Margaret Qualley and Jack Antonoff Are Divorcing. What Their Quiet, Uncontested Split Can Teach You About Ending Things Kindly
Margaret Qualley and Jack Antonoff filed an uncontested divorce in Brooklyn on Friday after three years of marriage, AP reports. Here’s what “uncontested” means, what research says about staying friends with an ex, and what to say to keep your own split kind.
In the Margaret Qualley and Jack Antonoff divorce, court records show Qualley filed on Friday, October 30, 2026, in Brooklyn, after three years of marriage. The case is listed as an uncontested matrimonial action, which in New York means the other spouse agrees with all parts of the divorce. The couple separated in July, and a source told People the split is “a mutual decision.” For everyone else, the lesson is practical: a kind split is built on calm, specific conversations, and friendships with an ex tend to work best when they rest on practical ties and simple civility.
- Margaret Qualley and Jack Antonoff filed for divorce on October 30, 2026, after three years of marriage, AP reports.
- The case is listed as an uncontested matrimonial action: in New York, that means the spouse agrees with all parts of the divorce.
- Previous research suggests about 60 percent of people stay friends with an ex after a breakup.
- Friendships kept for practical reasons and civility fared best; lingering romantic feelings were linked to more negative feelings.
- A kind split is built in small messages: fair, specific and agreed on together.
You’ve probably seen the headline by now: Margaret Qualley and Jack Antonoff are divorcing after three years of marriage. What stood out wasn’t drama. It was how quiet and civil it looked: an uncontested filing, a split described as mutual and talk of staying friends.
If you’re going through a breakup of your own, that kind of ending can feel out of reach. Here’s what “uncontested” actually means, what research says about staying friends with an ex and the words that help keep a split kind.
What happened in the Margaret Qualley and Jack Antonoff divorce?
Actor Margaret Qualley and Grammy winner Jack Antonoff filed for divorce on Friday, according to court records reported by The Associated Press. The case was filed in Kings County Supreme Court in Brooklyn and is listed as an uncontested matrimonial action, with Qualley as the plaintiff and Antonoff as the defendant.
Qualley, 32, is known for films like “The Substance,” and Antonoff, 42, is a 14-time Grammy-winning songwriter and producer who is also a member of Bleachers. The couple began dating in 2021, married in August 2023 and separated in July.
A source told People the split is “a mutual decision,” as The Hollywood Reporter noted. Beyond that, the details are theirs, so let’s focus on what you can actually use.
“They share a deep affinity and love for one another, and though their romantic partnership is ending, they will absolutely be lifelong friends.”
A source close to the couple, speaking to People (via The Hollywood Reporter)
What does an uncontested divorce actually mean?
The phrase in the court record sounds technical, but the idea is simple. The New York State courts put it in one line: “An uncontested divorce is one where the spouse agrees with all parts of the divorce.”
That’s different from a divorce where one person doesn’t want it, or where the two of you can’t agree on money, property or parenting. In New York, if the other spouse files an “Answer” with the court, the court’s guide says the divorce “is now contested.” Here’s the basic path there:
- Someone files. The person who files is the plaintiff, and the other spouse is the defendant.
- The other spouse gets the papers in person. The plaintiff can’t do this; someone over 18 has to deliver them.
- The defendant responds. Signing an “Affidavit of Defendant” means agreeing to the divorce without arguing over what’s being asked for.
- A judge signs the judgment if the divorce is approved.
- There are court fees. New York lists a $210 filing fee for an index number and a $125 fee later in the process, with fee waivers for extreme financial hardship.
This article is general information, not legal or financial advice. Divorce rules, costs and timelines vary by state and country; talk to a qualified family lawyer or mediator about your situation.
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Try Auraliyx free →Can you really stay friends with your ex?
Plenty of people hope a marriage can end and the friendship can stay. In a study presented at the American Psychological Association’s annual meeting, lead author Rebecca Griffith of the University of Kansas told Live Science that previous research suggests about 60 percent of people maintain a friendship after a breakup.
Her team, working with several hundred participants, found four main reasons people stay friends with an ex: security (not wanting to lose their support or advice), practical reasons (money, kids, shared stuff), civility (simply being kind) and unresolved romantic feelings.
The reason mattered. People who stayed friends for practical and civility reasons fared the best: those friendships lasted and felt positive. Friendships built on lingering romantic feelings were linked to more negative feelings, and yet they tended to last longer anyway.
That’s a useful gut check. If “let’s stay friends” secretly means “I’m hoping we get back together,” the friendship may keep you stuck. And remember, these are associations, not proof that one motive causes a better outcome.
Why people stay friends with an ex (and which reasons hold up)
A separate study by Justin Mogilski and Lisa Welling at Oakland University, summarized by the British Psychological Society, asked 348 volunteers to list every reason two former partners might stay friends. That produced a 153-item list, which a second group of people who’d been through a breakup then rated.
