Jeannie Mai just poured her heart out about her 2023 divorce from Jay “Jeezy” Jenkins. The two met in Nov. 2018, got engaged in 2020, tied the knot the following year, and then welcomed their sweet daughter Monaco in Jan. 2022. By Sept. 2023, just under two years after “Coco’s” birth, the rapper filed for divorce.
Mai has shared bits and pieces about her divorce in the past. And, of course, the estranged couple’s custody battle made headlines, but now she’s talking less about the logistics and more about the way the experience shook her sense of self.
The TV personality shared a raw confessional on Instagram that divorce is more than just the end of a marriage.
“It’s the end of a future you planned, the end of the version of yourself who believed in it all, and no one prepares you for the shame, the guilt, the disappointment — like you failed at the one thing that was supposed to last,” she said in a hushed, ASMR-like voice over.
“And you don’t get time to fall apart because two little eyes are looking up at you, waiting for you to show them what happens next,” Mai admitted, referencing her toddler. Without Monaco, this time in Mai’s life would look so different for many reasons. Obviously, she wouldn’t be in the trenches of motherhood. But it sounds like she also might be handling her divorce a lot differently.
Mai vulnerable admitted that there are times that she wonders, “What if I get it wrong again?”
“‘What if I don’t give [Coco] what she deserves?’ But then I remember being that little girl myself, wishing for someone to catch me when I fall, praying for someone to tell me it was all going to be okay,” Mai continued in the video that had sweet clips of her doing Monaco’s hair and touring new houses together. “And I realize I’m that person now, not just for her, but for me.”
Soon after their split, Jeezy made claims that Mai was “gatekeeping” their daughter. In documents obtained by People, Mai’s lawyers said her reluctance to allow time together was not some unfounded act of pettiness.
“It is essential to clarify that Ms. Jenkins’ insistence on reasonable safety measures being put in place, such as safely securing and locking away all firearms that have been unsecured in the past, as well as having familiarity and properly trained caregivers,” the filing read.
Jeezy’s lawyers did not deny the validity of the safety concerns but did say Mai was “causing confusion and tension between the parties and is working to stifle the development” between Jeezy and Coco.
In 2024, things got more complicated when Jeezy reportedly filed documents to seek joint custody after claiming he “really has not had any significant parenting with the minor child all year” with their informal agreement.
Previously, the “OKAY” rapper sought primary custody of Monaco, claiming he could give her more “stability” given the “excessive” travel involved with Mai’s job. And she certainly does have to travel to host New Year’s Eve shows and the likes, but she brings Monaco along when she can, and now she’s looking to put down new roots.
“I’m not starting from scratch,” Mai continued in her new video. “I’m starting from experience, and this time, I trust myself not to be perfect, but to build something beautiful.”
Before you go, check out Jeannie Mai’s best quotes about being a mom.
