Are Elizabeth Smart’s Parents Ed & Lois Still Married?
More than 20 years ago, Ed Smart and Lois Smart were unexpectedly thrust into the spotlight after the kidnapping of their then 14-year-old daughter, Elizabeth Smart. Over the course of the next nine months, the couple fought for the safe return of their child, even when authorities started losing hope that she would be found.
In March 2003, police found Elizabeth and arrested her abductors, Brian David Mitchell and his wife, Wanda Barzee, allowing her to reunite with her parents and siblings. Elizabeth has become an advocate for missing persons and has maintained a life as a public figure, but her parents have mostly retreated to their private lives.
However, Ed will be featured alongside his daughter in the new Netflix doc, Kidnapped: Elizabeth Smart, which comes out on January 21. Scroll down for everything we know about where his marriage to Lois stands now.
Are Ed and Lois Smart still married?
No, Ed and Lois are no longer together. She filed for divorce from her husband in July 2019 after more than 30 years of marriage, per court documents obtained by Us Weekly. The divorce was finalized that December.
In December 2019, Ed revealed that he and his ex-wife were still not speaking. It’s unclear whether they’ve been able to return to having an amicable relationship today.
When did Ed Smart come out?
Ed came out as gay in August 2019, amid his divorce from Lois. He shared the news publicly in a letter on Facebook, where he also announced that he would be leaving the Mormon church. Ed was 64 years old when he came out.
“The decision to be honest and truthful about my orientation comes with its own set of challenges, but at the same time it is a huge relief,” Ed wrote, per the Salt Lake Tribune.
Of his decision to leave The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, he explained, “As an openly gay man, the Church is not a place where I find solace any longer. It is not my responsibility to tell the Church, its members or its leadership what to believe about the rightness or wrongness of being LGBTQ.”
Ed also directly addressed Lois in his letter, apologizing for the “excruciating pain this has caused her.” He continued, “Hurting her was never my intent. While our marriage will end, my love for Lois and everyone in my family is eternal. I believe that love is what binds us together.”
He later told Inside Edition that Lois asked him if he was gay before he admitted it himself. “Somehow, this person I’ve loved my whole life thinks I’m a horrible person. That really tears me,” he admitted, adding that Lois was no longer speaking to him because she “feels betrayed.”
Is Ed Smart in a relationship now?
While Ed has not publicly discussed his current relationship status, he appears to have gotten married in 2021. Podcaster John Dehlin, who publicly supported Ed after he came out, shared photos from Ed’s wedding day on June 26, 2021.
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“Ed Smart married his sweetheart today,” he captioned the post. “What a joyful occasion.”
One shot showed Ed and his husband kissing in matching suits. They also rode away from their wedding ceremony on horseback in another pair of photos.
Lois’ current relationship status is unclear, as she does not live a public life.
How many kids do Ed and Lois Smart have?
The Smarts welcomed six children throughout their relationship. In addition to Elizabeth, they also share a daughter, Mary Katherine, as well as sons Charles, Andrew, Edward, and William.
“I do have a relationship with my children,” Ed confirmed during a 2019 interview on CBS This Morning. “I know that they’re processing this they’re probably struggling through this. It’s not an easy thing. But I do feel their love, and I’m very, very grateful for that.”
He revealed that he called each child individually to tell them about the divorce and his coming out.
Kidnapped: Elizabeth Smart, Streaming Now, Netflix
