Tag: divorce

Illinois surgeon pleads not guilty to the killings of his ex-wife and her dentist husband in Ohio

An Illinois doctor indicted on murder charges in the December shooting deaths of his ex-wife and her dentist husband in their Columbus home pleaded not guilty to the killings in an Ohio courtroom on Friday.Michael David McKee, 39, appeared remotely on camera from jail for his arraignment in Franklin County, where he faced four aggravated murder counts and one count of aggravated burglary while using a firearm suppressor in connection with the Dec. 30 double homicide of Monique Tepe, 39, and Dr. Spencer Tepe, 37. He was garbed in prison attire and did not speak during the brief hearing. Defense attorney Diane Menashe waived a request for bond, at least for now.The mystery that first surrounded the case — which featured no forced entry, no weapon and no obvious signs of theft, additional violence or a motive — drew national attention. McKee, of Chicago, was arrested 11 days later near his workplace in Rockford, Illinois. He was returned to Ohio on Tuesday to face the charges against him.Who is Michael David McKee?McKee attended Catholic high school in Zanesville, a historic Ohio city about 55 miles (89 kilometers) east of the capital, according to the Diocese of Columbus. He enrolled at Ohio State University in September 2005 — the same semester that his future wife, then Monique Sabaturski, enrolled, university records show. Both graduated with bachelor’s degrees in June 2009. Sabaturski earned a master of education degree from Ohio State in 2011, and McKee earned his medical degree there in 2014.Sabaturski and McKee married in Columbus in August 2015 but were living apart by the time Monique filed to end in the marriage in May 2017, court records show. Their divorce was granted that June. McKee was living in Virginia at the time, court and address records show. He completed a two-year fellowship in vascular surgery at the University of Maryland Medical Center in October 2022, according to the school.McKee also lived in and was licensed to practice medicine in both California and in Nevada, where he was among doctors named in a personal injury lawsuit in a Las Vegas court in 2023. OSF Saint Anthony Medical Center in Rockford, Illinois, where McKee was working at the time of his arrest, declined to provide specific information on the dates of his employment. His Illinois medical license became active in October 2024.What is McKee accused of?An Ohio grand jury indicted McKee in the double homicide last week.McKee is accused of illegally entering the Tepes’ home with a firearm equipped with a silencer, shooting the Tepes — whose bodies were found in a second-floor bedroom — and leaving the property along a dark alley alongside the house.Columbus Police Chief Elaine Bryant has said that McKee was the person seen walking down that alley in video footage captured the night of the killings. She also said a gun found in his Chicago apartment was a ballistic match to evidence at the scene and that his vehicle’s movements were tracked from Columbus back to Illinois.A message seeking comment was left with McKee’s attorney.McKee is charged with two aggravated murder counts for each homicide, one for prior calculation and design and one for committing the crime, as well as facing the aggravated burglary count. If convicted, he faces a minimum of life in prison with parole eligibility after 32 years and a maximum term of life in prison without parole.How were the killings discovered?Columbus police conducted a wellness check on Spencer Tepe at around 10 a.m. on Dec. 30, after his manager at a dental practice in Athens, Ohio, reported that he had not shown up to work on that day, saying tardiness was very worrying and “out of character” for Tepe, according to a 911 call.Someone else called to request a wellness check before a distraught man who described himself as a friend of Spencer Tepe called police and said, “Oh, there’s a body. There’s a body. Oh my God.” He said he could see Spencer Tepe’s body was off the side of a bed in a pool of blood.The Franklin County Coroner’s Office deemed the killings an “apparent homicide by gunshot wounds.”Who were the Tepes?Family members said the Tepes were “extraordinary people whose lives were filled with love, joy and deep connection to others.”They have described Monique as a “joyful mother,” avid baker and “thoughtful planner.” According to their obituaries, which were issued jointly, the pair were married in 2020.Spencer Tepe got his bachelor’s degree from Ohio State University in 2012 and earned his doctor of dental surgery degree in 2017, according to school records. He was a member of the American Dental Association and had been involved with the Big Brothers Big Sisters organization.They had two young children. Both were home at the time of the killings and left unharmed, as was the family dog.

COLUMBUS, Ohio —

An Illinois doctor indicted on murder charges in the December shooting deaths of his ex-wife and her dentist husband in their Columbus home pleaded not guilty to the killings in an Ohio courtroom on Friday.

Michael David McKee, 39, appeared remotely on camera from jail for his arraignment in Franklin County, where he faced four aggravated murder counts and one count of aggravated burglary while using a firearm suppressor in connection with the Dec. 30 double homicide of Monique Tepe, 39, and Dr. Spencer Tepe, 37. He was garbed in prison attire and did not speak during the brief hearing. Defense attorney Diane Menashe waived a request for bond, at least for now.

The mystery that first surrounded the case — which featured no forced entry, no weapon and no obvious signs of theft, additional violence or a motive — drew national attention. McKee, of Chicago, was arrested 11 days later near his workplace in Rockford, Illinois. He was returned to Ohio on Tuesday to face the charges against him.

Who is Michael David McKee?

McKee attended Catholic high school in Zanesville, a historic Ohio city about 55 miles (89 kilometers) east of the capital, according to the Diocese of Columbus. He enrolled at Ohio State University in September 2005 — the same semester that his future wife, then Monique Sabaturski, enrolled, university records show. Both graduated with bachelor’s degrees in June 2009. Sabaturski earned a master of education degree from Ohio State in 2011, and McKee earned his medical degree there in 2014.

Sabaturski and McKee married in Columbus in August 2015 but were living apart by the time Monique filed to end in the marriage in May 2017, court records show. Their divorce was granted that June. McKee was living in Virginia at the time, court and address records show. He completed a two-year fellowship in vascular surgery at the University of Maryland Medical Center in October 2022, according to the school.

McKee also lived in and was licensed to practice medicine in both California and in Nevada, where he was among doctors named in a personal injury lawsuit in a Las Vegas court in 2023. OSF Saint Anthony Medical Center in Rockford, Illinois, where McKee was working at the time of his arrest, declined to provide specific information on the dates of his employment. His Illinois medical license became active in October 2024.

What is McKee accused of?

An Ohio grand jury indicted McKee in the double homicide last week.

McKee is accused of illegally entering the Tepes’ home with a firearm equipped with a silencer, shooting the Tepes — whose bodies were found in a second-floor bedroom — and leaving the property along a dark alley alongside the house.

Columbus Police Chief Elaine Bryant has said that McKee was the person seen walking down that alley in video footage captured the night of the killings. She also said a gun found in his Chicago apartment was a ballistic match to evidence at the scene and that his vehicle’s movements were tracked from Columbus back to Illinois.

A message seeking comment was left with McKee’s attorney.

McKee is charged with two aggravated murder counts for each homicide, one for prior calculation and design and one for committing the crime, as well as facing the aggravated burglary count. If convicted, he faces a minimum of life in prison with parole eligibility after 32 years and a maximum term of life in prison without parole.

How were the killings discovered?

Columbus police conducted a wellness check on Spencer Tepe at around 10 a.m. on Dec. 30, after his manager at a dental practice in Athens, Ohio, reported that he had not shown up to work on that day, saying tardiness was very worrying and “out of character” for Tepe, according to a 911 call.

Someone else called to request a wellness check before a distraught man who described himself as a friend of Spencer Tepe called police and said, “Oh, there’s a body. There’s a body. Oh my God.” He said he could see Spencer Tepe’s body was off the side of a bed in a pool of blood.

The Franklin County Coroner’s Office deemed the killings an “apparent homicide by gunshot wounds.”

Who were the Tepes?

Family members said the Tepes were “extraordinary people whose lives were filled with love, joy and deep connection to others.”

