Shania Twain says ex-husband Robert ‘Mutt’ Lange ‘deserves empathy’ but she’ll never forget he cheated on her

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Country music star Shania Twain recently revealed that although she will never forget her unfaithful ex-husband Robert 'Mutt' Lange's "mistake," she will make an effort to understand him.

Robert and Shania got divorced in 2008 following his affair with Shania's best friend, Marie-Anne Thiebaud. Shania went on to marry Marie-Anne's ex-husband, Frederic Thiebaud, six months after her divorce was finalized in 2011, per Daily Mail.

Shania Twain won't 'necessarily forget' what ex Robert 'Mutt' Lange did

In an interview with Jamie Laing for his 'Great Company' podcast, Shania clarified that despite Robert's past issues, he is deserving of compassion and understanding.

Shania said that she feels "sad for him" and that, despite her forgiveness, she won't "necessarily forget" what he did.

In response to a question concerning forgiveness and Robert, she stated: "Forgiveness is in the family of letting go."

"But forgiveness, more specifically for me anyway, is not about forgetting necessarily. It's about understanding the other person, and that might mean that they're wrong."

She added: "Maybe you believe forever that whatever they did was wrong. Or maybe you believe that... Like in my father's a better example, okay, because this is someone that I totally forgive."

"But I understand that he wasn't well, that you don't act certain ways unless there's something wrong with you," the country music icon continued.

"I feel bad that he had those problems. So, it's not for him, not for, you know. So, it's very hard to hate or not be able to forgive somebody that you believe."

Shania went on to say, "He’s a human being that deserves empathy and understanding. I think we all do, you know. If you're a criminal, you know, just 'cause you're, you don't hate your own parent or I'm speaking for myself, you know."

"So, do I hate my ex-husband for making a mistake? No. It's his mistake. Not my mistake. So sad for him that he made such a great mistake that he has to live with. And I don't know what that is, but it's not. That's not my weight," she remarked.

Shania Twain previously confirmed ex Robert 'Mutt' Lange and former BFF Marie-Anne still together

During a 2023 interview on the 'Armchair Expert' podcast with co-hosts Dax Shepard and Monica Padman, the 'Man! I Feel Like A Woman' singer revealed that Robert and her former friend Marie-Anne were still together 15 years after their affair was exposed.

She talked about how she first met Frederic, calling the romance a "beautiful surprise" and "what she deserved," while reassuring everyone that Robert was still with Marie-Anne, per Daily Mail.

Shania made a joke about the couple "playing musical chairs" when they switched, although she claimed that before their respective separations, she "didn’t really know Fred very well."

After the affair was revealed, Shania claimed to have witnessed "how gracefully and graciously he was dealing with navigating the same pain," and although she felt "fragile," he was "thoughtful."

"Fred’s so smart. This is one of the smartest people I know, [and] he didn’t know [about the affair] either. That helped me feel better. I got what I deserve. I got the greatest man on the planet," the songstress remarked at the time.

Shania learned about the affair between Robert and her best friend, the day after her ex-husband sought a divorce.

Marie-Anne and Robert, who wanted a calmer life away from the spotlight, had relocated to Switzerland when the country music star's career took off and she became a best-selling crossover artist.