Advertisement

David Beador's Wife Lesley Now Says She's Filing for Divorce After Claiming He Filed a Dismissal

Looks like David Beador and Lesley Beador are divorcing after all.

A week after Lesley claimed that David was withdrawing his divorce filing, the mother of three on Tuesday night revealed on her private Instagram account that she was now making legal moves to end their 23-month marriage.

"I am filing for divorce," Lesley, 38, wrote, captioning a throwback photo of herself. "While this is not what I would have ever expected, it is what is best."

Lesley and David, 57, married on Oct. 15, 2020, and share 19-month-old daughter Anna Love Beador. She also has two children, from a previous marriage.

"I value myself and the happiness and well being [sic] of my children," Lesley wrote in her post. "I am so grateful for a tremendous circle of friends and family who support me. Looking forward to a bright and happy future with my beautiful kiddos."

David Beador Lesley Beador
David Beador Lesley Beador

Lesley Beador/Instagram

She added on Instagram Story: "I have a lot to share and will one day. For now I'm going to focus on spending all my free time with my amazing kiddos and laughing with friends."

PEOPLE has reached out to David as well as David's lawyer Michael J. Monarch for comment. A request to Lesley was also made.

RELATED: RHOC Alum David Beador Withdrawing Divorce Filing from Wife Lesley Beador, She Says

David, who was previously married to The Real Housewives of Orange County star Shannon Beador, first filed to legally end his marriage with Lesley on Sept. 15 — which, coincidentally, was the day before what would have been his wedding anniversary with Shannon.

In the initial court documents obtained by PEOPLE, David cited irreconcilable differences as the reason for their split. He requested joint physical and legal custody of their daughter and noted that a prenup was in place for the division of their assets.

David Beador - Anna -
David Beador - Anna -

lesley beador/ instagram

RELATED: RHOC Alum David Beador Files for Divorce from Wife Lesley Beador After 23 Months of Marriage

Days later, on Sept. 21, Lesley posted on her private Instagram Story that David "filed a request for dismissal a few days ago."

Online court records have yet to reflect the change, though a representative at the court previously told PEOPLE there's no timeline to process non-urgent requests like that.

The Beadors — who split their time between Orange County and Park City, Utah, where David also has a home — first went public with their relationship in January 2018.

At the time, sources told PEOPLE that Shannon, 58, was "blindsided" by the relationship, as she and David had split only four months earlier in September 2017 after more than 17 years of marriage.

David Beador and Lesley Cook
David Beador and Lesley Cook

Courtesy of David Beador David Beador and Lesley Cook

Lesley documented much of her relationship with David on Instagram. She even made headlines on Nov. 9, 2019, when she shared a nude photo of her and David on Instagram.

Watch What Happens Live host Andy Cohen talked about the seductive snap on his show, dubbing David the "Jackhole of the Day" for the "worst thirst traps even seen."

"My kids all saw it at school," Shannon later told the crowd that month at the inaugural BravoCon of her daughters Sophie, 21, and twins Stella and Adeline, 18, whom she shares with David. "They were horrified."

That's not how David remembers it. "My kids called and we laughed at the selfies Lesley posted," he told PEOPLE. "It's amazing how much Shannon talks about me and my life. She needs some peanut butter to go with her jelly."

RELATED: RHOC's David Beador Engaged to Girlfriend Lesley Cook 9 Months After Shannon Beador Divorce

Months later, in January 2020, David and Lesley were back in the spotlight again when Lesley shared the news that they were engaged. He popped the question just nine months after he and Shannon reached a divorce settlement.

Lesley posted the news to her Instagram account, showing off her new ring in a selfie featuring a shirtless David. She also posted another picture of her then fiancé and her sizable diamond with the caption, "Looking forward to eternity with my love. I LOVE YOU LOVE!!!"

"Yes, Lesley and I are excited to be engaged," David later told PEOPLE, confirming their happy news. "We are celebrating in Miami and then going to the Super Bowl."

Shannon Beador; David Beador
Shannon Beador; David Beador

Paul Archuleta/Getty Images; Jerod Harris/WireImage

RELATED: Baby on the Way for RHOC's David Beador and Fiancée Lesley Cook: 'Excited to Be Expecting'

By July 2020, they were expecting, PEOPLE announcing the news of their baby-to-be exclusively. Daughter Anna Love was born on Feb. 5, 2021.

For her part, Shannon famously attempted to mend fences with David, sending him and Lesley a baby gift for Anna Love. That gesture ultimately didn't lead to any good graces between the three. Shannon said during an episode of Jeff Lewis's SiriusXM radio show in March 2021 that Lesley rejected the gift and that she and the two had no relationship.

Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Season 17 of The Real Housewives of Orange County is currently filming.