They have described Monique as a “joyful mother,” avid baker and “thoughtful planner.” According to their obituaries, which were issued jointly, the pair were married in 2020.

Spencer Tepe got his bachelor’s degree from Ohio State University in 2012 and earned his doctor of dental surgery degree in 2017, according to school records. He was a member of the American Dental Association and had been involved with the Big Brothers Big Sisters organization.

They had two young children. Both were home at the time of the killings and left unharmed, as was the family dog.

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January 23, 2026
What is ‘Gray Divorce’?
The divorce announcement by Bill and Melinda Gates took many people by surprise. From the outside, it seemed that the couple’s lives were very intertwined. Why do this now after 27 years of marriage?

Despite the fact that overall divorce rates in the U.S. dropped since the 1980s, the rate of divorce among people over 50 climbed to historic levels. Over the past two decades, the rate doubled. Now, one in four divorces is a “gray divorce.”

Marriage in an Empty Nest

There’s been a generational shift in the way that people in their 50s and 60s think about their relationships. With the stigma of divorce lessening over time, couples no longer feel bound to stick it out in a bad marriage. With longer life expectancy, there’s a sense that there’s a whole lot of living to be done and time goes by quickly.

Couples often accomplished career or parenting goals by now. Long-standing disconnection in the marriage can be just one of many catalysts for partners to leave.

Couples whose kids have left for college will sometimes feel adrift. Routines, roles, and rituals that organized their lives for years come to an abrupt halt. “We don’t even know each other anymore,” my client Nate* told me, as he and Lily*, his wife of 23 years, talked in a session about trying to reconnect with each other. They were “Mom and Dad” for the last 20 years. Parenting their two kids had been their only common focus. That empty nest has lots of possibilities, but it can be a lonely place for many couples.

A New Chance at Independence

Another factor driving the increase in later-in-life divorcing is the increased financial independence of women. According to the AARP, two-thirds of these divorces in heterosexual marriages are initiated by women. No longer tied to a spouse for financial security, women are looking at their next 20 or 30 years and weighing a stale marriage against what could be an exciting new chapter.

“I stopped trying to get Luis* to take vacations 15 years ago. There was just no point. He would just argue with me,” my client Chloe* told me. “Now that I’m retired, I want to pursue my dream of traveling. We are now so far apart that I don’t even want him to join me.” Chloe and Luis are an example of a couple type that was observed in Dr. Gottman’s research—the later-stage divorcing relationship—one in which there isn’t a lot of conflict, but there’s little positivity between the partners.

Three Tips for Staying Together

If you are in a long-term relationship, here are some research-based suggestions for how to create and maintain a vibrant relationship that thrives over the years:
- Maintain a good friendship with your partner over time. Make sure you’re spending some time together having fun. This goes double for parents. You need time together without the kids. This keeps your relationship on the front burner so that it doesn’t become a casualty of parenting. It also keeps you in touch with how you and your partner are changing over time.
- Address differences in a timely way to avoid building up resentment. Research shows that conflict is normal and to be expected in any relationship. The quality that separates happy from unhappy relationships is the ability to repair quickly.
- Focus on how you’d like the relationship to be in the future. Share dreams and hopes for what you each want to accomplish, separately and together. Creating a sense of shared meaning that evolves over time and throughout the life cycle is another hallmark of a thriving relationship.
Final Thought

For many couples, the choice to divorce after years of being together is absolutely the right choice to make. No longer bound by obligation, expectation, or finances, unhappy partners can find a new lease on life being apart. For couples re-evaluating their long-term relationship and who want to stay together but see the need for minor tune-ups or major overhauls, keep in mind that your relationship is constantly evolving just as you are. As partners, you can intentionally create and change that relationship in small ways every day.
Sinead Smyth

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January 22, 2026
What to Do When You File for Divorce

This post may contain affiliate links and Corporette® may earn commissions for purchases made through links in this post. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Stock photo via Deposit Photos / Fabio Balbi.

We’ve talked about divorce a bit on Corporette over the years — how to survive divorce financially, advice from a divorce lawyer/reader, and how to change your professional name after divorce — but today’s post is from our recently divorced editor Kate. Please be kind with any comments (and huge thanks to Kate for sharing her experience!). – Kat.

Unlike major life events like marriage, childbirth, and retirement, divorce is something you typically don’t anticipate, so it’s even more overwhelming when you decide to split with your spouse. It’s hard to know what to do when you file for divorce when it’s something that may have never crossed your mind in the past — especially when the stakes can be so high.

Readers who have been divorced, what first steps do you recommend when you file for divorce? Is there anything you’d do differently?

While January is often referred to as “divorce month,” divorce filings typically spike in early spring and late summer.

My timeline started in November 2024 (after 20+ years of marriage), and in December 2025, we signed the settlement agreement after some final back-and-forth via our lawyers — not to mention the preparation, paperwork, negotiations, and meetings with our lawyers (plus a co-parenting therapist) in the months prior. Everyone’s timeline is different, though. (Funnily enough, I wrote the first draft of this post just a few days before I became officially divorced last week, which was sooner than I’d expected!)

But back to the starting line: When you decide to file for divorce, you have to learn a lot, quickly, but fortunately (and unsurprisingly, considering the high U.S. divorce rate), there are a ton of resources out there, online and beyond.

Note that IANAL, and the tips below comprise basic, preliminary advice for what to do when you file.

What to Do When You File for Divorce

Research Matrimonial Lawyers

1. Consider what kind of lawyer you’d prefer. If you anticipate a straightforward and civil divorce, consider using the collaborative law process, which is an amicable dispute resolution method that doesn’t require litigation. The International Academy of Collaborative Professionals has a description of the process, and FindLaw explains the potential drawbacks. (My husband hired a specialist in collaborative law, but I decided not to.)

Not everyone hires a lawyer, and a DIY divorce may be an option for you. LegalZoom has a step-by-step guide that explains when it may be appropriate to forgo an attorney. Check out the tools at Hello Divorce, too.

{related: why and how to start couples therapy: a Q&A with a couples therapist}

2. Think about whether you want to also hire a mediator. You and your spouse can work with a mediator after hiring a lawyer (depending on what your lawyer advises), or your lawyer’s main role can be to review the agreement you create during mediation. An attorney-mediator is another option. (While my ex-husband favored mediation, I much preferred solely having our lawyers handle the negotiations.)

Check out NOLO’s detailed guide to the mediation process, which includes a list of who shouldn’t use mediation (e.g., people who don’t feel safe in their marriage).

Later on in the process, if you have kids (and if your lawyer agrees), consider working with a co-parenting therapist/specialist to help you and your spouse write a parenting agreement (here’s a guide from a co-parenting app). (Ours was hugely helpful, though not cheap.)

3. Identify potential lawyers and mediators. Browsing online directories can be overwhelming, and online reviews aren’t always reliable, so I solely valued word of mouth. You can rely on the classic cover of “asking for a friend,” or you can get a trusted friend or family member to ask around on your behalf. (My mom did, without saying it was for me.)

Also ask/search for suggestions in your city’s subreddit, as well as local mom/parent online groups (some Facebook groups let you post anonymously) — and comment on this post to ask for local recs!

4. Set up consultations with your potential picks. Check out these lists of questions to ask lawyers from LegalZoom and DivorceNet, plus AllLaw’s questions to ask a potential mediator and the Academy of Professional Family Mediators’ guide to choosing a mediator. Some lawyers provide free consultations, while others charge, while mediators are less likely to, but YMMV.

Speaking of fees, note that you’ll be paying at least a few hundred per hour once you hire an attorney.

{related: how to stay happily married}

Take Care of Yourself — and Find Support

Prepare to be exhausted, mentally and emotionally, and get ready for the long haul. Self-care has become a shallow buzzword, but when you’re able to, spend time on yourself by walking/hiking/running, seeing friends, meditating, crafting, journaling, reading brain-candy books, watching your comfort TV and movies, and so on. Sometimes you’ll simply need to lie down for a bit — napping, staring into space, whatever — and that’s OK. If you find yourself scrolling on your phone more than usual, though (been there), don’t beat yourself up.

