For months, fans have wondered what led to the end of Dylan Dreyer and Brian Fichera’s marriage. Now, nearly a year after announcing their separation, the TODAY meteorologist is sharing why she believes ending the marriage was the right decision for their family.
In a candid new interview with Parents, Dreyer explained that separating has actually strengthened the relationship she and Fichera now share as co-parents, allowing them to create a happier environment for their three sons.
The longtime TODAY personality first announced in July 2025 that she and Fichera had ended their relationship after nearly 13 years of marriage. At the time, she revealed they had actually separated months earlier, while emphasizing that their commitment to raising their children together had never changed.
Now, as divorce proceedings continue after filing earlier this year, Dreyer has offered her clearest explanation yet of why the couple chose to go their separate ways.
A different kind of family life
According to Dreyer, the biggest change has been the atmosphere surrounding their family.
She said she believes her relationship with Fichera is actually healthier now that they are no longer married.
“We’re both the same people we always were, but without the things that went wrong in our relationship,” she explained in the interview with Parents.
She added that removing those problems has eliminated much of the conflict that once existed between them.
Rather than focusing on disagreements, the former couple now concentrates on raising their three sons—Calvin, Oliver and Rusty—together.
Dreyer said it has become a priority for both parents to make sure their children continue experiencing love, laughter and stability despite the changes in their family.
She explained that the boys understand they are loved just as much today as they were before the separation.
According to Dreyer, while their household looks different now, the joyful moments remain.
“There’s still all that fun. There’s laughter. There’s all the good things,” she said, adding that her sons now see “nothing but love.”
Why she believes separation was the right decision
One of Dreyer’s most personal reflections centered on why she believes ending the marriage ultimately benefited her family.
She said some people believe couples should remain together for their children, but her experience has led her to the opposite conclusion.
“I think the older generation will say ‘stay together for the kids,'” she said. “But my situation is ‘separate for the kids’ because they see us happier, they see us more lighthearted, and they see joy whenever we are there to celebrate the kids.”
She explained that she and Fichera continue attending their sons’ activities together, including sporting events, before returning to their separate homes afterward.
According to Dreyer, their children see both parents supporting them every step of the way.
She acknowledged that co-parenting comes with challenges, but said both she and Fichera remain fully committed to putting their sons first.
“Brian and myself are there for them a hundred percent,” she said.
Lessons from her own childhood
Dreyer also reflected on how her own upbringing influenced the way she approached her divorce.
She recalled growing up in a home where there was ongoing tension and said children often recognize far more than adults realize.
“There was always tension in the house,” she said, explaining that children naturally sense conflict even when parents try to hide it.
She also spoke about the difficult position children can face when parents remain together despite ongoing problems, saying they may wonder whose side they are expected to take.
Those experiences helped shape her belief that creating a calmer environment for her own sons was the better path.
Friends first, parents always
When announcing the separation last year, Dreyer wrote that she and Fichera had started their relationship as friends and intended to remain close friends moving forward.
That message continues to reflect how they describe their relationship today.
Despite ending their marriage, the two continue working together as dedicated co-parents while keeping their children’s well-being at the center of every decision.
Dreyer recently shared on her podcast that she still worries about how divorce could affect her sons in the future. However, after speaking with actress Julie Bowen, she said she felt reassured that children can thrive when they are surrounded by happiness, stability and love.
She said she hopes her own children will one day simply remember growing up in a family where both parents supported them, even if they were no longer married.
Nearly a year after publicly announcing the separation, Dreyer’s latest comments offer a clearer understanding of the decision behind the divorce. Rather than focusing on what ended the marriage, she says the priority has been creating a healthier, more positive future for the family they continue to raise together.
