Taye Diggs Praises ‘Fairly Simple’ Coparenting Relationship With Ex Idina Menzel (Exclusive)
Taye Diggs has found the perfect recipe for a healthy coparenting relationship with ex Idina Menzel.
“It’s fairly simple with us. We’ve always tried to put [our son] first,” Diggs, 54, exclusively told Us Weekly before celebrating Chili’s National Margarita Day on Saturday, February 22. “Because we do that, it doesn’t really leave room for us to speak negatively about each other. We want him to have as smooth and loving relationship as possible with all of us involved.”
Menzel, 53, and Diggs first met in 1995 while starring in the original Broadway cast of Rent. The pair went on to wed in January 2003 and welcomed their son, Walker, in September 2009.
While the two announced their split four years later, both parties remain focused on being the best parent to their now 15-year-old son.
“The more we all can get along, the better it is for him and the more love and positive energy he gets,” Diggs explained to Us. “We’re pretty proud about the way that we handled our relationship. Hopefully, it will continue.”
As Walker continues his high school experience, Diggs said his son is less interested in following in his parent’s acting footsteps and more focused on athletics.
“It’s all about basketball and weight training,” he said. “It’s been really fun just watching him take athletics so seriously and at the same time focusing on his academics. I give all that credit to his mother. His mother is making sure that his academics stay up to [par]. I was terrible at school, but he seems to be acing it. I’m happy. I’m happy for him and relieved for myself.”
When he’s not on homework duty or taking his son to the basketball court, Diggs can likely be found figuring out his next meal — after reading a script, of course.
In celebration of National Margarita Day, Diggs teamed up with Chili’s to star in Lifetime’s new holiday classic titled I’ll be Home for National Margarita Day.
The feel-good television event tells the story of former love interests Liz (Maria Menounos) and Sam (Diggs) who reunite at the local Chili’s to raise a glass to friendship with margaritas.
While things start off on the right note, a big-city developer’s plans to build condos threaten to ruin the town’s National Margarita Day traditions. Liz and Sam must work together to stop the developer and save National Margarita Day, rekindling their relationship in the process.
While the storyline first grabbed the attention of Diggs, it was Chili’s food that sealed the deal.
“Me and my son brought a bunch of grub back to the crib — we tore it up,” Diggs told Us with a laugh. “Me and his mother split his time so anytime I have with him … we eat and we watch TV and we play sports. The fact that he loved all the Chili’s food that we got and didn’t interrupt our time together was huge for me. That was a big deal.”
Chili’s I’ll be Home for National Margarita Day premieres on Lifetime Wednesday, February 19, at 10 p.m. ET.
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Related: Idina Menzel, Ex Taye Diggs’ Rare Quotes About Raising Their Son Walker
Related: Idina Menzel and Taye Diggs’ Relationship: The Way They Were
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Taye Diggs opens up about the realities of co-parenting with ex Idina Menzel
By NOLA OJOMU, SENIOR ENTERTAINMENT REPORTER FOR DAILYMAIL.COM
PUBLISHED: 17:32 GMT, 19 February 2025 | UPDATED: 17:34 GMT, 19 February 2025
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Taye Diggs has revealed the ‘fairly simple’ agreement he has with ex-wife Idina Menzel in order to maintain a healthy co-parenting relationship.
The former couple shocked fans when they split in 2013 after a decade of marriage, with the pair going on to co-parent son Walker, 15.
Speaking in a new interview, the Set It Up star, 54, explained how the pair have managed to avoid getting negative as they continue to communicate for the sake of their son.
‘It’s fairly simple with us. We’ve always tried to put [our son] first,’ he told Us Weekly.
‘Because we do that, it doesn’t really leave room for us to speak negatively about each other.’
He continued: ‘We want him to have as smooth and loving relationship as possible with all of us involved.
‘The more we all can get along, the better it is for him and the more love and positive energy he gets.’
The Best Man star admitted he was happy with their ability to put their son first as he continued: ‘We’re pretty proud about the way that we handled our relationship. Hopefully, it will continue.’
Taye Diggs has revealed the ‘fairly simple’ agreement he had with ex-wife Idina Menzel in order to maintain a healthy co-parenting relationship
The former couple shocked fans when they split in 2013, with the pair going on to co-parent their 15-year-old son Walker
Taye and Idina, 53, fell in love while starring in Broadway’s Rent as Maureen Johnson and Benjamin ‘Benny’ Coffin III back in 1995.
They later reprised their roles for the 2005 film adaptation of the musical.
Idina and Taye are thought to have begun dating at some point between 1995 and 1998.
They eventually wed in December 2003 during an intimate ceremony in Jamaica.
Six years later, Menzel gave birth to the couple’s first and only child Walker.
They announced their separation in 2013 by sharing a statement with People, writing: ‘Idina Menzel and Taye Diggs have jointly decided to separate at this time.
‘Their primary focus and concern is for their son. We ask that you respect their privacy during this time.’
Taye filed the papers in 2014 and the divorce was finalized a year later.
The Set It Up star explained: ‘It’s fairly simple with us. We’ve always tried to put [our son] first. Because we do that, it doesn’t really leave room for us to speak negatively about each other’
He continued: ‘We’re pretty proud about the way that we handled our relationship. Hopefully, it will continue’ (pictured in 2013)
Idina has since remarried, tying the knot with fellow actor/singer Aaron Lohr in 2017.
During a 2021 interview with Drew Barrymore, Taye gushed over his ‘baby mama’ and how ‘lucky’ he is to have met her.
‘I hate to sound like a broken record, but it’s during these times where I remind myself how lucky I am, how lucky we both are even though the world around us seems to be spinning in all kinds of different directions,’ he told the host.
The Chicago actor also loves that he got to witness her rise to stardom early on.
‘I love the fact that I was there at the beginning,’ he said. ‘[Menzel] made history in that show and continues to make history with her singing and what not, and to know that I was right there.’
‘I love sharing that with my son. Like, “Daddy was there, when mommy, when the world first listened to her.” So that’s cool as well,’ he added.
Idina is known as the ‘Queen Of Broadway’ as she originated the role of Elphaba in the musical Wicked on Broadway in 2003 in which she earned the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical.
The film adaptation of the musical staring Cynthia Erivo in Idina’s role alongside popstar Ariana Grande, went on to top the box office last year.
Idina and Taye are thought to have begun dating at some point between 1995 and 1998, wed in December 2003 and announced their separation in 2013 (pictured in 2007)
The pair fell in love while starring in Broadway’s Rent as Maureen Johnson and Benjamin ‘Benny’ Coffin III in 1995. They later reprised their roles for the 2005 film adaptation (pictured)
Idina has also starred as main character Elsa in Disney’s Frozen franchise in 2013, 2019, and will star again in 2027.
Elsewhere, Taye’s breakout role on the big screen was when he played the handsome young man who made Angela Bassett swoon in 1998’s How Stella Got Her Groove Back.
Taye is also known for his efforts on Broadway musicals including Rent and Hedwig And The Angry Inch but has also starred in feature films including The Best Man (1999), Chicago (2022), The Best Man Holiday (2013) and Set It Up (2018).
More recently he has had success on the small screen starring in series including: Private Practice (2007–2013), Murder in the First (2014–2016), and All American (2018–2023).
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