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Gavin Rossdale Says He Feels "Shame" About Divorcing Gwen Stefani And Wishes He Had A "Connection" With Her

"It can be quite debilitating for kids."

Before Gwen and Blake...

Gwen Stefani in a jacket smiling with Blake Shelton, in a black shirt, at a sports event

...there was Gwen and Gavin.

Gwen in an embellished jacket and leggings, and Gavin Rossdale in a jacket

Gwen Stefani and Gavin Rossdale were together for quite a while. They started dating in 1995 and got married in 2002.

Gwen in a ruffled outfit, and Gavin in a dark suit with a light shirt, at a media event

Then, after having three children with Gavin, Gwen filed for divorce in 2015. It was finalized a year later.

During a recent appearance on Amy Robach and T.J. Holmes's Amy and A.J. podcast, Gavin got real about how he feels regarding his divorce from Gwen — and what he wishes were different, too.

Gavin Rossdale stands with a neutral expression, wearing a black T-shirt and dark sunglasses

"My parents were both married three times each — so very colorful background," he said. "And so, I never thought I'd ever get divorced. So if there's a simple shame in my life, it's that."

"Life just unfolds how it should. And whether that's comfortable or uncomfortable, it just is what it is. It's an easier philosophy to live by 'cause it means you don't sit in regret."

Gavin also said it would be "nice" if he had more of a "connection" with Gwen, whom he didn't refer to by name but addressed as "the person who made" their children "with [him]."

Gavin in a black tuxedo and Gwen in a glittering halter-neck dress

"I feel bad for my kids, that's it. That's the overriding thing," he said. "The rest of it is, like, it comes with the territory, and there's been sort of other things. … If I could be the most honest, that would be the most profound thing of, like, I wish I could have just figured out a way to not have that in their lives."

Gwen in sunglasses, and Gavin also in sunglasses, at a film event

"It wasn't fun for me to be from a broken home. I think in a way it gave me a career. So I don't mind ’cause I turned it around to sort of an interesting career path. But it can be quite debilitating for kids."

Gwen Stefani and Gavin Rossdale pose together; Stefani in a white top and black skirt, Rossdale in a brown jacket and black shirt

Listen to the whole interview here.