And while it’s totally easier said than done, especially when you’re feeling depressed or anxious, try to aim for good sleep hygiene, somewhat-healthy eating, and somewhat-regular exercise. This isn’t the time to be critical of yourself for being lax about things, though. (I regularly treated myself to sweets, especially Ben & Jerry’s — not a healthy coping skill, but at the time, whatever.)

Consistent support from at least one or two people in your life can be a huge help, and when you start telling loved ones and acquaintances your news, their reactions can help you identify whom you can freely lean on. For online support, check out the Massachusetts-based Jane Does Well, which guides women through divorce, and the subreddits r/Divorce, r/Divorce_Women, and for parents, r/coparenting. Two podcasts that share women’s experiences with divorce and provide advice are Divorce Happens and The Divorce Survival Guide.

Finally, I highly recommend therapy!

What to Do When You File for Divorce: Bonus Tip

My lawyer advised me to not inform my husband that I was going to file for divorce, which is common legal advice. (I did tell him before he got served with the papers.) I’m not an expert, so I definitely advise doing whatever your attorney recommends. If you’re in couples counseling (we had a few final appointments post-filing), you may feel most comfortable sharing your decision during a session.

Speaking of tips, I haven’t even touched on the issues of finances and personal property, your kids’ reactions, religious issues, or domestic violence — because it’d make for a gigantic post — but sticking to the first steps above can ease you into the process while helping you feel productive.

{related: does your love language even matter?}

Readers who are divorced, please share: Do you have advice on what to do when you file for divorce? Any lessons learned? Advice on finding a lawyer or a mediator? How long did your divorce process take?

Disclaimer: The information provided in this post does not, and is not intended to, constitute legal advice; instead, all information, content, and materials available on this site are for general informational purposes only. Information in this post may not constitute the most up-to-date legal or other information. Readers of this website should contact their attorney to obtain advice with respect to any particular legal matter.

Kate Antoniades

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January 20, 2026
The 6 Things That Predict Divorce

The first step toward improving or enhancing your marriage is to understand what happens when relationships fail. This has been well documented by extensive research into couples that were not able to save their marriages. Learning about their failures can prevent your relationship from making the same mistakes — or rescue it if it already has.

In “The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work,” I list the six things that predict divorce. This ability to predict divorce is based in part on my analysis of the 130 newlywed couples who were observed at the “Love Lab” apartment at the University of Washington.

During our research study, my team and I asked these couples to spend fifteen minutes in the lab trying to resolve an ongoing disagreement they were having while we videotaped them. As they spoke, sensors attached to their bodies gauged their stress levels based on various measurements of their circulatory system. Here is what I discovered.

1. Harsh Startup

The most obvious indicator that a conflict discussion (and marriage) is not going to go well is the way it begins. When a discussion leads off with criticism and/or sarcasm (a form of contempt), it has begun with a “harsh startup.” My research shows that if your discussion begins with a harsh startup, it will inevitably end on a negative note. Statistics tell the story: 96% of the time, you can predict the outcome of a conversation based on the first three minutes of the interaction.

2. The Four Horsemen

Certain kinds of negativity, if allowed to run rampant, are so lethal to a relationship that we call them the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. Usually, these four horsemen clip-clop into the heart of a marriage in the following order: criticism, contempt, defensiveness, and stonewalling. Read more about The Four Horsemen and their antidotes here.

3. Flooding

Flooding means that your partner’s negativity—whether in the guise of criticism or contempt or even defensiveness—is so overwhelming, and so sudden, that it leaves you shell-shocked. A marriage’s meltdown can be predicted, then, by habitual harsh startup and frequent flooding brought on by the relentless presence of the four horsemen during disagreements. Although each of these factors alone can predict a divorce, they usually coexist in an unhappy marriage. Read more about flooding here.

4. Body Language

When my team monitored couples for bodily changes during a conflict discussion, we could see just how physically distressing flooding was. One of the most apparent of these physical reactions is that the heart speeds up – pounding away at more than 100 beats per minute – even as high as 165. Hormonal changes occur, too, including the secretion of adrenaline. Blood pressure also mounts. The physical sensations of feeling flooded make it virtually impossible to have a productive, problem-solving discussion.

5. Failed Repair Attempts

It takes time for the four horsemen and flooding that comes in their wake to overrun a marriage. And yet, divorce can so often be predicted by listening to a single conversation. How can this be?

The answer is that by analyzing any disagreement a couple has, you get a good sense of the pattern they tend to follow. A crucial part of that pattern is whether their repair attempts succeed or fail.

Repair attempts are efforts the couple makes to deescalate the tension during a discussion. The failure of these attempts is an accurate marker for an unhappy future. Read more about repair attempts here.

6. Bad Memories

When I interview couples, I always ask them about the history of their relationship. In a happy marriage, couples tend to look back on their early days fondly. They remember how positive they felt early on, how excited they were when they met, and how much admiration they had for each other. When they talk about the tough times they’ve had, they glorify the struggles they’ve been through, drawing strength from the adversity they weathered together. Learn more about the Oral History Interview here.

The Art and Science of Love is now a live virtual workshop! Learn how to apply the Gottman Method to your relationship from the comfort of your home. Sign up today to register for the next event.

John Gottman

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January 20, 2026
Ashton Kutcher Talks About Demi Moore Years After Divorce Left Her Heartbroken – Perez Hilton

Ashton Kutcher has some sweet words for Demi Moore years after breaking her heart.

As we’re sure you’ve heard the story, Ashton and Demi were married from 2005 to 2011, calling it quits after six years. They finalized their messy divorce in 2013, but it wasn’t until 2019 did Demi drop the bombshell claiming Ashton cheated on her in her memoir Inside Out. Despite the couple being known to have threesomes, she claimed he hooked up with a 21-year-old in THEIR house!

(c) Mike Stotts/ WENN

She alleged he picked up the unnamed young woman while hanging out with Demi and Bruce Willis‘ daughter Rumer, which really just rubbed salt into the wound. Not to mention the actress had also recently suffered a miscarriage, too. So sad.

Related: Social Media Reacts To Ashton & Mila Making Their Red Carpet Comeback

Luckily, with all that behind them, they do seem to be on better terms… And Ashton proved that when he praised his ex wife’s talents. While chatting with Entertainment Tonight about his upcoming series The Beauty, the 47-year-old complimented Demi while discussing how his series is being compared to her movie The Substance:

“I mean, one, Demi’s performance in The Substance, obviously she got extraordinary accolades, I’m so proud of her, she killed it.”

So sweet!

We’re so glad to see these two have been able to put the past behind them after so much pain. Reactions, Perezcious readers?

[Image via MEGA/WENN]

Perez Hilton

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January 15, 2026
New York heiress Belle Burden recounts the voicemail that torched her husband’s double life: memoir

NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!

When New York heiress Belle Burden and her then-husband, Henry Davis, decided to quarantine their family at their home in Martha’s Vineyard when the pandemic first started, she had no idea it would be the end of her marriage.

The granddaughter of legendary magazine editor and heiress Babe Pailey wrote in an excerpt of her new memoir “Strangers: A Memoir of Marriage” published in The Sunday Times that six days after their family arrived at their vacation home, after a normal dinner in their kitchen, she received a phone call from a number she didn’t recognize, so she didn’t answer.

When she played the voicemail left, it was a man’s voice.

“He said, ‘I’m trying to reach Belle.’ He paused,” she wrote. “’I’m sorry to tell you this, but your husband is having an affair with my wife.’”

