Pamela Anderson and Jon Peters Were Never Legally Married Prior To Divorce

written by: @dawnnnyy_

On Jan. 20, Pamela Anderson, 52, and Jon Peterson, 74, tied the knot in a secret ceremony. Right before their two week anniversary, Anderson announced her split from the legendary film producer. However, a source revealed to PEOPLE that the two were never legally married.

The couple never applied for a marriage certificate. The source confirms, “legal paperwork for the marriage was never filed.”

The actress and activist met Peters at Hugh Hefner’s Playboy Mansion in the mid-’80s. Although they have been friends ever since — more than 30 years, Anderson finds herself needing to “take a step back.”

“They had never lived together,” the source said. “Living with someone, you truly get to know them. Pam’s a romantic, but she is also very independent … This all moved a bit fast, so they both agreed to put it off.”

“I have been moved by the warm reception to Jon and my union,” Anderson said in a statement. “We would be very grateful for your support as we take some time apart to re-evaluate what we want from life and from one another. Life is a journey, and love is a process. With that universal truth in mind, we have mutually decided to put off the formalization of our marriage certificate and put our faith in the process. Thank you for respecting our privacy.”

Despite all of this, the two still remain friends.