Travis Barker reveals what led to his divorce from Melissa Kennedy

Travis Barker has opened up about his brief first marriage to Melissa Kennedy, offering a glimpse into the personal choices that contributed to their relationship ending. The Blink-182 drummer married Kennedy in 2001, but their marriage lasted only about nine months before he filed for divorce in August 2002. (Wikipedia⁠)

While little is publicly known about Kennedy or the couple’s relationship, Barker has discussed the marriage in his 2015 memoir, Can I Say. His comments suggest that he entered married life while still struggling with a strong desire for attention from other women.

Barker acknowledged that he was “constantly looking for other girls” even before marrying Kennedy. He also admitted that his behavior extended to his bachelor party, when he was still thinking about other women despite preparing to get married. (HELLO!⁠)

Those revelations provide important context for the short-lived relationship. Although Barker has not publicly described one specific incident as the official reason for their divorce, his own reflections point to his behavior and mindset at the time as major factors in the marriage’s failure.

The timing of the split also came during a major period in Barker’s career. Blink-182 was enjoying enormous success after the release of its 2001 album Take Off Your Pants and Jacket, while Barker was becoming increasingly recognized as one of the band’s standout members. His professional life was moving quickly, and his personal life was changing just as rapidly.

Barker and Kennedy officially went their separate ways in August 2002. The drummer later moved on with actress and model Shanna Moakler, whom he married in 2004. Their relationship became much more public through MTV’s Meet the Barkers, and the couple welcomed two children together. (Wikipedia⁠)

Looking back, Barker’s comments about Kennedy show how different his life and relationships were in his younger years. His memoir did not simply revisit the end of the marriage; it also acknowledged some of his own mistakes.

Today, Barker is married to Kourtney Kardashian Barker. The couple, who married in 2022, have spoken openly about communication and accountability as important parts of maintaining their relationship. (People.com⁠)

His reflections on his first marriage therefore offer a rare look at the musician’s past and the lessons he appears to have carried into his later relationships.