Chris Rock and his wife of almost 20 years are ending their marriage.
The 49-year-old comedian and Malaak Compton-Rock announced their decision to divorce Sunday, with the 45-year-old philanthropist saying in a statement to People, "After much contemplation and 19 years of marriage, Chris and I have decided to go our separate ways. Being fortunate enough to lead a life of service by working with those most vulnerable makes me well aware of life's blessings, even when faced with difficulties."
"While recognizing that this is a significant change, my children remain at the center of my life and their well-being is my top priority," she continued. "It is in this spirit that I sincerely ask that their privacy and the privacy of our family be respected during this transition in our lives."
Although the Top Five star has stayed mum so far about the break-up, his attorney Robert S. Cohen confirmed the split, saying in a statement, "Chris Rock has filed for divorce from his wife, Malaak. This is a personal matter and Chris requests privacy as he and Malaak work through this process and focus on their family."
As for what may have caused the split, the mag reported that the divorce was a "long time coming," with a source going on to say, "Chris has known it wasn't salvageable for a while. He was the one to file because he knew it was time to just move forward already."Meanwhile, TMZ reported that Chris wasn't happy, and didn't want to stay in a marriage that "was not fulfilling."
The couple tied the knot in 1996 and have two daughters together, Lola Simone, 12, and Zahara Savannah, 10.