JT Barnett is breaking his silence after his sudden split from influencer Sami Clarke, just under a year after their wedding. The professional hockey player took to Instagram on Sunday, October 4, to give fans a glimpse into his side of the story.
“Hate that I have to post a personal PSA today: Sam and I have not been together for a bit, she chose to step away. I love her,” Barnett wrote in his Instagram Story. “There’s been no relational issues & no drifting apart… just her own feeling & intuition that she needed to leave.”
Barnett added that he didn’t agree with her decision and had hoped their marriage would continue. “I know who I am, what I want, what I provided and what we were. Our life has been fulfilling, happy & happy,” he shared.
He also admitted that he didn’t want to post about the split or talk publicly, but felt he had no choice because their lives had been so public.
“This is a tragedy, I miss the person I love and this whole thing has been really fkn sad,” he concluded, revealing the depth of his heartbreak. In another post, Barnett explained that he plans to focus more on his work moving forward. “It’s what I have been using this account for. Plus it’s been a great outlet and is something I genuinely enjoy. Appreciate all ur guys love & support,” he wrote.
Sami Clarke also shared her perspective on the split in her Instagram Story. “My life is shifting and I’m moving into a new chapter apart from JT,” she said. “It’s truly hard to put into words how tough this feels, but I trust it’s the right step for me. I’ll forever be grateful for the love and memories we shared for these past eight years together. Thank you for giving us space and grace as we move through this new chapter.”
The pair’s love story had once seemed like a fairy tale. Clarke revealed that they first connected online when Barnett sent her a message after commenting on one of her Instagram photos. At the time, he was playing hockey in Russia, and Clarke was building her modeling career.
Their online friendship blossomed over a year before they finally met in Los Angeles, and Clarke described the in-person meeting as “magical.” She recalled spending five hours on a rooftop with Barnett, talking nonstop, and realizing that their connection was something special.
The romance quickly led to marriage. Barnett proposed in a moment that Clarke described as “thoughtful, heartfelt, and so uniquely us”. Clarke called it “one of the best days of my life”, and the couple tied the knot in November 2024.