CHERYL HINES BREAKS SILENCE ON HUSBAND RFK JR.’S ALLEGED ONLINE AFFAIR AHEAD OF JOURNALIST’S TELL-ALL

Belle Burden with her ex-husband Henry Davis in 2008. (Patrick McMullan via Getty Images)

She didn’t even have to confront her husband, who seemed to know she knew.

He initially claimed the affair, which he said had only been going on for weeks, meant nothing, and that he loved only her.

While still trying to hide her world shattering from her children, and baking them turnovers as they requested that night, she called back the husband, who revealed he couldn’t talk because his wife had just tried to kill herself.

DENISE RICHARDS’ ESTRANGED HUSBAND AARON PHYPERS SAYS HE’S ‘BEGGING FRIENDS FOR MONEY’ AS DIVORCE TURNS UGLY

She moved through the next few hours in a daze, and after sleeping separately, and staying awake most of the night trying to decide if she could forgive him, he gave her another shock.

Belle Burden’s “Strangers” book was released on Tuesday. (Belle Burden/Instagram)

The heiress wrote that her husband of 20 years walked into their bedroom, fully dressed, and told her matter-of-factly that he wanted a divorce, and he was leaving — right at that moment, apparently.

He later told her she could have custody of their children.

“In the days that followed, I tried to hide the truth from the girls,” she continued. “A therapist I spoke with said I should wait to tell them until the pandemic was less scary.”

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She added, “But instead of easing, the pandemic became more frightening. And so did I, appearing at dinner with swollen eyes and unwashed hair. I cried as I did laundry and scrubbed our lavatories. I spent hours behind the closed door of my bedroom. I decided not to drink, knowing it would make me sadder, but also found it hard to eat.”

Belle Burden with her 21-year-old daughter this year. (Belle Burden/Instagram)

She said her husband never explained to her what went wrong, and after initially supporting her, her husband’s family eventually cut her off.

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“Had life been normal, had we been in New York, had I been able to find him on the street and make him look me in the eye, maybe I would have had some understanding of what was happening,” she mused. “But I was on one island and he was on another, and I knew nothing — only the shock of his disappearance.”

Burden is the granddaughter of famous heiress Babe Paley. (Getty)

Five years later, she says she’s no wiser about what went wrong.

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Burden wrote that her husband hasn’t remarried, and he works at a hedge fund and travels. He sees their children occasionally, but hasn’t changed his mind about not wanting to co-parent.

“I don’t know why he left,” she added. “I don’t think I ever will.”

“Strangers” was released on Tuesday.

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January 13, 2026
Philippe Junot, First Husband of Princess Caroline of Monaco, Dies at 85

Philippe Junot, the first husband of Princess Caroline of Monaco, has died in Madrid, where he lived, at the age of 85. His eldest daughter, Victoria, shared the news of his passing on Thursday, January 8, via social media.

“It is with immense sadness that I announce the death of my father,” she wrote in a caption with a carousel of photos of Junot. “He departed this side of the world peacefully surrounded by family in Jan 8, 2026 in Madrid after a long beautiful adventurous life. A grandfather of 3 almost 4. To my legendary Papa, oh how we love you ❤️ we will miss you, no adequate words…”

She went on to thank her deceased father for “all the laughs and the adventures, showing us *your* world & the inspiration to reach greater heights,” as well as for “your love which will never leave us.”

Philippe Junot was the son of Congressman Michel Junot, and was descended from a family associated with the French nobility. An entrepreneur and a man of unquestionable charm, he was often in the spotlight even before becoming part of the royal family of Monaco. Junot had four children: Victoria, Isabelle, and Alexis, born of his 1987 marriage to Danish model and socialite Nina Wendelboe-Larsen (they divorced in 1997), as well as Chloé, 20, whom he shares with his current partner, Swedish model Helén Wendel.

The most famous chapter in Junot’s life, however, remains his brief marriage to Princess Caroline. In 1978, Caroline was 21 years old and already drawing plenty of international attention. She announced that she would marry Philippe Junot despite the doubts of her parents, Prince Rainier and Princess Grace, who considered him common, as well as skepticism from the press. Junot, 17 years her senior, was perceived as a Don Juan, entangled in shady affairs, but for the young princess love evidently overcame all misgivings.

The two were married in a civil ceremony on the Rocher de Monaco on June 28, 1978, followed by the religious ceremony the next day, all just a few months after the couple met at a nightclub. They honeymooned in Tahiti, their every move chronicled by the press.

Despite the harmony of the early days of their marriage, Junot soon returned to his playboy ways, and photos of Junot and another woman in America reached Caroline. The marriage lasted just two years: Caroline filed for divorce in October 1980. In 1992, Pope John Paul II annulled the marriage within the Catholic church, which does not allow divorce, citing “insufficient consent” and making the marriage as if it had never happened, in the Church’s view. Caroline first petitioned for the annulment in 1982. In 1983, she married Stefano Casiraghi in a civil ceremony, while the Church was still considering her case. Caroline and Casiraghi had three children, Andrea, Charlotte, and Pierre, before he died in a speedboat crash in 1990.

Originally published in Vanity Fair Italia.

Monica Coviello

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January 9, 2026
Bill Hader and Ali Wong Have Reportedly Split. (Sometimes, Comedians Can Make You Sad)

Much of Wong’s stand-up comedy material in her hit specials Baby Cobra, Hard Knock Wife, Don Wong, and Single Lady, has dealt with her experiences as a wife—then divorcée—and mother. She is mother to daughters Mari, 10, and Nikki, 8 with ex-husband Justin Hakuta They announced their plans to divorce after eight years of marriage in 2022, and Wong described their current relationship status as “best friends” and their divorce as “unconventional.” At the 2024 Golden Globes, after collecting a congratulatory kiss from Hader on her way up to the stage, Wong thanked Hakuta by name from the podium.

Hader has three daughters, whom he shares with ex-wife Maggie Carey. Hader and Carey announced their divorce in March 2018.

In Single Lady, which premiered on Netflix in October 2024 after being filmed at her stand-up tour of the same name, Wong described how a man—revealed to be Hader later in the set—had wooed and pursued her, leading to her ultimately shedding that single lady status.

In the special, she recalled Hader’s initial approach, recounting Hader saying, “Hey, Ali. I just happened to hear the news of your divorce today, and I gotta tell you…I’m excited. I am, Ali, because, look, I have had a crush on you forever, and I actually told my best friend years ago that you were my dream girl. And I know this sounds crazy, but, uh, I want you to be my girlfriend.”

Some time, many escalatingly large bouquets, and a sprinkling of debate over whether Hader’s persistence and attention made him sweet (her female friends’ take) or a psychopath (the male opinion, she said), she succumbed to his charms.

“I did fall in love again,” she shared at the end of her set. “Some of you might know who the guy is. And it just so happens to be the man who sent me all of those flowers in Europe.”

Kase Wickman

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January 7, 2026
Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban are officially divorced after 19 years of marriage

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban are divorced and legally single, ending the 19-year marriage of one of entertainment’s most prominent power couples

A Nashville, Tennessee, judge issued an order at a hearing Tuesday dissolving the marriage of the Oscar-winning actor and the Grammy-winning country singer.

Judge Stephanie J. Williams said in a court filing that the couple’s settlements on splitting assets and child custody are sufficient, and granted them the divorce.

Williams wrote that “there exist such irreconcilable difference between the parties that would render continuation of the marriage impractical and impossible.”

Both Kidman and Urban waived their right to appear at the hearing.

Messages to their representatives seeking comment were not immediately answered.

Kidman filed for divorce in September. The superstar split was a surprise to most of the public, but it had clearly been in the works for a while. All the legal issues involving assets and custody had been settled and signed the day of her filing.

Tennessee requires a 90-day waiting period for couples with minor children before a divorce can take effect.

