Actress and singer Hilary Duff, known for her iconic role in Lizzie McGuire, opened up like never before about the scars her parents' divorce left on her life and how that experience shaped the way she dealt with her own marital breakup with NHL (Canadian hockey) player Mike Comrie in 2016.

In a recent and emotional appearance on the 'On Purpose with Jay Shetty' podcast, Duff opened up about the short- and long-term consequences of her parents' separation. Robert and Susan Duff ended their marriage in 2008 after two decades together. “My parents got divorced when I was about 18. I feel like it was a really difficult time,” the star confessed. She continued, “Because I was kind of an adult by then, and you're like, 'Did they stay together all this time just to get to this point?' And then you feel guilty because they weren't happy.” Duff described her parents' divorce process as contentious, noting that they found it challenging “to be honest with each other.” She recounted that “there were a lot of fights,” reaching a point of such tension that they couldn't even share the same space. This confrontational atmosphere became a clear example of what she didn't want to repeat.

On her separation and relationship with her father

When she and Mike Comrie decided to separate in 2016, Duff kept that example very much in mind. The actress chose to prioritize family harmony over conflict. “When it came time to get divorced, I thought, 'I'm not going to let this be,'” she shared.

“We're going to spend the holidays together whenever we can. It wasn't always easy, but it seemed a lot easier than the alternative,” she said.

Her parents' breakup not only influenced her philosophy as a divorced mother, but also profoundly affected her personal relationship with her father. Duff openly admitted that, since the divorce, she doesn't maintain a close relationship with Robert Duff. “We don't talk very often,” she confessed. The actress reflected on the complexity of family disintegration: “You hear one version and then extract what you believe, and the same happens with the other.It's very difficult, I think, when a family disintegrates so drastically. Sometimes it's hard to find the way back. And there are those who want to, and others who don't.” This family context was further affected by legal problems; The same year as his divorce, Robert Duff spent 10 days in jail for court in a case related to the sale of family assets. At the time, Robert Duff acknowledged his mistakes in an interview, admitting to infidelity and expressing regret for “the effect it had on the girls,” referring to Hilary and her sister Haylie. Recently, with the release of his sixth studio album, 'Luck… or Something,' fans have speculated that several songs address his. estrangement from his father and sister. Duff addressed the topic in an interview with Glamour, explaining why he decided to channel those experiences into his music: “That's my family. They're the people who influence you the most. Just because you're born into a family doesn't mean it always stays together. You can only control your side of the street… I've had a very complicated life. I guess I just felt ready to share it.”