At Christmas 2018, Phoebe wasn't seen at the Burgess family lunch and a few days later, photos emerged of Sam leaving his and Phoebe's family home carrying packed bags suggesting that they'd called it quits.
Speaking to Stellar in April 2019, Phoebe confirmed that she and Sam were still together.
“The main thing I’d like to say is that we’re a young family and we’re learning every single day,” she told the publication.
“Sam and I will have good days and we’ll have trying days. We’ll have challenges but it’s how you deal with those challenges together. Every single person on this planet who is married knows it isn’t perfect. It’s never going to be perfect.”
She added: “I’ve always believed that in the end, love conquers all.”
However in October 2019, the couple split for good. The Australian shared a damning report that detailed Sam's alleged episodes of drug use, domestic violence and abusive behaviour.
It was also reported that police took an AVO against Sam for the protection of his father-in-law, Mitchell Hooke.
Sam's lawyer told The Australian the claims were "false". Sam denied the allegations and hasn’t been charged over the claims.
In February 2021, after he was found guilty of intimidation against Phoebe's father, that decision was later overturned in the New South Wales District Court.
Since splitting from Sam, Phoebe along with Poppy and Billy have moved to her parent's Bowral property in the Southern Highlands - the same place as her wedding location.
However, Phoebe told Stellar that every memory she has there is a happy one.
"Even when things have been really s**t, it’s a good memory because it happened. I was very much in love on my wedding day and I’ll never forget my dad walking me down the aisle. And I’ll never forget how beautiful it was,” she told the publication.
She now has her own property in the same area and remarked that motherhood and the responsibility saved her.
Phoebe is also keeping her married surname rather than going back to Hooke for the sake of her children.
Sam told the same publication in August 2021 that co-parenting with Phoebe has been much harder than he thought it would be.
"Essentially, I still think it is the right decision for us both. I still care about Phoebe, we have two amazing kids. We just didn't work out as a married couple," he said.
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This article originally appeared on our sister site, Who.