Kidman and Urban, both 58, have two teenage daughters together. Their divorce filing said they had “marital difficulties and irreconcilable differences.”

The plan they signed states that Kidman would be the primary residential parent to the children. It suggested they would remain living in Nashville as they have all their lives. The filing states that neither parent would need child or spousal support, and lays out a roughly equal division of their joint assets.

Two of the biggest stars to come out of Australia in recent decades, Kidman and Urban met in Los Angeles in 2005 and were married in Sydney the following year. They were red carpet fixtures throughout their two-decade relationship, with Urban joining his wife at the Oscars and Kidman attending music events like the Academy of Country Music Awards. The couple had publicly but lovingly described some marital difficulties, yet there were still few outward signs the divorce was coming.

The marriage was the first for Urban and the second for Kidman, who was married to Tom Cruise from 1990 to 2001. Kidman also has two older children with Cruise.

___

Dalton reported from Los Angeles.

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January 6, 2026
Cher claims Sonny Bono burned her clothes in a jealous rage during troubled marriage

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Cher is opening up about how her late ex-husband Sonny Bono controlled her during their marriage and musical partnership.

On Monday’s episode of “Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard,” the 79-year-old singer reflected on her turbulent personal and professional relationship with Bono, with whom she rose to fame in the 1960s as the pop duo Sonny & Cher.

In 1962, the former couple first met in Los Angeles when Cher was 16 and Bono was a 27-year-old aspiring music producer. Bono, who was working with record producer Phil Spector at the time, became Cher’s mentor, manager and creative partner. The two formed Sonny & Cher in 1964 and they tied the knot during an unofficial wedding ceremony in Tijuana, Mexico, later that year.

CHER WINS YEARS-LONG LEGAL BATTLE OVER ROYALTIES WITH SONNY BONO’S WIDOW

“We had a lot of fun, and he was special in a way, and then it became very treacherous,” Cher recalled.

Cher opened up about her troubled marriage to the late Sonny Bono. (Jeff Hochberg/Getty Images)

In 1965, Sonny & Cher made their breakthrough with the success of their song “I Got You, Babe,” which topped the Billboard Hot 100 chart. The duo, who officially married in 1969, went on to release scores of other hits with Bono handling songwriting, production and business, while Cher was the breakout star and the duo’s main draw.

Their success later expanded into television when they launched the variety show “The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour,” which made them household names in the early 1970s.

While appearing on “Armchair Expert,” Cher explained that her relationship with Bono began to unravel at the height of their fame as he began to increasingly control her day-to-day decisions.

The former couple formed the iconic musical duo “Sonny & Cher.” (Harry Langdon/Getty Images)

“This is when now this kind of new side of Sonny comes out,” Shepard said.

“Yeah,” Cher agreed with a nod.

“Which is like incredibly controlling,” Shepard continued. “You have this huge success. There’s a lot of money. You’re not allowed to leave the house. You’re allowed to go shopping. That’s pretty much all you’re allowed to do, right?”

“Yes,” Cher said.

“And he’s cutting you off from friendships you have,” Shepard said. “Was it happening slowly? Was it more like you woke up one day and were like, ‘Oh, I don’t have a life’ or while it was happening, were you like, ‘What’s going on?’”

“It took a little while,” Cher admitted. “I couldn’t do anything.”

Cher recounted how she began learning to play tennis and would practice at a friend’s house. The “Believe” hitmaker recalled a harrowing incident that occurred after Bono discovered that she had been seen at her friend’s home during a party after playing tennis.

“I’m leaving, but she’s having a huge party. So there are people coming in,” she recalled. “And so Dennis, my friend, told Sonny that I was there, but lots of people were there and lots of men were there.”

“And he burned my clothes,” Cher said. “In the yard.”

Cher described Bono’s controlling behavior and recalled that he once burned her clothes in the yard during a fit of rage. (Getty Images)

Cher explained that her realization of how Bono was exerting excessive power over her life “came on kind of slowly.” The Grammy Award winner said that part of her difficulty with fully grasping the situation stemmed from the difference between how Bono treated her on the set of “The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour” and his behavior at home.

“I was free on the show, and he was funny, and we got along,” Cher remembered. “It’s such a strange dichotomy because we would be laughing, and we’d be having the best time and then when we were at home, it was kind of more cut and dried.”

CHER WAS ‘SHOCKED’ WHEN SHE DISCOVERED LEGAL NAME DECADES AFTER BIRTH CERTIFICATE ERROR

Cher recalled that she also discovered that Bono was cheating on her during the rocky later years of their marriage. After Shepard remarked that Bono had “lots of other girlfriends,” Cher told him, “I didn’t know except the one.”

Shepard cited an incident that Cher wrote about in her 1998 memoir “The First Time,” in which she went to get a glass of water in the middle of the night and found another woman “putting her boots on” in the home the singer shared with Bono.

Cher told Shepard that she had no thoughts of leaving Bono at the time despite the shocking incident. She explained that she stayed in the relationship largely due to “The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour.” However, she clarified that her reluctance to leave wasn’t because she was driven to preserve the show’s massive success.

“It wasn’t that, because I was so happy with the show. And he was so nice on the show. And so, at the show we would be having the best time, and we were more working than we were at home,” she said. “It was such a polar opposite, because on stage we had a blast. He let me have all the freedom that I wanted to, and then we came home.”

“The show kept us together a lot longer than we would have been anyway, because we had such a good time,” she continued. “He was so fun, and he was so funny, and we worked so well together.”

The two found success with their show “The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour.” (CBS)

However, Cher recalled that she grew increasingly unhappy with their marriage and her lack of autonomy amid the power imbalance. In February 1974, they decided to divorce, and their show was canceled two months later.

CHER CELEBRATES 77TH BIRTHDAY ON SOCIAL MEDIA QUESTIONING AGE: ‘WHEN WILL I FEEL OLD?’

Shepard recalled that Cher only learned how little control she had over the money that she and Bono had earned during the divorce proceeding after Cher’s friend and music executive David Geffen asked to review her contract.

“It’s not until Geffen looks at this contract and says to you, ‘Do you realize 100% of this money goes to a company called Cher Inc. that is owned 95% by Sonny and 5% by his lawyer?’”

“0% for Cher?” Shepard’s co-host Monica Padman asked in disbelief.

“0%,” Shepard said.

“It was like born yesterday, because they would bring me a bunch of share enterprises contracts to sign and it was always like when I was getting ready to go on stage,” Cher said.

“Yeah, what are you going to do — read 20 pages of legalese?” Shepard said.

“And the next day, he said, ‘You’ve got to get out of this,’” Cher recalled of Geffen. “So I went to Sonny and I said, ‘I’ll stay with you if we’re partners. And he said no.’”

Sonny and Cher divorced in 1975. (Getty)

Shepard pointed out that over their time working together, they made some “serious, serious money.”

“And you didn’t walk with half of that is what you’re saying?” Shepard asked.

“I didn’t walk with any of it,” Cher said. “None of it.”

In 1975, Cher and Bono finalized their divorce, which was formally settled in a 1978 marriage settlement agreement.

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Cher learned that their finances were in poor shape during the divorce proceedings. (Gunter Zint/K & K Ulf Kruger OHG/Redferns)

During their divorce proceedings, Cher also learned that their finances were in poor shape, since much of the money had been spent, reinvested or lost in ventures managed by Bono.

Rather than receiving a cash payout, Cher was granted 50% of the publishing royalties from their work together.

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Although the divorce left Cher with limited immediate wealth, the royalty agreement proved to be valuable in the long-term, reportedly earning her tens of millions of dollars paid out gradually over decades.

The singer went on to enjoy a massively successful solo career. (Kevin Mazur)

After the split, Cher embarked on a far more successful solo career, while Bono moved away from music and later entered politics.

