Updated October 14, 2026, 4:29 p.m. ET
Michael Seare didn’t expect the news of his divorce to go viral.
He’s neither a celebrity nor an influencer: he just passed 1,000 subscribers on Instagram this week. But when he posted a “Divorce FAQ” online, it received not only more than 31,000 likes on Instagram, but also more than 5 million views when it was re-shared by users on X.
“A normal guy announced his divorce like this and Instagram forwarded it to a bunch of people (including me),” one user wrote. “I’m dying for the FAQ slide.”
Seare’s message was simple. It read: “Major life update, friends! Chloe and I have made the difficult decision to divorce… Do you have any questions?
He came prepared. The next slide in the Instagram carousel was titled “Divorce FAQ” and contained answers to all the basic questions: what prompted the separation, who will keep the pets, how to manage friendships with each of them, and who is moving where.
It’s not uncommon for exes to take to social media to share the news of their split. In 2018, YouTubers David Dobrik and Liza Koshy announced their breakup to more than 20 million followers in an emotional video titled “We Broke Up.” More recently, family influencers who have built platforms around their relationships have had to make lengthy breakup explanations public. And celebrities often make statements when news of a divorce becomes public. But for a “regular” guy like Seare, the Internet was surprised by the simplicity and honesty of the message.
Why This “Normal Man” Decided to Write a “Divorce FAQ”
The couple had already spoken to close friends and family about the divorce weeks before the post was made, and found themselves “in the middle of dozens of similar conversations.” To update their wider circle, posting online was the easiest way to “protect their own emotions,” Seare told USA TODAY.
“It seemed like the best way to deal with all this repetitive heartache,” he said. His wife posted an identical message, with an “objectively funnier choice of background music” (“Goin’ Through the Big D” by Mark Chesnutt), Seare added. However, his account was private.
Although he has a public Instagram account, Seare never imagined the algorithm would carry his post this far.
“I thought those who cared would have a simple reaction of ‘Oh, that’s too bad. Let’s wish them the best’ and the rest would completely ignore it because it’s a post-social, almost cringe-inducing post,” he said.
At first, the virality was exciting and Seare engaged in “fanciful comments” while ignoring “bad faith assumptions” or projections of negative divorce experiences. He and his wife separated amicably and the post made it clear they intended to remain friends.
However, the message quickly began to cause exactly what it was intended to avoid: lots of questions and too much attention. For the most part, the internet was kind. But within days, Seare found himself spending hours going through every post, repost, and comment, each framing his personal life from a new, sometimes bizarre, perspective.
“It was affecting my healing process, so I stopped,” he explained.
‘Divorce FAQ’ Shows How Much People Appreciate Humor and Communication During Difficult Times
Seare’s biggest takeaway from her viral moment is how much people appreciate honest communication, especially when it comes to supporting a friend after a divorce.
“So many people made comments along the lines of ‘Man, I wish all my friends would break up with a post like this,'” he shared. “We want to know how to help our friends and that sometimes feels like an emotionally detached designation of needs and feasible options.”
Amy Morin, psychotherapist and author of “The Mental Strength Playbook,” says humor can be a strong coping skill and a “strategic way to deal with social awkwardness.”
“Instead of feeling embarrassed about telling this story or feeling sad every time you get predictable questions, use humor to be proactive,” she said. “Put it on the table and let it be known.”
It’s a stark contrast to “hoping no one notices you’ve taken off your wedding ring or just vaguely saying ‘we’ve decided to separate,'” she added. This vulnerability can accommodate increased connection and relativity.
“This can lead to deeper conversations and greater emotional support,” Morin said.
Although many found it humorous, Seare isn’t sure what role humor played in the ad.
“I would like humor to be part of our pain, but not so much that it drowns out authenticity and vulnerability,” he said. “When I find the answer, I will be sure to post it. I hope it goes viral too.”
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