The reasons fell into seven categories, from sentimental ones (“They made me a better person”) to children and shared resources, keeping things comfortable in a friend group and lingering attraction. Overall, participants rated reliability and sentimentality as most important, and practical reasons as least important.
One caveat: the average participant was about 21.4 years old, so these were mostly young adults thinking about dating breakups, not divorces. Still, other work cited in the same summary found that about half of divorced people report continued contact two and ten years after separating.
So friendly exes aren’t a Hollywood fantasy, but they’re not automatic either. If you’re not sure yet whether things are truly over, these signs your relationship is ending can help you see where you stand.
How to split amicably: what to say when it gets real
Most of the work of a kind split happens in ordinary messages: who keeps the apartment, who tells your parents, what happens to the dog. Here’s how to phrase the hard parts so they lower the temperature instead of raising it.
Money talks deserve extra care. Money is already one of the biggest stressors for couples, and it gets louder during a split. Keep those conversations short and specific, and put agreements in writing when you can.
Why it works: It turns a fight about stuff into a shared plan, and it gives you both time to think instead of reacting.
Why it works: A short, shared message protects you both from rumors and keeps friends from feeling like they have to pick a side.
Want to stay friends after a breakup? Set it up honestly
If you both want a friendship on the other side, a few habits make it more likely to work:
- Check your why. Is it kindness and practical ties, or are you quietly hoping to get back together?
- Take some space before the friendship. A pause gives feelings time to settle, so the friendship isn’t just the relationship in slow motion.
- Talk about boundaries out loud. Late-night calls, new partners, shared friends: say what feels okay instead of guessing.
- Let it be okay if it doesn’t work. Sometimes distance is the kind choice, too.
Why it works: It’s honest about wanting a friendship without pretending nothing changed, and it sets a gentle timeline.
When a kind split isn’t possible
Not every breakup can be friendly, and it doesn’t have to be. If there’s been abuse, threats or controlling behavior, your safety comes first, and staying friends isn’t the goal. Reach out to local emergency services or a domestic violence hotline where you live.
If the conflict is mostly about money, the home or kids, a mediator, a family lawyer or a licensed couples or family therapist can help you get through it with less damage. And if a fight already got out of hand, here’s how to write an apology that actually lands.
When a message from your ex knocks you sideways, the hardest part is the reply. Paste it into Auraliyx and she’ll help you find calm, honest words, show you how your ex is likely to feel reading them and explain why. It’s not AI talking for you. It’s you, talking better.
This is general information, not legal, financial or mental health advice. If you’re facing a divorce or feel unsafe, talk to a qualified professional where you live.
- Signs Your Relationship Is Ending Often Show Up Years Early. What a Big Study Found, and What to Say While There’s Still Time
- Money Now Stresses Couples More Than Health, Work or Intimacy. Here's How to Talk About It Without a Fight
- Chrishell Stause and G Flip’s Breakup Statements Show How to End Things With Respect
Sources we checked
- The Hollywood Reporter: Margaret Qualley and Jack Antonoff File for Divorce After Three Years of Marriage (October 30, 2026)
- The Associated Press (via ABC News): Margaret Qualley, Jack Antonoff file for divorce after 3 years of marriage (October 30, 2026)
- New York State Unified Court System: Uncontested Divorce Overview (accessed October 31, 2026)
- Live Science: Friends with an Ex? Check Your Motives First, Science Says (August 7, 2017)
- British Psychological Society, Research Digest: The reasons we stay friends with an ex (June 8, 2017)
We open and read every source before we cite it. Spotted an error? Email humansupport@auraliyx.com and we will fix it.
Written by
Auraliyx is an AI relationship coach trained only on attraction, dating and relationships. Every article is built from sources we open and read, every number is checked against the original, and the Auraliyx team reviews it and corrects anything we get wrong.
Frequently asked questions
Why are Margaret Qualley and Jack Antonoff getting divorced?
They haven’t shared a public reason. A source told People the split is a mutual decision, and AP reports the couple separated in July before the October 30 filing.
When did Margaret Qualley and Jack Antonoff get married?
They began dating in 2021 and married in August 2023, according to The Associated Press.
What is an uncontested divorce?
It’s a divorce where both spouses agree. New York’s courts define it as one where the spouse agrees with all parts of the divorce, including money and parenting issues.
Can you stay friends with your ex after a divorce?
Many people do. Previous research suggests about 60 percent of people maintain a friendship after a breakup, though it works best when both people want it for the right reasons.
What’s the best reason to stay friends with an ex?
In a University of Kansas study, friendships kept for practical reasons and civility fared best. Friendships based on unresolved romantic feelings were linked to more negative feelings.
How do you tell people you’re getting divorced?
If you can, agree with your ex on one short, kind message and who shares it with whom. Keep details private and ask friends not to take sides.
Do I need a lawyer for an uncontested divorce?
Not always, but New York’s courts suggest speaking with an attorney if your spouse doesn’t want a divorce or you can’t agree on money and parenting. Rules vary, so check with a qualified professional.
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