Rachel Zoe is opening up about the emotional moment she realized her marriage was truly over and the surprising person she called first for support.
The fashion designer and newest cast member of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills recently revealed that when she decided to leave husband Rodger Berman, her very first call was to longtime friend Jennifer Garner.
Speaking on the Inside Edit Podcast with Maeve Reilly, Zoe shared that Garner immediately understood what she was going through. The actress responded with a simple but deeply meaningful observation, “You must be so tired.”
The comment resonated instantly. Zoe explained that Garner recognized the emotional exhaustion that comes from spending years trying to hold a relationship together before ultimately accepting that it can no longer work.
© Matteo Prandoni/BFA/ShutterstockGarner has personal experience with that difficult process. The actress previously divorced Ben Affleck after 13 years of marriage and three children together. Their split became one of Hollywood’s most talked-about breakups before being finalized in 2018.
Beyond offering empathy, Garner also provided practical guidance. She recommended that Zoe contact powerhouse Los Angeles divorce attorney Laura Wasser.
© Jon KopaloffWasser, often nicknamed the “Disso Queen,” is one of the most sought-after divorce lawyers in Hollywood and has represented a long list of high-profile clients including Kim Kardashian, Angelina Jolie, Johnny Depp and Britney Spears. Garner herself worked with Wasser during her own divorce proceedings.
Zoe and Garner have been friends for more than two decades. Their relationship dates back to 2003 when Zoe styled the actress for the Emmy Awards, beginning a friendship that has lasted throughout their careers.
© GettyThe reality star has been candid about the breakdown of her marriage since joining Season 15 of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills. Zoe first announced her split from Berman in September 2024 after 33 years together. The couple had been married for 26 years after tying the knot in 1996 and share two sons, Skyler, 14, and Kaius, 12.
In July 2025, Zoe officially filed for divorce, listing June 27, 2024 as their date of separation and citing irreconcilable differences. The designer has admitted that the relationship had been strained for some time.
© Gilbert CarrasquilloWorking together professionally, she said, may have contributed to the tension. “There’s a lot of reasons that our relationship was strained,” Zoe shared on RHOBH. “In hindsight, if I had to say a great regret – greatest regret – would probably be working together.”
Berman was not only her husband but also her longtime business partner. He appeared alongside Zoe on The Rachel Zoe Project throughout the show’s five-season run from 2008 to 2013. The pair also helped build the Rachel Zoe fashion brand and currently sit on the board of Rachel Zoe Ventures, an early-stage venture capital firm.
“The personal relationship eventually changed. “Lines got crossed,” Zoe said during a confessional on the Bravo series. “The person that I was with my whole adult life was, in many ways, unrecognizable.” She added through tears, “Ultimately, that person didn’t feel right around me or around my kids.”
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