and ex-husband had their fair share of ups and downs before calling it quits for good.
The pair, who first connected on a blind date, tied the knot in 1961. They went on to welcome their daughter, Alexis, four years later.
In 1987, Martha and Andrew separated after 26 years of marriage. Andrew subsequently moved out of their shared home shortly after their split and their divorce was finalized three years later. After his split from Martha, Andrew went on to marry her former assistant, . (Andrew and Fairclough later divorced and he moved on with current wife .)
During a 1991 interview with New York magazine, Martha opened up about what she thought might have gone wrong in their relationship.
“It was not stage-set. Maybe it was too much for my husband; maybe he couldn’t stand it,” she told the outlet of the pair’s dynamic. “But I’ll tell you, underneath it all I bet he loved it, and I’ll bet a lot of people would love it.”
Martha later revealed in her 2024 Netflix documentary that she had an affair while she was married, but noted that her ex-husband likely was unaware of her infidelity.
Keep scrolling to see what Martha has said about her relationship with Andrew:
Moving Out
Martha revealed to New York magazine in 1991 that Andrew first moved down into their barn before he moved out of their house. The businesswoman shared that he left while she was in the middle of a tour promoting her wedding book, which Andrew was featured in.
“Can you imagine? It was the worst, it was a very horrible thing. That too was very hard to feel nice about a person after he does something like that knowing that that’s exactly what you’re on with his picture in the wedding book,” she reflected to the outlet. “He got me where it hurt the most. Paying me back for whatever I did to him all those years ago that made him be so mean to me.”
Being Intimidated by Her Ambition
Martha’s career took off years after she got married. Martha admitted that she and Andrew were there for each other before finding their strides.
“He helped me a lot; I admit it. I helped him a lot also and he forgets that,” she said to New York magazine. “Well, I did a lot. I think he got tired of my drive and desire to do lots of things.”
Navigating Divorce
The businesswoman shared that getting a divorce was a “terrible thing” for her, as no one in her family had done it before.
“We were the first to divorce in my family,” Martha said to People in 2020. “And that we haven’t spoken since the divorce is even more painful. But I’m very strong, and I’m very motivated to get on with life.”
Knowing When to Leave
In an October 2024 exclusive interview with Us Weekly, Martha shared her advice to others who are struggling in their relationships.
“I would suggest to anybody who’s not happy in a marriage, get out of it as fast as you can,” she told Us. “Don’t belabor it and don’t be miserable about it, because it doesn’t do any good whatsoever.”
Affair Admission
In the trailer for her 2024 documentary titled Martha, the entrepreneur confessed that she cheated on Andrew.
“I was considered crazy, but it worked. Young women listened to my advice. If you’re married and your husband starts to cheat on you, he’s a piece of s—. Get out of that marriage,” she said before producers stepped in to ask if she had an affair during her marriage. “Yeah, but I don’t think Andy ever knew about that.”
Choosing Herself
In the Netflix doc trailer, Martha shared that she was given a choice about what she prioritized more — her marriage or her career. She admitted that “the cookie-cutter life” of being a housewife was not something she envisioned for herself.
“I had two mottos: Learn something new every day and when you’re through changing, you’re through,” she reflected. “I could have just been a miserable, has-been housewife, but I didn’t let that happen to myself — and I’m so happy I didn’t.”
