‘Immense Loss’: Chrissy Teigen & John Legend Mourn the Death of Their Pet Penny – Details

On January 26, 2025, Chrissy Teigen shared the heartbreaking news on her Instagram account that deeply affected her family. Alongside pictures of her husband, John Legend, and their son posing with their late pet, Penny, Chrissy expressed their sorrow.

She wrote, “Our beautiful little tripod queen, penny, [sic] passed on peacefully in her sleep today. Born the same day John and I got married, 11 years ago, she was there for us for every baby, every loss, every joy.”

The star revealed that Penny “loved nothing more than being loved, having her nub rubbed and destroying any ball she could get her paw on, even til her last weeks.” The television personality and model also reflected on how, while each pet represents a few chapters in their owner’s life, for the animals, their owners are their whole world.

The heartbroken celebrity concluded, “Oh penny [sic]. We were so beyond lucky to have you. Say hi to Puddy and Pippa for us. You are all together again. 🤍” Deep in mourning, John replied to his wife’s post, “I loved this girl. We will miss you, Penny.”

Support poured in from fans, with one person writing, “Oh Penny. I absolutely hate to hear this. She left her mark. Sending you all so much love 🌈💔.” Another fan comforted Chrissy, saying, “I’m very sorry for your immense loss. Fly high Penny, and frolic in those rainbow fields in joy and happiness. 💔 🌈.”

The “Sports Illustrated” swimsuit model and her musician husband adopted their three-legged black French bulldog in June 2014. At the time, the then 28-year-old Chrissy shared, “She’s a little tripod. She has been abused, and we are so excited to welcome her to the family.”

John was tasked with bringing Penny to her new home from South Carolina that weekend. Like the couple’s other late bulldogs, Puddy and Pippa, her name also started with a “P.” During that time, Chrissy was asked when she and John would welcome children.

She responded, “If dogs are the starters for babies, we should have three or four babies by now. I like to think of ourselves as working on babies all the time. And working on getting dogs all the time.”

Sadly, in July 2021, John’s family lost Pippa, with the singer sharing the news alongside a photo of himself posing with the dog. He confessed that they would miss “our little Pippa,” adding, “This pic is her living her best life: on the road with her dad, wearing pearls.”

John revealed that they got the canine near Gainesville, Florida. Because of where she was adopted, the singer often spoke to her using his best Southern accent impression.

He stated, “She was smart, fancy and didn’t take any [expletive]. She gave us so much joy for 10 years. We love you Pippa!” Despite their loss, the family found joy later that month with Chrissy revealing that they had adopted another dog, Pearl.

The television host admitted they were in love with their new Basset Hound, with Pearl taking to John first. Penny became obsessed with the new addition, and the two embarked on many adventures together.

Chrissy shared, “I grew up with Basset Hounds so I can’t wait for John to see this bouncy, no-bones, jello mold of skin grow into the stubborn logs of love I love so much. Excited for this new little heart to add love to our home. Swipe for ear magic!” The post included a short video showing Pearl’s ears flopping up and down as she ran.

While fans are now showing Chrissy and her family support amid their grief, they didn’t agree with comments she recently made amid the Los Angeles wildfires.

As the fires raged, the now 39-year-old author shared several Instagram Story photos on January 8, offering a glimpse into her family’s situation. She uploaded captioned photos, including one of herself packing a suitcase.

A caption below the image read, “This is surreal I’m very scared now. packing. [sic]” Another post showed her pets, highlighting the challenge of relocating her family, with the funny caption, “4 dogs 4 kids and a bearded dragon walk into a hotel.”

While some followers empathized with the star for evacuating to keep her family safe, others criticized her approach in the matter. One critic commented, “This is so tone deaf [sic]. Leave it to Chrissy not to read the room.”

Another person echoed the sentiment, adding, “She’s standing there ‘crying’ and John is taking pictures of her to post on instagram [sic]?” Others expressed frustration, saying, “So out of touch.”

Some were annoyed by what they saw as a disconnect between the seriousness of the situation and Chrissy posing for photos. One individual noted the contrast between the tense moment and the model prominently displaying her massive diamond ring.

Despite the backlash, many defended the “Lip Sync Battle” host. A supporter wrote, “Mother Nature always wins. Yeah she’s rich but she’s crying about the memories of the home. Some people cry for less cause it had sentimental value. Stop laughing at her. I can care less for her career. But be human. [sic]”

Others praised Chrissy for being responsible, with one commenter saying, “So horrible for all those in the path of these devastating fires. But thank you for taking your pets with you!”

The family’s Beverly Hills home was featured in August 2023’s “Architectural Digest,” showcasing a modern living area, kitchen, bedrooms, and a private movie room.

As Chrissy Teigen and her husband continue to navigate their loss while sharing moments from their lives with their followers on social media, they will always cherish the memories of their beloved pets while making more with those who are still there.