Jason Momoa and Lisa Bonet's Whirlwind Divorce and Reunion, Explained

Jason Momoa and Lisa Bonet exemplified the power of second loves, which made the news they had broken up after 16 years together all the more surprising. The Aquaman and Justice League star and his wife announced their decision to divorce on Instagram in January 2022 via a joint statement that confirmed they were “​​parting ways in marriage." In the since-deleted post (via CNN), they appeared to blame pandemic pressures for their separation, writing, “We have all felt the squeeze and changes of these transformational times… A revolution is unfolding ~ and our family is of no exception… feeling and growing from the seismic shifts occurring.” 

Momoa and Bonet first met in 2005 when, as the actor told James Corden said, they just happened to be in the right place [at the] right time: a jazz club. Their connection was instant, with Bonet once telling Porter magazine, “We have been together from the day that we met.” Dating on their own terms, they didn’t actually tie the knot until 2017, but before that, they wasted no time growing their family. The couple welcomed daughter Lola lolani in 2007 and son Nakoa-Wolf Manakauapo Namakaeha in 2008. They also mastered the art of the blended family as Momoa embraced Bonet’s daughter with ex Lenny Kravitz, Zoë, as well as Kravitz himself. As Vanity Fair proclaimed in 2018, “Jason Momoa, Lenny Kravitz, and Lisa Bonet have mastered the modern divorce.” So what exactly went wrong?

Why Did Jason Momoa and Lisa Bonet Divorce in January 2022?

Jason Momoa and Lisa Bonet’s undeniable bond left fans scratching their heads following news of their divorce. However, according to several insiders, their split didn’t happen overnight. Rather, as one source told People, they slowly grew apart “because of different focuses” and had apparently “been doing things separately for quite a while.” Momoa was reportedly all about work as his career took off, but Bonet wasn’t. The insider claimed Momoa, “wants to keep working as much as he can" while Bonet “enjoys her life in L.A.” and would rather stay put. That meant they were spending a lot of time apart as Bonet reportedly had “no interest” being "on every location” with her hubby. As the insider noted, "For some people, it might strengthen their marriage. For Lisa and Jason's marriage, being apart has been a disaster.”

It’s a sentiment that was echoed by another source who spoke with Hollywood Life. As they told the outlet, Momoa “has been incredibly busy making films,” which has been great for his career, but detrimental for his personal life. Shooting one flick after another has meant that “there are periods of time where he must go a week, or more, without seeing his family.” This, in turn, reportedly left Bonet “to bear the full brunt of parenting” way too often because “they don’t use nannies or help,” which was “hard on her sometimes.” 

As the couple’s priorities and goals shifted and evolved, they reportedly “weren't the same together anymore.” While Momoa “wanted to travel and adventure much more,” Bonet preferred to keep things low-key and “read, write poetry and cook at home.” As yet another source told Us Weekly, “they wanted to live different lives” and it “started to cause friction.”

Are Jason Momoa and Lisa Bonet Back Together? 

When Jason Momoa and Lisa Bonet first announced their divorce, they underscored the fact that their "devotion” to their kids would be “unwavering” and that they planned to continue “living the prayer.” They vowed that love would prevail and, as one insider correctly told People, theirs would not be a “scandalous divorce” because “they are both very spiritual and believe in a higher power.”

Love has indeed prevailed. Despite the fact that Momoa was spotted without his wedding ring back in January, an insider told People that he and his ex still care "deeply about each other.” Now, Hollywood Life has learned that Momoa reportedly moved back in with Bonet and that they’ve called off their divorce. According to an anonymous source, “They decided to work on things rather than throw in the towel because they have so much invested in each other.” They added, “Everyone is really hoping that they can make this work this time around.”

Life & Style has also stated that the pair’s split was put on hold, citing a source who explained that “they never stopped loving each other and have reconciled.” In an effort to make things work, they’ve reportedly begun couples therapy and Momoa is said to have “freed up time from his busy schedule to get their marriage back on track again.” The actor allegedly vowed to make “big changes” and is believed to have promised Bonet that “making their relationship work comes before anything else.” The insider also claimed that while they’re “taking every day as it comes and seeing what happens,” it’s been “so far so good.”

Momoa and Bonet have yet to confirm the news of a reconciliation themselves, but the actor did show up at The Batman premiere on March 1 to support stepdaughter Zoë Kravitz. He told Entertainment Tonight that while Bonet couldn’t be there, he “and the babies” were “representing.” He enthused, “We're very excited to just be here. It's still family, you know?" However, the actor later appeared to deny the reported reconciliation when he took to Instagram to say “mahalo to the fans and press for being generous and giving us space for the children [because] it’s hard enough separating in the public eye.”

What Can Jason Momoa & Lisa Bonet's Split and Reunion Teach Us about Love?

The situation continues as the two privately either patch things up, or work out how their future will play out for them and their shared family. One thing is undeniable, though, and that is that Momoa and Bonet remain paragons of the modern family unit, no matter what that looks like.

Their mutual admiration and respect, even in the face of different life paths and potential splits, is an example of how we can approach our own lives -- with patience, understanding, and sometimes, space. It takes incredible maturity to cultivate that kind of understanding and make it work, especially as celebrities, quite frankly, where the public eye can afford a harsher view.