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Idina MenzelandTaye Diggsmay have called it quits back in 2013, but they remain on great terms.
The pair met as costars during the original production of the Broadway musicalRentin the mid-’90s. They married in 2003 and welcomed a son,Walker Nathaniel, six years later.
The couple announced that they wereparting ways in 2013. While both actors have since moved on — Diggs started dating reality starApryl Jonesin January 2022 and Menzel marriedRentactorAaron Lohrin September 2017 — they’ve continued to make co-parenting their top priority.
“Your child comes first, that’s all,” Menzel told PEOPLE Now in 2016. “He comes first and you have to get past your own egos and you never talk bad about each other.”
Diggs also told PEOPLE: “We were friends to start out with, but especially when you have a kid in the mix, there’s no time for any negativity. He’s our main objective, he’s what’s most important for us, so we’re still there as a family.”
From their first meeting as fledgling Broadway stars to co-parenting their son, here’s a complete timeline of Idina Menzel and Taye Diggs' relationship.
1995: Idina Menzel and Taye Diggs first meet
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Menzel and Diggs first crossed paths while costarring in the original Broadway production ofRentback in the mid-’90s.
December 21, 1998: Taye Diggs brings Idina Menzel to his movie premiere
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January 11, 2003: Idina Menzel and Taye Diggs get married
Eight years after meeting onRent, PEOPLE reported thatMenzel and Diggs had tied the knotin a small, nighttime ceremony overlooking the ocean at the Round Hill resort in Montego Bay, Jamaica — the same place where Diggs filmedHow Stella Got Her Groove Back, the flick that shot him to universal fame in 1998.
June 6, 2004: Idina Menzel thanks Taye Diggs during Tony Award acceptance speech
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In 2004, Menzel won the Tony Award for best actress in a musical for her iconic turn asElphabainWicked. During her emotional acceptancespeech, Menzel took a moment to thank Diggs, who was crying in the audience.
“My beautiful, beautiful husband who tells me he loves me every time I feel like the biggest loser,” she said. “I love you so much.”
November 2005: Idina Menzel and Taye Diggs star together in the movie version ofRent
A decade after being cast in the Broadway musical that brought them together, Menzel and Diggs both signed on to star in themovie versionofRent. In August 2005, the duo appeared onTodayalong with the rest of the cast to perform “Seasons of Love” ahead of the film’s November opening.
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A rep for Menzel and Diggs confirmed in March 2009 that they wereexpecting their first child together.
TheWickedstar said that Diggs had “always wanted kids.” She added, “He grew up with four younger brothers and sisters, so he’s very comfortable around children.”
“We have a spot in New York and one [in Los Angeles],” he said. “[Idina] has both nurseries done. She did them herself, painted them, and today she’s putting together a bassinet. We’ve picked out our doula. My wife is so on it!”
September 2, 2009: Idina Menzel and Taye Diggs welcome a son
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Just one month later, Menzel and Diggs confirmed to PEOPLE that their son, Walker Nathaniel,had arrived.
“Mother, father and son are all doing well,” reps for the couple said in a statement.
September 22, 2009: Taye Diggs praises Idina Menzel’s parenting skills
Three weeks after Walker’s arrival, Diggs made an appearance at the American Cancer Society’s Blow Out Cancer event, where the new dadexpressed his aweat Menzel’s seamless transition into motherhood.
“I have a newfound respect and admiration that borders on worship of my wife,” he said. “Just to see her turn into a mother overnight is amazing.”
October 15, 2009: Taye Diggs calls Idina Menzel a warrior
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In October 2009, during an appearance onTheEllen DeGeneresShow, theAll Americanstar doubled down on his respect for Menzel, calling her “a warrior” for delivering Walkerwithout any pain medication.
“I was in the room when my wife gave birth to Walker, and after seeing that and going through the nine months of pregnancy with her, I would never ask her for another child,” he told PEOPLE. “I came from a large family, and I would love Walker to have some siblings. So we’ll see. It’s basically up to her. She’s the boss. It’s her body.”
October 25, 2010: Idina Menzel and Taye Diggs appear onSesame Streettogether
As part of the “Word of the Day” segment, the duo helped explain the meaning of the word “allergic.”
January 17, 2011: Taye Diggs reveals the secret to his marriage with Idina Menzel
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With Walker nearing the “terrible twos,” Diggs toldGood Housekeepingthat his new definition of romance was taking over bath duty.
April 20, 2013: Idina Menzel says she and Taye Diggs have to work at their marriage
In April 2013, while working as a voice actor in the Disney filmFrozen, Menzel revealed to PEOPLE that she and Diggs have to puttime and effort into their marriage.
