The reason behind Chris Rock’s divorce has been revealed and it’s pretty simple: he just wasn’t happy in his marriage anymore. A source that is close to the couple informed TMZ that the comedian just did not want to continue to be in a marriage that wasn’t fulfilling.
Rock filed for divorce in a New Jersey court earlier this month from his wife of 19 years, Malaak Compton-Rock. The source also told TMZ that the divorce process will be simple and that all the Top Five star wants is shared custody of his 12-year-old and 10-year-old daughters, whom he says his soon-to-be ex-wife has been keeping away from him. However, Compton-Rock issued a statement (Dec. 30) refuting these allegations.
“Malaak is saddened and disappointed that Chris has accused her of keeping their children from him, which he knows is untrue and can be so easily disproved,” her attorney David Aronson said in the statement. “We all know Chris leads a very busy public life while Malaak and their children definitely do not. She hopes the privacy of their children is still as important to Chris as it is to her and that it will be respected. They will always be the main focus of her life.”
It turns out that the Rocks have been preparing for their divorce since November and identified the community property that will be split between them once they divorce. However, here may be some drama when it comes down to how much spousal support Compton-Rock gets. Since they have been married for almost two decades, the pre-nuptial agreement that they signed back in 1996 has expired. Rock pointed out in the divorce documents that Compton-Rock has the “ability to work and contribute to her own support,” which may be an attempt to pay the bare minimum of spousal support or not pay any at all.