The stand-up comedian opens up about her divorce and shares how she and her ex-husband have a bond right now that is strong as ever.
Ali Wong and Justin Hakuta's divorce was not enough reason to end their friendship. As the "Always Be My Maybe" star declared, it might have become a way for them to be the best of friends.
Almost a year after their divorce in April 2022, Wong told The Hollywood Reporter (THR) about their "unconventional divorce," as they are not only co-parents but are also true friends.
"We're really, really close; we're best friends. We've been through so much together. It's a very unconventional divorce," the actress revealed after sharing that they had just played pickleball the morning before the interview.
The ex-couple even works together, along with their kids
Wong and her ex-husband, a tech executive who eventually became her tour manager, were married for eight years until their divorce was finalized in April last year.
The relationship is unconventional as the two are even working and traveling together in Wong's upcoming tour this summer, which she might call the "Single Lady tour," where she will deliver new jokes about life after divorce. They are making it a family affair as their daughters Mari and Nikki Hakuta, ages seven and five, respectively, are also going on the road with them.
Wong describes taking the children on the road with her as "so beautiful," as they get to have a "fun family adventure." She goes to work at night performing, but the entire day will be about the kids, taking them to children's museums and gardens or to see family friends, People reported.
Aside from her upcoming tour, Wong has a new dark comedy series premiering on Netflix on April 6 entitled "Beef." She is starring opposite the Oscar nominee Steven Yeun and will be giving life to the character of Amy, "a high-achieving working wife and mother whose road-rage encounter pushes her into increasingly destructive territory."
This is the actress's first dramatic lead, a career milestone.
She shared that she and her best friend slash ex-husband recently watched the first two episodes together, and Hakuta told her that the project is really good.
Hardest part about the divorce
In the THR interview, the comedian also addressed the rumors about her Netflix special Don Wong giving away some issues in her marriage and the upcoming divorce that's going to happen.
In the comedy show, released before the divorce was announced, she made jokes about their marriage and how she is jealous of single people, stating that she "too, was once free" but "like an idiot" asked a guy to go with her in "monogamy jail," where she longs to get out but does not know how.
When asked about the most challenging part of the divorce, she gave the public a different answer.
She shared that her mother's reaction made the divorce so hard, according to Entertainment Tonight.
Her mom got really upset when she found out and told her to wait until she died, which for Wong meant not living a life herself until then. Her mother's reaction came from the fear of the shame the divorce would bring her, which came through Chinese and Vietnamese newspapers publishing about the divorce.
The actress said that her mom's friends need not be told about the divorce as they were the ones calling her mom about it, who "died a million deaths in one day" and woke up the next day a total survivor.
Wong further shared that despite the divorce, her mom and ex-husband still often see each other.