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In 1998, Bono died at the age of 62 in a skiing accident in Lake Tahoe, California. Bono and Cher were parents to their only child, Chaz Bono.

While appearing on “Armchair Expert,” Cher reflected on building her own fortune, admitting, “I have never had success with men and money.”

Ashley Hume is an entertainment writer for Fox News Digital. Story tips can be sent to ashley.hume@fox.com and on Twitter: @ashleyhume

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January 5, 2026
Denise Richards Details ‘Painful’ Year Amid Aaron Phypers Split

Denise Richards is looking forward to a fresh start in 2026 after a tough year.

Posting via her Instagram on Thursday, January 1, the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills alum, 54, described 2025 as “one of the most painful years I’ve lived.”

“Looking back at all the photos & videos I have of 2025, it feels like I’m looking at two different people & lived two different lives. Seeing a lot of your posts, many of you felt the same way. I will never forget this year, one of the most painful years I’ve lived,” Richards reflected.

She continued, “A year of letting go, truths being exposed. As painful as it is, I’m so grateful for the clarity. I shed a lot of tears and felt pain & betrayal I never knew existed.”

Related: Inside Denise Richards’ New Reality After Aaron Phypers Split

Denise Richards’ ongoing divorce from Aaron Phypers is turning into a courtroom battle. The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills alum found herself in the headlines when her estranged husband filed for divorce in July 2025 after six years of marriage. Since then, the pair have dropped serious legal allegations against each other in court documents […]

The Wild Things star went on to thank her family, friends and doctors for getting through the year in which she faced both personal and physical challenges.

Richards is currently in the midst of a tumultuous divorce from estranged husband Aaron Phypers, 53.

As Us Weekly previously reported, Phypers filed for divorce on July 7, 2025 after six years of marriage. Richards filed for a restraining order days later. She accused Phypers of being abusive during their relationship, which he adamantly denied.

The court granted Richards a permanent restraining order against Phypers on November 7, 2025. Phypers was arrested at court on October 17, 2025 after testifying as part of the restraining order trial. Prosecutors charged Phypers with two felony counts of injuring a spouse and two felony counts of dissuading a witness by force or threat. Phypers is facing years in prison if convicted.

Denise Richards. (Photo by Andrew Toth/Getty Images)

Before her relationship with Phypers, Richards was married to actor Charlie Sheen, 60, from 2002 to 2006. They share two daughters: Sam, 21 and Lola, 20. (Richards later adopted daughter Eloise in 2011.)

In 2025, Richards also suffered a physical setback when she ruptured her breast implants during a particularly grueling task while competing on season 3 of Special Forces: World’s Toughest Test.

“I jumped off a bridge, too — and that’s when I ruptured my [breast] implants — off of that thing,” Richards explained on SiriusXM’s “Jeff Lewis Live” on January 3, 2025, while discussing the physical challenges she faced on the show.

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Related: Denise Richards Said She Never Wanted to Get Divorced Months Before Split

Months before Aaron Phypers filed for divorce, Denise Richards hinted that splitting was not in the cards for her. “After the divorce I went through with their dad … It’s not fun. It’s really kind of awful,” Richards, 54, exclusively told Us Weekly in an interview with daughters Sami and Lola in February. (Richards shares […]

Richards also shared her gratitude for her fans in her reflective Instagram post and expressed her desire to look ahead to the future.

“Going to comic cons this year & Bravocon was so humbling for me. Meeting all of you [fans] & hearing how much you’ve supported me throughout my career. I’m so grateful to all of you,” Richards wrote.

She added, “I did have a lot of blessed happy moments in 2025 & especially the last couple months, I’m finally starting to feel like me again, only better. I’m looking forward to the year of the Horse. I feel very lucky that it starts on my birthday✨Happy New year to all of you & Happy new You to those of you that really went through it in 2025. Happy 2026!”

Erin Doyle

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January 2, 2026
7 Signs A Relationship Can’t Be Fixed, From A Therapist

Any relationship that we are in long term goes through seasons, especially if we are committed to another person and have invested our time, love, and energy into the relationship. No relationship is perfect, despite how much we romanticize them. Even the most satisfying of relationships need conscious attention and nurturing to ensure health and growth.

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December 28, 2025
Madonna and Guy Ritchie Reunited for the First Time in Nearly 20 Years

Madonna and Guy Ritchie reunited in London to support their son, Rocco Ritchie, showing up for the opening of his gallery art show, Talk Is Cheap. It was the first time the former spouses have appeared together publicly since 2008.

Their 25-year-old son, who trained at the Central Saint Martins School and then the Royal Drawing School, presented his new works in a warehouse-studio in central London’s Soho district. The exhibition wasn’t lacking in celebrity guests, with Jason Statham, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, and Jake Gyllenhaal in attendance, but it was the presence of the artist’s parents that turned the most heads. In the caption to his Instagram post, in which he appears arm in arm with both his parents, Rocco Ritchie thanked them for coming to his event.

“It’s obvious why some people might hold judgment against me, I don’t blame them,” he wrote. “However, I am proud to be who I am, but I’m even prouder to have both my parents together in one room supporting me.”

Margot Blaise

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December 16, 2025
Kandi Burruss And Todd Tucker Celebrate Daughter’s Birthday After Split

Kandi Burruss and Todd Tucker reunited for their daughter Blaze’s 6th birthday one day after announcing their split.

People reported that the estranged couple threw a Snow White-themed party for Blaze at Ready, Set FUN! in Atlanta, Georgia, on Saturday, November 22. The outlet published a photograph of Burruss and Tucker posing together with Blaze, who wore a princess dress. (The former couple also share a son, Ace, 8, while Kandi has an older daughter, Next Gen NYC star Riley Burruss, 23, from a previous relationship.)

Both Burruss, 49, and Tucker, 53, also posted separate birthday messages for Blaze via Instagram on Saturday.

“Happy birthday to my little twin @blazetucker!!! Time is flying by! I can’t believe you’re six years old already… so strong, smart, talented, creative, big personality, & a winner! My beautiful little princess,” Burruss wrote alongside a carousel of photos. “I love you so much. Everybody give @blazetucker some bday love!”

Tucker shared his own carousel of photos, along with the birthday shoutout: “Happy Birthday to my Baby Blaze! She [is] my Beautiful little princess! She warms my heart every time I see her. @blazetucker where did the time go 6 yrs old! Daddy. Loves you with all his heart!!!”

Only one day before Blaze’s birthday party, Burruss released a statement to Us Weekly to confirm her separation from Tucker after 11 years of marriage.

“After deep thought and a lot of prayer, I’ve made the decision to move forward with a divorce. This is a difficult and emotional time, but my focus remains on protecting my peace, being the best mother I can be, and co-parenting with love and respect,” Burruss, told Us.

The Real Housewives of Atlanta alum continued, “I’m stepping into a new chapter pouring into my work, my family and my own growth. I’m grateful to everyone who supported us throughout the years, and I ask for privacy, grace and understanding as we navigate this transition with our family.”

Kandi Burruss and Todd Tucker in November 2023. Monica Schipper/Getty Images

The shocking separation announcement was made one week after Burruss paid tribute to Tucker while accepting the Wifetime Achievement Award at BravoCon 2025 in Las Vegas on November 14. She celebrated Tucker for standing by her side throughout all of the mudslinging that comes with being a Housewife.

“To Todd, thank you for surviving the blogs, the shade, the rumors, the lies, the truth, the almost fights, the actual fights, the reunions,” she said with a laugh. “You earned this award too.”

In April 2024, the former couple dodged a fresh round of split rumors shortly after Burruss announced her departure from RHOA. (The singer-songwriter spent 14 seasons as one of Atlanta’s Housewives before quitting in February 2024.).

