Teen Mom Alum Jenelle Evans Confirms Separation from David Eason: 'New Chapter Unlocked'

Jenelle Evans has filed for permanent separation from her estranged husband David Eason.

The Teen Mom 2 alum confirmed on Wednesday that she is legally separated from her husband of six years. (A rep for Evans also confirmed the separation to PEOPLE.)

Evans, 32, took to TikTok to publicly announce the news with a video in which she shared, "I filed for separation," and later posted another video explaining that she had to file for separation in the state of North Carolina before filing for divorce.

The former MTV star spoke out for the first time about the dissolution of her marriage by sharing a TikTok in which she danced to "Applause" by Lady Gaga. "Can I get some appreciation?" read text on the screen while Evans lip-synced to a sped-up version of the song.

Once the chorus played, "I filed for separation 👏🏻," appeared and she took a bow.

In the caption, the TV personality added, "New Chapter Unlocked🔒✨"

Evans also spoke candidly in another TikTok uploaded on Wednesday that was made in response to a fan's comment inquiring why she didn't just file for divorce from Eason, 35. "I would've skipped straight to divorce, but I couldn't, because in the state of North Carolina, you have to be legally separated for a year, and you have to prove you have two separate addresses," the mother of three explained.

The former reality TV star explained that there were instances where the couple considered separating, but never "wanted to leave" their home. She shared, "So, whenever I had the window of opportunity that I was able to file for separation and I filed something called separation by bed and board."

Evans added, "If you guys see each other one time, hook up and end up back together just for a night, but then you argue and you're like, ‘Nah this isn't going good,' it doesn't matter. The clock restarts, so they're very particular here, which is crazy."

"That's where I'm at right now and the clock has begun," she concluded.

After announcing her separation on social media, Evans also shared a TikTok with the caption, "Vibes on a high right now 🙃," in which she mouthed an uplifting quote from Gypsy Rose Blanchard. "You can't bring me down, I'm on a high right now. I'm living my best life and y'all can't say nothing to me," the voiceover says.

PEOPLE has reached out to reps for Eason.

Evans and Eason share daughter Ensley, 7, and she is also mother to sons Jace, 14, and Kaiser, 9, from past relationships.

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The former couple were wed in 2017 and have had a tumultuous marriage at times.

The pair previously split for a brief period in late 2019, but reconciled several months later in early 2020.

Evans has also stood by her estranged husband over the years amid legal trouble. In May 2019, the influencer temporarily lost custody of her two younger children after Eason allegedly shot and killed their family dog for biting their then-2-year-old daughter in the face. That July, the reality star confirmed to PEOPLE she had regained custody of her son and daughter.

In November 2021, Eason also had a run-in with the law when he was caught driving with a revoked license and being in possession of an open container.