Kenan Thompson and Christina Evangeline were married for 11 years before the Saturday Night Live star filed for divorce in 2022. The 45-year-old has since remained tight-lipped about their separation, though he recently provided an explanation during an appearance on Today.
Per PEOPLE, that topic came up when anchor Hoda Kotb highlighted Thompson hardly talked about his divorce and even did not write “much” about it in his yet-to-be-released memoir, “When I Was Your Age: Life Lessons, Funny Stories & Questionable Parenting Advice from a Professional Clown.”
“I didn’t really want to speak out of turn on people who aren’t there to tell their vision of the story as well,” Thompson, who is Saturday Night Live’s longest-ever-serving cast member, said on Monday. “So, I just kind of told my perspective, basically.”
Thompson, however, expressed his love for their two daughters. “They’re my daily focus outside of myself. They are definitely my sweethearts,” he said. “I love them.”
Per Harper Books, Thompson’s upcoming memoir is “a hilarious, heartwarming and surprising ode to growing up, getting older and wiser, and luck, life, and learning from the school of hard knocks.”
The book is also “packed with hilarious yet poignant essays that are aimed to offer any reader valuable advice on parenting, focusing on positivity, and having fun in life.”
It continues: “Kids, new parents, fellow fathers, budding comics, and aunties who want to pinch his cheeks, can all learn from his biggest mistakes and most triumphant victories.”
Thompson in a statement to PEOPLE also said it was “such a joy to write and share” his story in his memoir. “From All That to SNL, I’ve had a lot of laughs — and learned a few lessons — along the way, and I hope fans will too,” he added.
Kenan Thompson @kenanthompson is opening up to @hodakotb about his new memoir “When I Was Your Age” where he talks about navigating being a child actor, his separation with Kel Mitchell, being a girl dad, and more. pic.twitter.com/PbaUJDHO9F
— TODAY (@TODAYshow) December 4, 2023