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Musicians Gavin Rossdale (L) and  Gwen Stefani attend PANDORA Jewelry and Moto X present 'American Hustle' at cinema prive at  on November 30, 2013 in West Hollywood, California.© Getty Images

Gavin Rossdale and Gwen Stefani's complicated 'opposing' relationship as co-parents to three sons — what they've said

The Bush frontman and the No Doubt frontwoman were married from 2002-2016

Ahad Sanwari
Ahad Sanwari - New York
Senior WriterNew York
October 30, 2024
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Despite their relationship ending nearly a decade ago, Gavin Rossdale and Gwen Stefani maintain an amicable relationship as co-parents to their children.

Gwen, 55, and Gavin, who turns 59 today on October 30, tied the knot in 2002 and welcomed sons Kingston, 18, Zuma, 16, and Apollo, ten, together before splitting up in 2015 and divorcing in 2016.

While they've each since moved on (with Gwen now married to former The Voice colleague Blake Shelton), they've commented on the end of their relationship and the complicated impact it has had on co-parenting.

Below, read what Gwen and Gavin have said about their bond as parents and their relationship for the sake of their kids…

"Opposing" styles

Last year, while on the Not So Hollywood podcast, the Bush frontman explained that their styles aren't so similar when it comes to raising their boys. "I think you can go one of two ways," he said. 

Gavin Rossdale and Gwen Stefani attend "A Night To Benefit Raising Malawi & UNICEF"© Getty Images
Gavin and Gwen were married from 2002-2016

"You can either do everything together and really co-parent, and see how it goes. Or you can just parent," adding: "I think we just 'parent'. We're really different people, I don't think there's much similarity in the way we bring them up."

While emphasizing that the three are "loved and supported" by whichever household they're in, he continued: "I think that gives them an incredible perspective to then choose which pieces of those two lives they'd really like to inherit and move on with, and which part comes out of the whole process."

MORE: Gwen Stefani and Gavin Rossdale's oldest son Kingston flashes massive new tattoo — see here

"We definitely have some particularly opposing views and it'd be really helpful for them to make their own minds, as they should, as individuals."

Xhoana Xheneti and Gavin Rossdale attend the 2024 iHeartRadio Music Awards at Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, California on April 01, 2024© Getty Images
Gavin is now dating musician Xhoana Xheneti

Lingering feelings

In a new interview with NME, Gwen referenced her divorce and the impact it had not only on her family, but also her career, citing the need to take a step back for the sake of her own mental health and her children as paramount.

MORE: Gwen Stefani's teen son Zuma follows in famous parents footsteps again with surprise public appearance

"You know, the time we stopped [No Doubt] was when I was going through my horrible family breakup – I don’t like to say the word 'divorce', because it's just such a disgusting word. But my life just blew up, it really did," she admitted.

Gwen Stefani and Blake Shelton attend the 59th Academy of Country Music Awards at Omni Frisco Hotel at The Star on May 16, 2024 in Frisco, Texas.© Getty Images
Since 2021, Gwen has been married to country music star Blake Shelton

"A lot of people are like, 'Why did it take so long [for No Doubt to reform]?' But when you have a family, eight years goes by like that. To heal from what happened, I mean it's still happening, I'm still trying to get through it."

Feeling "shame"

On the podcast Amy & T.J., Gavin spoke of feeling pride in the fact that he considers himself to be "super consistent" as a dad, but confessed to wanting more of a relationship with Gwen herself.

Gavin Rossdale with his sons Kingston, Zuma, and Apollo, and his daughter Daisy Lowe© Instagram
The English rocker is also a dad to model Daisy Lowe

"Sometimes I wish that… when you see the kids, sometimes there's a loss. It would be nice if there was more connection for the person who made them with me."

MORE: Gwen Stefani sheds light on son Apollo's relationship with stepdad Blake Shelton in milestone birthday tribute

Admitting to feeling "shame" over the divorce, coming from a family of divorce himself, he explained: "I go to a lot of events where there's the, you know, the other team, so to speak, and I just know that I just feel really proud of myself in my consistency as a father."

Photo shared by Gwen Stefani on Instagram October 2024 featuring Blake Shelton from her birthday weekend© Instagram
Their sons divide their time between their parents' homes in California, Oklahoma and the UK

Gavin ultimately noted that he was well aware of the fame and scrutiny under which both he and Gwen (and their stepfather Blake) lives and had nothing negative to say about his ex-wife. "I would never want to overly say anything negative about their mom or stuff like that. It's not right. So I just don't."

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