Sometimes the chapters of life overlap in ways nobody quite expects. Actress Janel Parrish, 37, has officially put her marriage to Chris Long in the rearview mirror—and she’s doing it with someone who’s been waiting in the wings for over a decade.
On May 26, Parrish and Long filed a proposed judgment in the Superior Court of Los Angeles County, signaling they’ve reached a mutual agreement on property and support after a separation that began just months earlier. The pair had been together for ten years, married for seven of them, before deciding to call it quits. In an Instagram statement back in April, Parrish handled the announcement with grace, acknowledging the love and respect that still exists between them while thanking supporters for their kindness. But here’s where it gets interesting: almost simultaneously, the Pretty Little Liars alum was spotted getting cozy with Sasha Farber, a Dancing with the Stars pro who’s twelve years her senior.
The backstory? Parrish and Farber first met on DWTS season 19 back in 2014—that’s over a decade ago—when she competed with pro Val Chmerkovskiy. Flash forward to April 2026, and they’re posting PDA photos together. Farber shared a loved-up post on April 27 captioned,“April has been amazing,”complete with heart and strawberry emojis. By May 9, Parrish was gushing publicly, penning a sweet birthday tribute that read,“Happy Birthday to my love @sashafarber1. You bring joy and light to everyone who meets you. The world is a better place because you exist.”
The thing that really paints a picture of their connection? In a May 12 interview with People, Parrish revealed that Farber’s love language is cooking. She described coming home from filming a movie—exhausted from a twelve-hour day that didn’t wrap until 7:30 p.m.—to find a full spread waiting. Farber, she explained, is an amazing chef who’s introduced her to Russian food and excels at seafood, skewers, and kebabs. It’s the kind of detail that speaks to genuine intimacy: not just attraction, but someone actively taking care of you.
Worth noting: Farber, 42, was previously married to fellow DWTS pro Emma Slater from 2018 to 2024. When Us Weekly spoke with Slater in 2024, she had nothing but warm things to say about her ex, calling him“the best person, just absolutely amazing”and confirming they remain close friends. That kind of amicable history suggests Farber knows how to handle relationships—even the ones that don’t work out—with maturity and respect.
For Parrish, this is a chapter that feels less like a rebound and more like a slow-burn connection finally finding the right moment to ignite. Sometimes the best love stories aren’t the sudden ones—they’re the ones that have been simmering quietly until the timing finally aligns.
About the Author
Ava Hart
Ava Hart is a contributor to LocalBeat, covering local news and community stories.