“We work at it,” she said. “I’m not going to glamorize it or glorify it. We go through tough times like everybody else, but we love each other very much. We try not to be away from each other for more than two weeks at a time, and we try to find new ways to communicate.”
August 23, 2013: Idina Menzel posts a selfie with Taye Diggs on Instagram
Three months later, Menzel posted her first selfie onInstagram, which featured Diggs.
“Pedicab NYC with @TayeDiggs,” the Broadway star captioned the image.
November 27, 2013: Idina Menzel compares Taye Diggs to the male leads ofFrozen
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During a November 2013interviewwith On Demand Entertainment to promoteFrozen, Menzel compared Diggs to the movie’s two male leads — Hans, the chiseled, handsome prince, and Kristoff, the more rugged-looking nice guy.
“My husband is a Hans-looking character with a Kristoff inside,” the Tony winner shared. “So I guess that’s what I like.”
December 12, 2013: Idina Menzel and Taye Diggs announce separation
Just a few weeks later, PEOPLE confirmed that Menzel and Diggs weregoing their separate waysafter 10 years of marriage.
“Idina Menzel and Taye Diggs have jointly decided to separate at this time,” reps for the couple told PEOPLE exclusively. “Their primary focus and concern is for their son. We ask that you respect their privacy during this time.”
Their divorce was finalized the following year.
February 25, 2015: Taye Diggs shows some love for Idina Menzel’s “Let It Go”
In February 2015, Diggs showed hissupport for Menzeland the success of “Let It Go,” her hit song fromFrozen.
“Watching Walker watch her [sing the National Anthem at the Super Bowl] and seeing the pride in his face is cool,” he told PEOPLE, adding that he’d also adopted the popularFrozentune as his mantra. “Last year was a tough year for many reasons and I think all of us could use that lesson to release and keep moving on and not hold on to stuff.”
September 2017: Idina Menzel marries Adam Lohr
In September 2017, Menzel married rent costarAdam Lohrat their home in Encino, California. The pair got engaged one year prior.
January 12, 2020: Taye Diggs asks Kristen Bell about Idina Menzel
While hosting the Critics' Choice Awards in January 2020, Diggs jokingly asked actressKristen Bell— who costarred with Menzel inFrozen —whether his ex-wife ever talked about him on set.
“No,” Bell answered.
“Okay, that’s cool,” Diggs said. “Who’s the better actor?”
“She is,” Bell said, to which Diggs then responded, “Okay, I guess I’ve just gotta ‘let it go.’ Get it?”
January 22, 2021: Taye Diggs reveals he loves telling stories about Idina Menzel to his son
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During a virtual appearance onThe Drew Barrymore Showin January 2021, Diggs revealed how much he loves toshare old stories about performing with MenzelinRentwith his son Walker.
“I love the fact that I was there at the beginning,” Diggs said. “She made history in that show and continues to make history with her singing and whatnot, and to know that I was right there, I love sharing that with my son. Like, ‘Daddy was there, when mommy first … when the world first listened to her.’ "
September 9, 2021: Idina Menzel calls Taye Diggs “judgy” on “Carpool Karaoke”
In September 2021, Menzel appeared in a"Carpool Karaoke” sketchwith herCinderellacostarsBilly PorterandCamilla CabelloforThe Late Late Show With James Corden. During their car ride, the actress couldn’t resist throwing a little joking shade Diggs' way.
“My ex-husband, I love him, but he was a little too judgy with me when I used to run lines and then I got very self-conscious,” she said.
October 5, 2022: Taye Diggs talks about co-parenting with Idina Menzel
During an exclusive interview on the PEOPLE Every Day podcast, Diggs discussedco-parenting son Walker with his ex-wife. “She runs the show,” he said.
The actor added, “She has a career and she has her own relationships and she still makes sure that Walker is where he needs to be when he needs. He’s got the best coaches and the best teachers, and we’re at the best schools, and it’s all because of her.”
October 17, 2023: Idina Menzel says the “interracial aspect” played a part in her divorce from Taye Diggs
While talking with Jesse Tyler Ferguson on his podcast,Dinner’s on Me,Menzel opened up about her split from Diggs.
“The thing that came into play more, I would say — he’s talked about it too — is theinterracial aspectof it,” she shared. “When you’re in the theater, it’s just not a thing. We all love each other, sleep with each other and [are] best friends. But when you leave that cocoon, that bubble … it seemed like there was disappointment in the community with him because he was married to a little white Jewish girl.”
source: people.com
