Calgary couple celebrates their divorce with a selfie

Who said divorce has to be ugly?

A Calgary couple has turned the stereotype of bickering and bitterness on its head, releasing a happy, smiling selfie just outside the courtroom where they filed for divorce last week.

Shannon and Chris Neuman shared the selfie on Facebook, where it was shared more than 27,000 times but has since been removed.

According to the caption underneath the photo, the former couple is pleased to end their marriage “respectfully, thoughtfully and honourably,” and raise their two children as “parenting partners.”

“We’ve been separated for nearly four years, and our journey has been long and often painful, but I do feel very confident that we can maintain the positive relationship we have now, because it matters so much to us to do so,” Shannon told Global News.

Reaction to the photo has been mixed since going viral, said Shannon. While friends and family have been supportive, there are some who don’t see the celebration in the divorce.

“This marriage was mourned, I promise you,” she said. “The sadness, disappointment, heartache, confusion, guilt and shame that we’ve felt along the way has been real, and it felt good to achieve a positive outcome and share that with our friends and family.”

The couple were married for 11 years.