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Ashley Biden filed for divorce from her husband of 13 years, Howard Krein, on Monday, Aug. 11, according to The Philadelphia Inquirer
On the same day, the daughter of former President Joe Biden shared a series of Instagram Stories that offered a possible glimpse at how she’s feeling
One Story, which was later deleted from her page, showed her giving a thumbs-up to the tune of Beyoncé’s “Freedom”
On the day Ashley Biden filed for divorce from husband Howard Krein, she shared quotes and songs on social media that may have referenced the split.
Ashley — the 44-year-old daughter of former President Joe Biden — filed divorce papers in the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas on Monday, Aug. 11, her representative told The Philadelphia Inquirer, after being married to Krein for 13 years. The former first daughter’s social media activity on the same day offered a glimpse into this pivotal moment in her life.
In one Instagram Story, Ashley showed herself walking through a park and holding a thumbs-up to the tune of Beyoncé’s hit song “Freedom” — an empowerment anthem from the 2016 album Lemonade, which was also adopted as the theme song for Kamala Harris’ 2024 presidential campaign. The Story was later deleted from her profile.
In another Instagram Story that was also removed, Ashley posted Ms. Lauryn Hill’s 2002 song “Freedom Time” alongside the quote, “New life, new beginnings means new boundaries. New ways of being that won’t look or sound like they did before.”
Other Instagram Stories posted to Ashley’s page on Monday included the Bob Marley quote, “Let your smile change the world but don’t let the world change your smile,” as well as an astrology post about the full moon portal — on which she added, “The universe has my back.”
Her later Stories featured snapshots from what appeared to be an event honoring Ashley’s late half-brother, Beau Biden, and his foundation. The former president was in attendance, and Ashley, a social worker, shared a message in tribute to both her father and late brother.
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The wedding of Ashley Biden and Dr. Howard Krein in Wilmington, Delaware.
“Thank you for the support for my brother/his foundation + the sweet/touching moments of appreciation for Dads service,” she wrote over a photo of President Biden meeting with someone at the event. “Still doing what he does best…and no one does it better.❤️ Grateful.”
Ashley rounded out her Stories with photos of her dog, a shot of the full moon and her phone’s lock screen at the time 11:11, a popular time for making a wish.
Lau Fook Kong, The Straits Times/AP Photo
Joe Biden, Jill Biden, their daughter Ashley and Howard Krein during a ceremony in Singapore.
Five years before his death from brain cancer, Beau introduced Ashley and Krein. The couple began dating in 2010, and were engaged the following year after Krein got Joe’s blessing.
Ashley married Krein on June 2, 2012 in Greenville, Del., in a ceremony that combined the bride’s Catholic traditions and the groom’s Jewish ones.
At the time, then-Vice President Biden opened up to PEOPLE about his daughter’s relationship, describing Klein — an otolaryngologist and plastic surgeon — as ‘the right guy” for his youngest child.
Ashley has largely lived life away from the spotlight, but she did bring her father to tears after she introduced him at the Democratic National Convention in August 2024.
She mentioned how emotional her father was on her wedding day in her speech, saying, “Before he walked me down the aisle, he turned to me and said he would always be my best friend. All these years later, Dad, you are still my best friend.”
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Krein was in the Oval Office with the Biden family on an important day in 2024, when Joe delivered an address from the Resolute Desk on his decision to abandon his reelection bid.
PEOPLE has sought comment about the divorce filing from both Ashley and Krein.
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