“It is tough. You’re always on stage and you can’t really kind of relax out in public,” Tucker admitted exclusively to Us. “But for me, I think from doing reality TV early on with her, I really don’t pay it any more. We know what’s going on.”

Related: Riley Burruss Explains Why Mom Kandi Hasn’t Cut Her Off Financially

Next Gen NYC star Riley Burruss opened up about receiving financial support from mom Kandi Burruss as she embarks on her own career. Riley recently revealed on her new Bravo show that Kandi gave her a one-year deadline to become financially stable after graduating from college. The aspiring entertainment lawyer, 22, was quizzed on whether […]

At the time, Burruss credited the success of their marriage to good communication.

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“He’s a better communicator than I am. I’m one of those people where if I get in a mood, I kind of shut down,” she admitted. “I don’t want to talk until I’ve completely calmed down because I’m afraid I’ll say something that I didn’t want to say and it comes off harsh. But he likes to communicate and get it all out. He really helps us get through it because we have to talk through it.”

Tucker added, “What I try to do, I try to reverse things and put myself in her shoes. … It’s a lot of work. It’s a lot of work. But the thing is it’s fun and 10 years went by so fast. It could have been a long 10 years, but it has been an amazing ride.”

Burruss met Tucker when he was working as a line producer on The Real Housewives of Atlanta. They tied the knot at Le Fais Do-Do in Atlanta in April 2014, and subsequently welcomed son, Ace, in January 2016 and daughter Blaze in November 2019.

Justin Harp

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November 22, 2025
RHOA Kandi Burruss and Todd Tucker Are Getting a Divorce

Photo: Prince Williams/WireImage

Real Housewives of Atlanta alum Kandi Burruss and Todd Tucker are splitting up after 11 years of marriage. “After deep thought and a lot of prayer, I’ve made the decision to move forward with a divorce. This is a difficult and emotional time, but my focus remains on protecting my peace, being the best mother I can be, and co-parenting with love and respect,” Burruss shared in a statement with People. “I’m stepping into a new chapter pouring into my work, my family, and my own growth. I’m grateful to everyone who supported us throughout the years, and I ask for privacy, grace, and understanding as we navigate this transition with our family.” The two met through filming RHOA; Burruss joined the show beginning in season two, and she soon met Tucker, who was a production manager on the show for season 4 in 2011. They got married three years later in 2014, and their wedding planning was documented in their own Bravo mini series, Kandi’s Wedding. The couple also had a one-season spin-off series, Kandi & The Gang, in which they tried to revive their restaurant. They have two children together and helped raise their children from previous relationships together.

Rumors of a breakup began circulating at Bravocon last weekend. During her Wifetime Achievement speech, she tearfully thanked Andy Cohen for checking in on her and for their off-screen friendship. She thanked Tucker as well, but it was unclear if he was in attendance. “To Todd, thank you for surviving the blogs, the shade, the rumors, the lies, the truth, the almost fights, the actual fights, the reunions… You earned this award too,” she shared.

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Alejandra Gularte

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November 22, 2025
Secret Lives of Mormon Wives Cast’s Dating History Before Hulu Show

Before documenting their relationship ups and downs — complete with an affair scandal or two — most of the cast of The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives were previously married to other people.

When Hulu debuted The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives in September 2024, viewers were introduced to Jen Affleck and husband Zac Affleck, Demi Engemann and husband Bret Engemann, Whitney Leavitt and husband Conner Leavitt, Mikayla Matthews and husband Jace Terry, Mayci Neeley and husband Jacob Neely, Jessi Ngatikaura and husband Jordan Ngatikaura, Taylor Frankie Paul and then-partner Dakota Mortensen and Layla Taylor.

It didn’t take long for the series to pull back the curtain not only on MomTok — but on the cast’s personal lives. In addition to marriage issues, Season 2 blew things up even more when Demi’s interactions with Marciano Brunette turned to allegations that Jessi had an affair with the Vanderpump Villa star. (Jessi ultimately confirmed she had an emotional affair while Demi has denied any romantic entanglement with Marciano.)

Some viewers may be surprised to know though that the Hulu stars were married to other people before joining the show. Keep scrolling for a dating history for every cast member of The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives:

Taylor Frankie Paul

Disney/Pamela Littk

Taylor married Tate Paul in 2016 and they welcomed two kids before their divorce in 2022. She found love with Dakota Mortensen, with whom she shares a son, but they have since called it quits.

Jen Affleck

Disney/Pamela Littky

Before starring on the show, Jen and Zac started dating in 2018 and got married one year later. After welcoming their first two kids, Jen and Zac joined The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives and had a brief offscreen separation. They got back together amid Jen’s third pregnancy and the pair welcomed daughter Penelope in July 2025.

Demi Engemann

Disney/Pamela Littky

The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives follows Demi’s marriage to Bret, whom she married after her divorce from Blake Corbin. Demi and Blake were married from 2015 to 2020 and expanded their family with daughter Maude before calling it quits.

Demi has since been married to Bret since 2021.

Whitney Leavitt

Disney/Pamela Littky

During the season 1 premiere, Conner and Whitney relocated back to Utah from Hawaii after they previously left once Conner admitted to having a secret Tinder account to solicit NSFW images. Conner and Whitney, who have been married since 2016, already had two kids and worked on their marriage before expanding their family for a third time.

Mikayla Matthews

Disney/Pamela Littky

Mikayla and her husband, Jace, married in 2018 less than a year after welcoming their first child together. They have since expanded their family three more times.

Mayci Neeley

Disney/Pamela Littky

Ahead of The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, Mayci welcomed son Hudson with ex-boyfriend Arik Mack, who died in a 2015 car crash before his child’s birth. Mayci later met now-husband Jacob, with whom she shares two daughters.

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Jessi Ngatikaura

Disney/Pamela Littky

Jessi was previously married to Zac Gish from 2014 to 2019. Following their divorce, Jessi moved on with current husband, Jordan, and they welcomed two kids together.

Layla Taylor

Disney/Pamela Littky

Layla was married to Clayton Wessel, with whom she shares two sons, for three years before their divorce in 2023. She is now dating Chase McWhorter.

Miranda Hope

Hulu

Miranda and Chase were married from 2017 to 2023 — and welcomed two kids — before their high profile split.

Yana Grebenyuk

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November 22, 2025
‘Real Housewives’ alum Kim Zolciak accuses estranged husband Kroy Biermann of cheating as divorce drags on

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Kim Zolciak has accused her estranged husband, Kroy Biermann, of cheating on her during their 12-year marriage.

When asked what the final straw was that led her to file for divorce in 2023, Zolciak told Entertainment Tonight, “He cheated.” The former “Real Housewives of Atlanta” star got candid at Bravocon over the weekend about the status of her divorce from the former NFL player.

“No movement, no change, just constant antics,” she told the outlet. “When I said I was filing for divorce, he said, I’m gonna publicly destroy you. And he told both my daughters that as well, and that’s been his goal, and that’s all he cares about. It hasn’t worked yet.”

‘REAL HOUSEWIVES’ STAR KIM ZOLCIAK REBUILDS LIFE AS ESTRANGED HUSBAND TAKES SURPRISING CAREER TURN

Kim Zolciak opened up about her split from Kroy Biermann, accusing the former NFL player of infidelity during their 12-year marriage. (Paras Griffin/Getty Images)

Zolciak said she’s happier than ever at this point in her life and has even moved on with a new man, who is also going through a divorce.

“I’m sorry, I’m legally married and so is he,” she told the outlet responding to the claims she’s dating a married man. “So he’s been going through a divorce for years as well.”

“So I don’t know. I guess I’m supposed to wait until I’m legally divorced, which I don’t think Kroy will ever give me a divorce,” she claimed.

Fox News Digital reached out to a representative for Biermann for comment.

