. "That doesn't mean you don't love the person. It just means that in order for you to be authentic and truly live the life that you want to live, you have to have somebody who can meet you in the middle, right? It's a dance. It's a balance," she told the magazine.
Brady and Bündchen tied the knot in 2009 and spent 16 years together before finalising their divorce in October 2022. They are parents to two children: son Benjamin Rein, 16, and daughter Vivian Lake, 13. Brady is also father to son John "Jack" Edward Thomas from his previous relationship with actress Bridget Moynahan.
Moving Forward on Separate Paths
Today, both individuals have clearly moved forward. Gisele Bündchen has completely moved on and has remarried. She began dating her jiu-jitsu instructor, Joaquim Valante, in June 2023, and the couple welcomed a baby boy earlier this year. Her pregnancy was confirmed to PEOPLE in October 2024.
On the other hand, Tom Brady appears to be embracing his single life while focusing on his role as a father. Their story serves as a public reminder that even the most scrutinised relationships contain private complexities that defy simple explanation.
