NEW YORK (AP) 鈥� The marriage between the stars of "The Family Chantel'' has come to an end, but the hit reality show will have a fifth and final season. The split has been unsurprising for faithful fans of the show who鈥檝e watched the couple's downward spiral.
鈥淭he damage is done already,鈥� said Pedro Jimeno, of the divorce. 鈥淚t鈥檚 not going to be any reconciliation in the future.鈥�
Jimeno, a native of the Dominican Republic, and Chantel Everett were standouts on TLC鈥檚 popular 鈥�90 Day Fianc茅鈥� reality TV show, which has become an almost cult-like followed franchise. The original series, which debuted in 2014, follows couples navigating America鈥檚 K-1 visa process, which allows foreign citizens who are engaged to Americans to move to the U.S. and marry within 90 days. After marriage, they can apply to become a permanent U.S. resident.
After their initial season four debut and appearances on other 鈥�90 Day Fianc茅鈥欌�� shows, Jimeno and Everett earned their own series, the first spinoff to follow an individual couple. (The show鈥檚 name came from the way Pedro, a native Spanish speaker, identified the Everett family.)
And while the love was strong initially, the union was complicated by their families who many fans believe had too much influence. The honeymoon phase quickly ended, and last season, the couple experienced plenty of drama and heartbreak, resulting in a tumultuous relationship and accusations of infidelity and financial mismanagement.
The final season of "The Family Chantel,'' which begins Monday, follows them as they wrap up their shared marital responsibilities 鈥� including the contentious selling of their house 鈥� and prepare for their new lives.
鈥淥n the final season of 鈥楾he Family Chantel,鈥� you鈥檙e going to find a lot of drama, it鈥檚 going to be (hard) and painful,鈥� said Jimeno. 鈥淚鈥檓 at peace with the marriage鈥 wish the best for Chantel.鈥�
The show airs at 9 p.m. Eastern on TLC.
Jimeno spoke with The Associated Press about his current feelings toward Everett, regrets, and his future in reality TV.
Answers have been edited for brevity and clarity.
鈥�
AP: What kind of place are you and Chantel in now post-divorce?
JIMENO: We鈥檙e not on good terms. I follow my way, she goes her way. And right now, we are not talking at all鈥t鈥檚 much better like that because in the end, I want to be separated from the family, and I want to heal myself and be a better person.
AP: Do you feel the show fairly portrayed you and Chantel over the course of the marriage?
JIMENO: Over the course, they weren鈥檛 fair on my side. Last year, they only choose one side, Chantel鈥檚 side鈥hey (portrayed me) like a freaking user, like somebody wants to use her for papers, a machista (sexist) person, that I only want to do things my way and it wasn鈥檛 like that. And I feel it wasn鈥檛 fair for me because they only put her story, her side.
AP: Do you think the problems in your marriage were because of the issues you and Chantel had, or more due to the families鈥� involvement?
JIMENO: Chantel had some issues, (her) family had some issues, and when you put those things together, you only hear one side of the story. You only hear her family talking about all the problems.
AP: And what about your family? They always had a lot to say as well.
JIMENO: My family, too. My family is not perfect 鈥� nobody鈥檚 perfect. But in the end, I haven鈥檛 spent that much time with my family. (My) family鈥檚 in the Dominican Republic. I was here (in Atlanta). And I鈥檓 not going to defend my family at all鈥y sister, my mother, they鈥檙e a little crazy sometimes. But in the end, they were not involved inside our relationship (as much as) the Family Chantel.
AP: How do you feel about criticism that you only married Chantel for a green card?
JIMENO: People need to understand I鈥檝e been here for almost seven years already. If I wanted a green card, if I wanted a visa, I would鈥檝e broken up after the first three years and be free鈥� I believed in the marriage for that long, and in the end, everybody grow apart.
AP: Do you ever fear your visa status could be in jeopardy in the future?
JIMENO: I鈥檓 not scared to be deported anymore because I already have my citizenship. I鈥檓 American鈥 got my blue passport, I got all my stuff already, thank God.
AP: Now that you鈥檙e divorced, are you dating?
JIMENO: I keep all my dating and stuff private. When the moment comes, it鈥檚 gonna be revealed. But right now, I try to keep things a little private.
AP: Would you ever consider appearing on reality TV again?
JIMENO: I鈥檝e been doing real estate, thank God, I鈥檝e been doing great鈥nd for reality TV show, I can say that鈥檚 something I鈥檝e been doing for almost 10 years, let鈥檚 say. I鈥檝e got a lot of experience...If they have opportunities to be on other shows, if they present it to me, I will think about it.
AP: Do you have any regrets?
JIMENO: The only thing is (everyone) can be better in the relationship. 鈥ou only see those times when you鈥檙e out the relationship (and) I say, 鈥淚 can do this better, this better." But it鈥檚 too late for those things. I hope she can find some better guy 鈥� and I pray to God she can be happy. ___
Follow Associated Press journalist Gary Gerard Hamilton at @GaryGHamilton on all his social media platforms.
Gary Gerard Hamilton, The Associated Press