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Kroy Biermann refiled for divorce from Kim Zolciak in 2023, calling their marriage “irretrievably broken,” according to court documents. (Peter Kramer/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images)

Zolciak and Biermann both filed for divorce in May 2023. However, the two quickly called it off.

Biermann filed for divorce again just months later in August 2023. The former professional football player stated his 12-year marriage was “irretrievably broken” in documents obtained by Fox News Digital at the time.

The two share four children: Kroy, Kash, and twins Kaia and Kane. Biermann also adopted Zolciak’s adult daughters from a previous relationship, Brielle and Ariana Zolciak-Biermann.

The former couple’s ongoing divorce has played out publicly as they navigate co-parenting their six children amid financial and personal disputes. (Prince Williams)

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Kim Zolciak’s daughter spoke about the couple’s divorce during Bravocon. (Griffin Nagel/Bravo via Getty Images)

Zolciak’s daughter Ariana admitted she prays for everyone to move forward amid the contentious divorce.

“I feel like the only place we can turn now is to pray,” she told Us Weekly at Bravocon. “I pray every night about it, and pray that God helps heal everybody, and they’re able to move forward and everything like that.”

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November 17, 2025
Denise Richards Breaks Silence on Restraining Order Against Ex Aaron

Denise Richards spoke out about the long-term restraining order she obtained against her estranged husband, Aaron Phypers, calling it “a process.”

On Sunday, November 16, Richards, 54, appeared at BravoCon in Las Vegas, where she took the stage for a panel with other stars from the network.

Richards told the audience that she was doing “good” after a judge sided with her. As Us previously reported, on November 7, the court ordered Phypers to stay 100 yards away from her until 2030. (Richards had been granted a temporary order on July 16, days after Phypers filed for divorce.)

The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star added that it has been “a process” and that she has a “great support system.”

Later in the panel, Richards admitted the split has been “very daunting” due to it playing out in the public eye. “It’s different because on the reality shows, our personal life is out there,” Richards said. “On reality [TV], you can’t pretend it’s not happening.”

As Us previously reported, Richards and Phypers took the stand in court as part of her plea for a restraining order. Richards described Phypers allegedly assaulting her multiple times throughout their marriage. She detailed a recent alleged incident where Phypers got physical with her while she recovered from surgery. In court docs, Richards wrote about the alleged abuse she suffered.

Aaron Phypers and Denise Richards Jon Kopaloff/Getty Images

“Aaron would frequently violently choke me, violently squeeze my head with both hands, tightly squeeze my arms, violently slap me in my face and head, aggressively slam my head into the bathroom towel rack, threaten to kill me, hold me down with his knee on my back to the point where I would have to plead with him to get off me so that he would not kill me and hack into my laptop and phone and download all of my text messages,” she alleged.

On the stand, Phypers denied ever touching or threatening Richards. He claimed one of the black eyes she said he gave her was caused by her walking into a pole.

Related: Denise Richards’ Ex Aaron Phypers Calls Cops on Her Amid Divorce

Denise Richards’ estranged husband, Aaron Phypers, called the cops on her over the weekend after she allegedly showed up at his home unannounced, Us Weekly can report. Sources close to Phypers, 52, tell Us he phoned the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department on Sunday, August 3. The insider claimed that Richards, 54, showed up at the […]

Phypers previously told Us about the claims, “These accusations are completely false and deeply hurtful. Denise and I, like many couples, have faced our share of challenges, but any suggestion of abuse is categorically untrue.”

During the trial, Phypers’ cousin Kathleen McAllister testified she saw him hit Richards at his wellness center in Malibu. Phypers denied the claim.

On October 17, Phypers was arrested by the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department after he finished testifying in the case. He was charged with two felony counts related to injuring a spouse and two felony counts related to dissuading a witness by force or threat.

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Phypers’ lawyer, Michael Finley, previously told Us, “We can confirm that Aaron Phypers was, in fact, arrested near the end of the family law court day on October 17, 2025, and was later released on bail.”

Related: Denise Richards’ Ex Aaron Phypers Arrested in Court for ‘Spousal Abuse’

Denise Richards’ ex Aaron Phypers has been arrested, Us Weekly can confirm. Richards’ lawyer confirmed to Us that Phypers was charged with “spousal abuse.” “He’s been arrested outside the court and taken down a nearby escalator. [He] did not come back into [the] hallway,” an eyewitness told Us on Friday, October 17. “Denise is here. […]

“We have not seen the criminal complaint, but we believe that it is most likely based upon the some of the same false accusations that Denise Richards has brought against Mr. Phypers in the family law domestic violence proceeding, which she claims occurred nearly four years ago,” Phypers’ lawyer added. “If so, we expect that the evidence will demonstrate Mr. Phypers’ innocence and that he will be acquitted.”

As Us first reported, Richards and Phypers were also recently sued for eviction. (The exes shared the home in question before Richards moved out in 2023. Phypers and his family are the only residents in the home at the moment.)

Ryan Naumann

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November 17, 2025
Long Island entrepreneur chronicles year of bad dates | Long Island Business News
THE BLUEPRINT:

Rachel Lithgow‘s memoir recounts a year of dating disasters with humor and vulnerability.

Runs a boutique agency connecting marginalized communities to global resources for social change.

Explores divorce, PTSD, grief, single motherhood and midlife reinvention.

Audiobook narrated by Full House star Jodie Sweetin; Long Island book launches Nov–Dec.
By day, Rachel Lithgow, a single mother of two teenagers, ran a consultancy connecting nonprofits to global resources. By night, she endured a year of memorably awful dates — now the centerpiece of her new memoir.

Released Thursday, Lithgow’s “My Year of Really Bad Dates: A Memoir” (She Writes Press; distributed by Simon & Schuster) chronicles a year of unsuccessful dating, applying humor and vulnerability. The memoir addresses divorce, dating, single motherhood, PTSD, grief, loss and starting over in midlife.

Lithgow, who is based in Long Beach and Manhattan, also runs The Noga Agency, helping nonprofits achieve their philanthropy goals. She said writing a memoir and running a business is a balancing act.

“Juggling a personal life of dating while raising two teenagers alone with no custodial or financial support, while starting a business and publishing my first book, was not a resounding success,” Lithgow told Long Island Business News. “But some things in life you can’t [go] over or around, but rather, you have to just go through and come out the other side. Hopefully stronger.”

With connections to the theater and television world, Lithgow is the former daughter-in-law of John Lithgow. Her audiobook is brought to life by actress Jodie Sweetin, best known as Stephanie Tanner on Full House and Fuller House.

As an established writer, Lithgow has been published in The New York Times, Daily News, Time, The Advocate, The Jerusalem Post, The Huffington Post, Los Angeles Times, The Times of Israel, eJP, The New York Observer and Buffalo News.

For her Long Island book launch, Lithgow is appearing at Blue Door Books in Cedarhurst on Nov. 17 at 5 p.m., Long Beach Public Library on Nov. 18 at 7 p.m., The Next Chapter in Huntington on Dec. 2 at 5 p.m., and Northport Books on Dec. 4 at 5 p.m.
Adina Genn

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November 14, 2025
Russia’s New War Grifters—The ‘Black Widows’ Duping Soldiers Into Marriage

When Russian soldier Sergey Khandozhko got married the day after enlisting in October 2023, his family and friends were confused. The 40-year-old had never mentioned the bride. Nor had he spoken of marriage.

More puzzling was the 20-minute wedding ceremony without photos or exchange of rings, and only one guest. Afterward, Khandozhko’s new wife even carried on living with her ex-husband and their children, according to testimony and a court ruling reviewed by The Wall Street Journal.

Copyright ©2025 Dow Jones & Company, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 87990cbe856818d5eddac44c7b1cdeb8

Matthew Luxmoore

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November 4, 2025

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