Darren and Deanne Jolly both face court as marriage turns toxic
Darren Jolly and ex-wife Deanne’s marriage breakdown has turned bitter with both due to front court. The pair sold the dream as the high-flying property flipping gurus on The Block but recent social media posts hinted at private turmoil.
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The bitter breakdown of Collingwood footballer turned reality star Darren Jolly’s marriage to interior designer and TV favourite Deanne Jolly has turned toxic with the former premiership player set to front court.
Jolly was listed to appear in the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court Monday to face serious charges, however the mention hearing was adjourned.
The charges cannot be reported for legal reasons.
His ex-wife Deanne has a similar charge listed for the Ringwood Magistrate’s Court on Thursday.
The Jolly’s split last September after 15 years of marriage, two children, two AFL premierships and two appearances on the Channel 9 series The Block.
Deanne confirmed the marriage was over and that she had been “blindsided” when Jolly walked out of the family last year.
“This is a very difficult time for me and my girls. We have been blindsided and left devastated by Darren’s action. But I’m focusing on my two daughters, who are my number one priority,” she said at the time.
Jolly revealed he had been battling mental health issues and had left his marriage to find a “happier life” when he collected his Life Membership to the Collingwood Football Club in February.
“Spending three weeks in a mental facility to deal with depression. Leaving my 15-year marriage because I fell out of love and wanted a happier life,” he said adding he had found life after footy difficult.
“Everything was too much to handle and I lost control. I lost my drive to keep going, I lost my purpose in life. I lost my direction and I lost my path. I thought it was easier just to go. I’m not ashamed to stand here and tell you that I spent time in hospital to deal with my issues.”
In recent months Jolly has been regularly venting his frustrations on social media about not seeing his two daughters and claiming to be a victim of parental alienation.
In August during the COVID-19 lockdown he wrote: “My biggest struggle is not knowing how my daughters are. I have not spoken to them for a year now as I have been alienated from them. Not knowing how my own daughters are during this extremely tough time has been very hard to deal with.”
In October he claimed on Instagram: “Since I left my marriage in August 2019 the memory of me in my girls minds is being erased.
“My girls are fearful of feeling any love they once had for me. They’ve been forced to feel only hate. I have left countless text messages and voicemails and receive nothing back.”
In another post he wrote: “Is it parental alienation if you (are) not even nominated as an emergency contact for your own daughter at school? Is it parental alienation if you send birthday presents and bake a birthday cake for your daughter that you have been denied from and get no acknowledgment? Is it parental alienation if you find out your ex is making plans about your children’s future and excluding you?”
Deanne, who has kept a dignified silence since the breakdown of her marriage and has focused on building a new life for herself and her children, posted a series of pointed, expert quotes explaining narcissism on her social media on World Mental Health Day.
Her choice of quotes hinted at private turmoil.
“A narcissist paints a picture of themselves as being the victim or innocent in all aspects. They will be offended by the truth,” the uncredited quote read.
She also posted the meaning of “the bandwagon effect”.
“The narcissist recruits flying monkeys by convincing them to mindlessly jump on the bandwagon to support their smear campaign. Enlisted people can include other family members, friends, neighbours, or the community in general.”
Darren Jolly was a member of the 2010 Collingwood premiership team and won the 2005 premiership with the Sydney Swans.
Post footy he and his wife Deanne appeared on The Block twice; first in 2014 and again in 2015 where they won $935,000. Part of their appeal to viewers was their competitive nature, their eye for skilful design and their regularly bickering with each other.
The couple started renovating and selling homes after their Block win.
Deanne sold their former family home in Surrey Hill for $1,715,000 earlier this year after their split. They sold a Sorrento property for $2.8 million in May 2018.
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