Deryck Whibley of Sum 41 came out of retirement for a surprise performance at the Vans Warped Tour. He joined his ex-wife, Avril Lavigne, who was headlining the festival, for a duet of Sum 41’s “In Too Deep.” Avril later called the audience “one of the best crowds” and referring to Deryck as a “legend” in an Instagram post. This wasn’t the first time the former couple shared the stage; they previously reunited during Avril’s Greatest Hits Tour stop in Las Vegas in 2024.
Deryck and Avril were married in 2006 but divorced in 2009, citing irreconcilable differences. At the time, Avril reportedly felt she was too young to be married and wanted to grow and explore life on her own. In his 2024 memoir Walking Disaster: My Life Through Heaven and Hell, Deryck reflected on their relationship, saying there was no single event that led to their breakup. He described their separation as gradual, driven more by career demands than conflict.
Inspired by Tom Petty’s song “I Need to Know,” Deryck decided to confront their issues head-on, ultimately giving Avril an ultimatum to either fix the relationship or part ways. Later that year, Avril confirmed the end of their marriage in a heartfelt message posted to her website, expressing gratitude for their time together and their continuing friendship.
Since their split, both have moved forward successfully. Deryck is now married to model Ariana Cooper and has two children. In 2024, he and Sum 41 were inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame at the Juno Awards. Avril, meanwhile, continues to tour and was appointed to the Order of Canada for her philanthropic efforts and contributions to music.
Despite their past, the two musicians remain supportive of each other and continue to celebrate their shared history both on and off stage.
© 2025 Corus Radio, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.
Ad Choices