Domino Kirke has jokingly thanked her husband, Penn Badgley, for “not agreeing to divorce” during a difficult period in their marriage.
The singer and doula made the light-hearted remark in a Father’s Day tribute shared on Instagram on Sunday, reflecting on her relationship and family life with the Gossip Girl actor, with whom she shares three children.
In the heartfelt post, Domino began by reflecting on growing up with a “childlike father”.
“When you grow up with a childlike father, you learn not to expect much. You brace yourself for disappointment over and over,” she wrote. “You make excuses for their behavior and convince yourself you don’t deserve much more.”
The 42-year-old, who also shares 16-year-old son Cassius with a former partner, admitted she initially found it “easier” to “parent alone” before beginning her relationship with Penn in 2014.
“Truth is, I felt like I had more ‘control’ as a single mum,” she penned. “That’s all that was. I needed to run the show and keep everything where I could see it. I know now that control is an illusion. Even on the days I think I can do this better alone, even with all that muscle memory to back it up, I know now in my bones that I can’t.”
Domino went on to reflect on becoming a family of six after she and Penn, 39, welcomed twin boys in September 2025.
“Sure, twins. Sure, we’re finally outnumbered,” she shared. “But it’s more than that. Time takes time, and 13 yrs later, I realize we’ve always had a child in tow. Always a child in our bed, even one that wasn’t your own.”
“‘Four kids! You wanna know what it’s like to have a fourth? Just imagine you’re drowning, and someone hands you a baby.’ ~ Jim Gaffigan,” she continued. “Thank you for riding every wave with me and for not agreeing to a divorce every time I ask for one. Happy Father’s Day, @pennbadgley; we’re the lucky ones.”
Domino and Penn married in 2017 and welcomed their first son together, James, in August 2020. The couple expanded their family five years later with the arrival of identical twin boys.
Penn previously revealed that he and Domino “neared separation” after experiencing two consecutive miscarriages.
