Channing Tatum has an important message for single dads with daughters: 'Go into their world'

Three years after announcing his split from ex-wife Jenna Dewan, actor Channing Tatum is opening up about the challenges of being a single dad. In a recent interview with Parents magazine for its upcoming May issue, the 40-year-old Magic Mike star admitted to feeling scared about connecting to his 7-year-old daughter Everly following the divorce. "I want dads not to be afraid to go into their daughter's world and discover who they are," Tatum said. "When I became a single father, I had a lot of fear about connecting to Everly in every way that a little girl might want. I didn't wear nail polish or know how to braid hair." 

"But now I do both. I jumped with both feet into this magical world, and I was rewarded with a kind of love that I don't think I would have ever been able to have otherwise," he added. According to BBC, Tatum and Dewan announced they were separating in 2018 after almost nine years of marriage. In a statement posted to both of their Instagram accounts at the time,  the actors said the announcement was intended to avoid their separation being "distorted into 'alternative facts.'"

"We have lovingly chosen to separate as a couple. We fell deeply in love so many years ago and have had a magical journey together. Absolutely nothing has changed about how much we love one another, but love is a beautiful adventure that is taking us on different paths for now... We are still a family and will always be loving dedicated parents to Everly," they said in the joint statement. According to PEOPLE, Dewan further opened up about their split in her book Gracefully You: How to Live Your Best Life Every Day, where she revealed that the divorce followed the realization that their relationship "wasn't working and had moved into hurting."

Despite his initial apprehension about being a single dad, Tatum has grown to embrace the role wholeheartedly. "I paint my face, I wear tutus—rarely am I around the house without some sort of costume on," he said in his recent interview. In fact, the father-daughter duo has formed such a strong bond in recent years that Everly inspired her father to a picture book titled Sparkella. Set to be published on May 4, 2021, by Feiwel & Friends, Sparkella reportedly follows the story of a young girl named Ella, who gets teased for her love of sparkly things on her first day of school.

The delightful tale that sees Ella's dad encouraging her to continue to wear glittery ribbons and disco-ball shoes, encourages young readers to embrace their individuality while celebrating the bond between fathers and daughters. Tatum gushed about Everly in the book's dedication, writing: "To Everly, the most brilliant magical being that I have ever known. You are my greatest teacher. My only wish is for more time in this life to play in all of the magical realms we have created. This is also for all Dads that might have a little girl … Wear whatever, dance, however, and be as magical as you can. Because I promise they will return the love."

Tatum previously proudly talked about his daughter's independent personality during an interview with Entertainment Tonight in September 2018. "She's on the ground, rolling around. Every kid is up doing the proper stuff, but she's just doing her own thing," the proud dad said of Everly's participation in dance class. He also admitted that the young girl "kinda came out that way" more so than himself or Dewan instilling a sense of spunk in their daughter. "I wish I could take credit for that, but I can't really," Tatum said. "That's really all her. I think kids sorta do come out a little bit of what they're going to be, and then you foster that to be whatever you hope her to be in the world. She always just like, does her own thing."